You might not think of yourself as the creative type. But creativity can take many forms and doesn’t have to mean having an innate talent. Something as simple as taking up a new hobby or revisiting a forgotten skill could open up new horizons, helping you to meet new people and re-engage your brain in exciting – and creative – ways.
Here are seven ways to look at things anew and unlock or reconnect with your creative side.
1. Start by being curious
Between the ages of two and five, children ask one question over and over: “Why?”.
With limited life experiences and rapidly developing brains, it makes sense that children are curious about the world around them. But curiosity doesn’t need to stop as you get older.
Asking “Why” can help you to be critical of ideas and concepts, and to think about new ways of approaching all aspects of your life, from re-examining long-held beliefs to switching up your daily routines.
Investigating the world around you is a great way to spark your imagination and ignite creativity.
2. Allow yourself to daydream
Daydreaming is another childhood activity that can help to promote creativity. You likely lead a busy life with multiple responsibilities pulling you in varying directions. This can lead to an overcrowded brain with little room to make the kind of connections that give rise to creativity.
Allowing your mind to wander isn’t time wasted, but rather an important opportunity to decompress and create the brain space to think clearly.
Mindfulness is a great way to clear your brain and focus on “nothing”. Remove distractions and empty your mind, whether you’re ironing, out walking, or relaxing at the end of a long day.
Repetitive tasks like pulling weeds in the garden are also great for freeing your mind, allowing your brain to make exciting connections that could be the catalyst for creative new ways of thinking.
3. Try doodling and keep a doodle diary
Linked to the calm and empty brain space that allows you room to daydream, is another simple activity, again often related to childhood.
Absentmindedly doodling can provide a sense of calm while also putting you in great company. History’s famous doodlers include Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Barack Obama.
Doodling, like mindfulness, frees up the often crowded parts of the brain that we use to solve problems and generate ideas. A simple doodle can give you much-needed relaxation time while also sparking creativity, even if this manifests itself in a way that has nothing to do with drawing or art.
Whether you use scrap paper or buy a doodling journal, keeping track of the doodles you make can be a great way to build a picture of your mental state during a given day or month, while also building a portfolio of creative outpourings.
4. Try your hand at creating art
The obvious next step from doodling is to expand your artistic horizons.
Art can be a rewarding way to relax and reduce stress while keeping your brain active. Learn to go with the flow and remember that nothing is “wrong” in art so don’t get frustrated if your project doesn’t turn out the way you imagined.
Artists explore many mediums so don’t feel like you have to take up painting or drawing if neither appeals to you. Anything from colouring and woodworking to gardening can be done creatively, you just need to give yourself a licence to be guided by your imagination.
5. Keep a diary or journal
While you’re keeping a doodle diary, why not write a traditional diary or journal too?
Cataloguing your thoughts can help you to be more critical, examining the events of the day and extracting meaning where you might not have found it at the time.
Write about things that have happened to you during the day, and how you felt about them, or make things up entirely. Either way, getting words onto a page could help you hone your skills and widen your mental horizons.
6. Allow yourself the physical space to be creative
You might have read our recent article looking at three simple Japanese design principles to try in your home that focus on quiet spaces and decluttering.
These techniques could also help to improve your creativity. A tidy and calming physical space leads to a decluttered mind, freeing up room for creative thought.
You can also test out your creative skills as you look to incorporate the principles of Kanso, Shizen, and Wabi-sabi.
7. Read widely… and absurdly
Reading is a great way to relax but also to delve into unimagined worlds and put yourself in other’s shoes.
To make sure reading stays fun, begin with books on topics you are interested in. Then, move on to something new. Well-written and insightful books about unfamiliar topics could provide a valuable education and open up previously unexplored areas of interest.
Be sure to dip into absurdist writing too. Absurdity confuses your brain into trying to find meaning where there is none and this can be a great way to kickstart creativity and the art of thinking outside of the box.
