How to be More Creative

A compilation of my reflections from Circles Conference 2016 and applying those thoughts to my experiences in learning simple ways to be more creative.

Research: Old School

I still remember back in the day learning how to use the card catalog in the school library and then researching encyclopedias, articles, and books to find information and ideas. There’s something to be said about using tangible resources for research: it stays ingrained in your brain and lets you interact with the past and present worlds in a way that digital observing doesn’t.

Go Outside

There’s so many places you can go for a change of perspective. Outside has always been one of the most restorative things to do and is always a great option for a simple, productive “reset”.

Do Something Weird

What is something that you don’t usually do? Set a rule for yourself that you can do anything as long as it is out of your normal schedule or your go-to places throughout the week. Be weird and don’t hold back.

Explore: Take a Mini Road Trip

One of my favorite projects we did in one of my college photography classes was to take a mini road trip. My professor pinned us on a map and then drew a radius around us that was about an hour away from our location. Each person had to drive (about an hour) out to different parts of the radius. It forced us to get out and go somewhere new. Most of the places were small towns or places that we typically drive past but never stop to explore.

Take a Break

If these ideas still aren’t getting the creative juices flowing, then remember it’s sometimes just as helpful to take a break! If I’m feeling blocked or low on inspiration despite getting out and doing something new, I stop. I take a break. I’ll usually stop trying to figure anything out for a good 24–48 hours and let everything I’ve seen or researched have the chance to soak in!

Move

Take a big leap and change your surroundings. This could be starting a new job or moving to a new city. Doing this will change the types of people and places you interact with giving you a new perspective. One of the most valuable things I’ve learned is being open to new ideas especially from people you don’t agree with. This is one of the best ways to learn something new since it challenges your current thoughts and opens your mind to things you probably would have never thought of otherwise.