How creative are you? Creativity has become one of the top commodities in today’s economy. In fact, it has been in this last 40-50 years that Creativity has defined a class of people on their own. Thus, we need to re-focus our talents in a way that allows for creativity to flow naturally. However, it doesn’t always come to us when we want it.
So, what are some tips that will help us to re-focus and come up with some of your best ideas? The easiest thing to do requires opening up your mind to natural forms of creativity, instead of forced or self-induced bouts of it.
Here are a few methods for you to consider using.
1). Walk it Off
When one does something different, it often opens opportunity. Journalist Jonah Lehrer, author of Imagine: How Creativity Works uses it as his primary source for opening up opportunities for that:
“When I feel stuck or stumped or stressed, I go for a stroll, the longer the better. The actual location doesn’t really matter. I can derive equal satisfaction from the crush of pedestrians in Manhattan and the desolate landscape of the California desert. I like the beach and the hills, the cities and exurbs.”
He even found that there was scientific support for it.
“The research suggests then when we are stumped by a problem, we should step away from the desk and caffeine and instead find a way to relax. The answer will only arrive after we stop searching for it. So while I used to assume that my walks were a form of procrastination, I now see them as part of my work day. They make me happy, which is an ideal mental state for moments of insight.”
2). Look at different sources
We often choose 5-6 sources that we rely on. However, what if we were to turn to newer sources of info, ones that are both unorthodox and out of the box. When I’m writing, I find myself searching thru old archives and neat projects. One
out-of-the-place link often leads to another and another, and I suddenly find myself with 2-3 new article ideas.
Other Reliable sources is asking others for ideas, turning to those who don’t know as much as you do, or even who know far more than you ever could. I’ve been amazed at reflections that come from friends, or even my twelve-year-old sister.
3). Kick it up a notch
If you want a spark of creativity, then do something unexpected. Go watch a movie in the middle of your day. Ask something that everyone isn’t thinking. Take on things that no man wants to touch. Sit among those different from you. The point is to change something.
These are only three potential tools. There are dozens of these things that people can rely on. However, the point is doing things that break up monotony, and create natural opportunities. We often keep ourselves in patterns and environments that weaken naturally developing creativity. Thus, we need to break these inhibitive things down, and grow ourselves towards the better.
