how to be more creative

How To Be More Creative: 9 Painless Techniques to Unlock Your Creativity

Creativity is one of the most underappreciated and misunderstood tools we have at our disposal. Everyone uses creativity in some form. It isn’t something that’s really only for artists. You may have even told yourself that you aren’t a “creative person.” 

Well, I have some good news for you! No matter how long it’s been since you have flexed your creative muscles, you can learn how to access your natural ability and be more creative every day!

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How To Be More Creative

Creativity isn’t just important for artists. It is a fundamental life skill. In fact, according to Linkedin, “creativity is the most important skill in the world.

The truth is, you have an endless creative well inside of you! You’ve just forgotten how to access it.

The good news is, you can develop and strengthen your creative talents. And the best way to do that is by practicing. If you want to get better at something, you practice! The more you push yourself to be creative and use your creative skills, the better you will get, and the more confident you will become in your own abilities. 

Tap into your inner well of innovation and creation with these 9 tricks that will help you be more creative.

Be Observant

Be mindful and pay attention to what is going on around you. Noticing your environment and surroundings will help you build your creativity. Make it a point to pay attention to what other people are doing. Learning to become aware and observant will open your mind to new ideas, inspire your creativity, and help you learn to become aware of creative solutions and ideas

Take Risks

Become a risk-taker! Being willing to take risks will help you develop your creative skills. Pushing yourself to do new things helps expand your thinking and improve your mental flexibility. Even when you fail, you are still giving a fantastic boost to your creative abilities.

Celebrate Your Wins

Don’t be too hard on yourself! Every time you practice being creative, you are building your creative strength and building your self-confidence. It’s very difficult to be creative when you keep telling yourself that you aren’t. Reward yourself by recognizing and acknowledging when you are being creative.

Explore Alternate Solutions

There is always more than one solution to any problem. When you are trying to solve a problem, don’t jump on the very first solution that occurs to you. It may end up being the best solution, but take your time and try to come up with several different possible solutions before you decide on the best one. Make a habit of trying to come up with creative solutions. This will build your problem-solving skills AND your creative thinking skills. (which are really THE SAME THING)

Keep a Creativity Journal

Start a creativity journal! This can be a beautiful sketchbook or a cheap spiral-bound notebook. Use it to keep track of your creative process, to have brainstorming sessions, or jot down any idea that you come up with. Make sure you go back and review and reflect on your ideas and accomplishments from time to time. Use it to help find solutions to ongoing problems by looking back at how you may have solved similar problems in the past.

Change Your Environment

Changing your environment up is a great way to kick yourself out of a mental rut. This can be as simple as cleaning up your desk, changing the artwork you look at, or rearranging your furniture. Or you can get up and move to an entirely new environment! Try working in a new setting like a park or at a coffee shop or outside on the porch. Changing up your working environment can stimulate your brain and increase your creativity.

Expect to Fail

If you are afraid of failing or making a mistake, you are strangling your creative abilities. Try to let go of your fear of failure. Try telling yourself that you are just practicing. Don’t attach too much value to your output and let go of your need for perfection!  You are going to make mistakes and have huge failures. Sometimes these are the things that lead to giant breakthroughs! Some of your biggest successes will come out of your biggest mistakes. So learn to be ok with messing up.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Get out of your comfort zone, push your boundaries, and do things that scare the shit out of you! Try new things. Be terrible at them. Making a habit out of expanding your boundaries will skyrocket your creativity and get your brain diving into unknown regions. Start small – try a dish you’ve never had before or drive a new way to the store. Getting out of your normal routine and out of your comfort zone will have a huge boost for your creative ability

Daydream

Set aside time to let your mind wander freely and daydream. Let your subconscious do its thing by letting your mind drift and wander freely. Your brain will be working to piece together bits of information that you have collected and will help you connect the pieces and come up with some truly revolutionary ideas. Try freewriting or doodling to help distract your conscious mind. It’s really important not to edit the ideas as they come out! Edit later. 

In Conclusion

You have access to unlimited creativity; you just have to remember how to tap into it!

These methods and ideas will help you unclog your creative pipes. The more you practice, the easier it will become, until it is second nature. And if you find that one technique isn’t having the results that you want, try another one! Everyone is different and you have to figure out what will work best for you.

That being said, don’t just give up right away after trying something once! Be willing to commit to at least several different sessions. You can also try combining several different methods – like going to a new environment AND having a brainstorming session. Don’t limit yourself!

And stop telling yourself that you’re not a creative person – it’s not true and you are sabotaging yourself.

Do you consider yourself a creative person? How might you expand your idea of what creativity looks like for you? Leave a comment below!

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