Sometimes, creativity can come naturally, but other times it can be hard to get your imagination actively working. To keep that creativity muscle flexed and ready to go, sometimes you will have to intentionally force yourself to think outside the box. To get started, here are 6 hacks to boost your creativity.
Create the right atmosphere
Keeping a positive ambiance in your typical work space is essential to activating your creativity. Find the kind of music or lighting that best inspires you. Or if you need total silence to work most effectively, make sure you are in a noise-free zone.
Take a break from your smart device
With so much technology permeating our lives, it can be hard to put your phone down and think for yourself. If your eyes and mind are constantly fixated on a device, consuming other people’s opinions and content, it can become difficult to formulate your own thoughts and opinions. Disconnect form the smart devices and give your mind room to bloom.
Take your mind off of the subject at hand
Sometimes trying to force ourselves to focus on a topic or project can make our minds do the exact opposite. Continuously fixating on a single thing can really be a drag and drain your creative abilities. Take a breather. Daydream and let your mind wander. Work on a different project and come back to it later. Time away might give your brain the space to come up with that needed creativity.
Clean up and declutter your workspace
Unless you thrive in organizing chaos (which is quite common), a cluttered workspace can lead to an overly stressed, cluttered mind. If your creative spark is lacking and your desk is packed with junk, there may be a link between the two – a sign that a thorough cleaning is way overdue. Try a new filing system or toss out those old papers – or wipe clean the dust or debris from that neglected old desk.
Get a Second Opinion
If you are stuck in a creative rut, there is no harm in calling in that lifeline and phoning a friend. A different perspective on a subject is sometimes just what you need to think outside of your normal thinking patterns. The saying, “You can’t see the forest for the trees,” isn’t just an ancient quote. Sometimes being too close to a subject can limit our ability to remember the bigger picture, or how to creatively solve a problem.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Trying to create new results or ideas with the same methods is a dead end. Creativity is all about innovation and exploration. So, embodying this in your methods and habits can be a good way to spark some new creative ideas. Try switching up your typical work environment by checking out a new coffee shop. Have a crazy adventure or night out with friends. Make yourself uncomfortable. Finding some activity or stimuli to push yourself past your comfort zone will help open the floodgates of those creative juices.
