7 Tips for Staying Creatively Inspired
Living creatively is one of the best things you can do to continually develop yourself and amplifying the best version of you. As creative beings now forced indoors most of the time, it’s can be difficult to stay inspired. We’ve gathered the resounding top 7 tips that will help revive your creative juices and improve your productivity in the meantime.
1. Go somewhere you’ve never been before
I know this can be hard with COVID-19 but research shows spending time somewhere you have never been before has the potential to positively affect mental change. Creativity is related to neuroplasticity (or how the brain is wired). Pathways in the brain are influenced by environment and habit, meaning they’re also sensitive to change.
New sounds, smells, language, tastes, sensations, and sights spark different synapses in the brain and may have the potential to revitalize the mind. A fresh mind for creative thinking! Try walking a new route through your neighborhood or taking a virtual city walk. Mindfulness & imagination are key to make the most of your experience.
2. Take a day off from all technology
Technology is all around us in our everyday lives, especially now with most communication happening through limited digital devices. This is a hard one abide by but if are able to “switch off”, it can give creative clarity. With clarity and space, more ideas are able to come in. A digital detox will allow you to explore your surroundings. This also presents the opportunity to reconnect with nature and with yourself.
Digital detoxes are known to have a tremendous impact on work. The more time spent away from technology, the bigger of a canvas you create. You will be when to experiment and explore creatively when you get back to work and your devices.
3. Talk with energetic children frequently
The youth look at the world through a fresh lens where anything and everything is possible. Their imagination has not been defined by limits. Their spirit and viewpoints are inspiring to be around. The more time you spend with this kind of genuine energy, the more refreshed and optimistic you will feel. Your creative thinking will reflect this.
4. Get lots of rest
As Alan Cohen once wrote, “There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook either.” In this fast-paced, modern world; creative professionals can feel the pressure of FOMO (fear of missing out) even if you're away from work for a short period of time.
It is of the utmost importance to maintain a healthy sleep schedule in order to think creatively. Studies show that divergent thinking—thinking outside the box, in new and imaginative ways—seems to be the first thing that goes when one is sleep-deprived.
Make sure you are getting your full eight hours of sleep a night to maintain and boost creativity.
5. Observe someone else being creative
Curiosity will lead you to creativity. Have you always been interested in another craft? Go observe, learn, ask questions, talk to experts. When you are curious enough, new ideas start appearing. Collaborating with and learning from others will give your creativity a boost.
6. Get your daily dose of play
Play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well. Playing is a sure way to fuel your imagination, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and emotional well-being. Do something you did for fun as a child or gather some friends and just play.
This is a time to forget about work and commitments, and to be social in an unstructured, creative way. Focus on the actual experience, not on accomplishing any goal. There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself.
7. Use a note app & recording every interesting thought you have
Admit it, we have all been guilty of having a great idea then completely forgetting it because take the time to jot it down. There are many fun, interactive note taking apps available for download to help keep track of these great ideas. A few to note are Evernote, Presently and Journey.
Follow @_likealocal_ or join our mailing list for more creativity and sustainability tips :)
