Creativity is an intimidating topic, isn’t it? Most people seem to think that they are not creative–which is really sad. You guys, everyone is creative in some way. Yes, everyone. Including you! We might not all be brilliant painters or poets, but we’ve all got something we do really, really well. And that’s the area of life where we’ll find out greatest creative achievements.
But the thing about creativity is that you’ve got to spend time nurturing it. Maybe that’s why most of us feel like we aren’t creative–we aren’t spending time practicing! Your creative juices might grow a little stagnant if you don’t keep ’em flowing, so you’ve got to practice regularly. Develop habits that make being creative easier–like these six daily ‘do’s for creative living:
Exercise
Move your body! There’s a lot of science behind this, but the basic idea is that exercise helps your brain function better. And a fully functional noggin is important for creativity. So go get sweaty!
Ask questions
Creative people don’t just accept the world as it is–they question everything. Little kids are experts at this, and they’re also highly creative. Don’t think that’s a coincidence! Ask at least ten questions every day about the world around you.
Spend time alone
Your mind needs time to mull things over, develop opinions and form ideas. Check out from real life for a while and explore your own inner monologue.
Spend time with others
At the same time, other people are a great source of energy and ideas. So don’t become a hermit–balance alone time with friend time and let yourself be mentally challenged.
Let your mind wander
Mental downtime is the best time for creativity–there’s a reason many people claim they have their best ideas in the shower. The next time you find yourself struggling to focus, stop fighting. Embrace the daydreams and see what happens!
Try new things
Our experiences inform our ideas, so the more experiences you have, the more ideas you’ll have. And new and novel activities spark our imaginations like no other–so be open to them!
Make these habits a priority, and you’ll feel your creative mojo getting stronger on the daily. Some things will work better for you than others, too, so experiment a little. Add new things and get rid of what isn’t working–and when you find something that really moves you, ride the wave! You ARE creative. Make developing those mental muscles a top to-do, and you’ll be amazed at the things your brain can do!
