How to Rekindle Your Creativity (+ Unique Activities to Help You)

Creativity is the catalyst for innovation. Without it, the world as we know it wouldn’t even exist. Someone, somewhere was creative enough to develop new technologies and techniques that have increased both our quality and quantity of life.

The question, though, is how does creativity begin? Does it start as a dream? Does a light bulb suddenly appear over your head? Or is there something specific you can do to spark your creativity and passion?

Harnessing your ingenuity will make your life more meaningful and enjoyable. Discover here why creativity is so important and welcome more innovation and inspiration into your daily activities.

How Creativity Enriches Your Life

Improve Your Physical Health

Studies show that creativity exercises are an effective way to relieve stress and boost our immune system. Those who think resourcefully also cope better with aging and experience fewer declines in their cognitive functions.

Invest in the Experience of More Joy

Creativity flourishes when you think positively. Find your passions and cultivate them. Embrace challenges with curiosity. Observe the conditions that help you get “in the zone.”

Strengthen Your Relationships

A sense of imagination can even enhance your personal relationships. Break out of the same old conflicts by searching for common ground. Look at challenging situations from the other person’s perspective and try out a different response.

Commit to Yourself — Be All You Can Be

We all have some form of creative genius. Enjoy the pleasure of developing your own gifts. With persistence and an open mind, you’ll expand your skills for responding to all kinds of challenges.

Commit to Your Team — Perform Better At Work

Collaboration is integral to the creative process. Help create a more cooperative atmosphere where colleagues complement each other’s strengths rather than competing. Check out my post on how to help your team work well together.

Techniques for Sparking Your Creativity

1. Incubate. Before inspiration hits, there’s usually a quiet time while we digest our ideas. Help your unconscious mind along by taking a quiet walk or a relaxing shower. Routine tasks like washing dishes can also trigger insights. Think about a dilemma right before bed, and you may wake up with a solution.

2. Brainstorm. Generating ideas is usually the first step in the creative process. Put aside any judgments and just let the options flow. Now’s your chance to get zany and experimental.

3. Take action. Make a plan for how to implement your ideas. Regard every attempt as a learning experience even if the immediate results fail to pan out. Remember that successful people succeed because they take more risks.

4. Observe the details. On the other hand, you can re-invent the most familiar aspects of your life by viewing them from a fresh angle. Think about how your kitchen would appear to an alien from space.

5. Lighten up. Free up your fertile mind. Some gentle aerobics and stretches will relax your body. Meditation or soft music can dispel anxieties or boredom. Humor is a very powerful tool for lowering inhibitions and seeing things more vividly.

6. Ignore the clock. Get up early so you can savor the luxury of open-ended time. Forget about deadlines. Focus on the present moment instead of thinking about the next task you have scheduled. Feel what it’s like to be free from hurrying. Try to remember that sensation as you start your day.

7. Change your routine. Any adjustment to your usual way of doing things can help you take a fresh look at life. Take an alternate route to work or visit a coffee shop on the other side of town. Expand your horizons by looking for ways to experience novelty on a regular basis. Please see my post for guidance on stepping out of your comfort zone.

8. Seek inspiration. Surround yourself with whatever you find invigorating. Visit art museums or go camping. Spend more time playing with your kids and getting caught up in their excitement each time they see something new.

9. Get a hobby. Make the most of your leisure time with creative outlets that incorporate your passions. You may delight in watercolors. Or maybe you really get a kick out of working on cars. Dance and yoga are my personal go-to outlets. I’ve taken a drumming course recently with Christine Stevens, which really helped to rejuvenate my creative mind.

Transform your life into a work of art by tapping into your creative side. Once you discover and develop your passions, you’ll be on your way to feeling more accomplished and fulfilled.

7 Unique Ideas to Uncover Your Spark

While we may be creative in different ways, creativity is within us, just waiting to be uncovered. As I’ve talked about above, everyone has different rituals and routines to ignite their creativity. Here are 7 unique ideas to help you get the ball rolling:

1. Surround yourself with positive, inspiring words. Stories, positive affirmations, and motivational quotes are always great starting points to tap into your creativity. You just might be inspired to look within after reading the inspirational stories or thoughts of others.

2. Create a list of 100. Make a list of 100 ideas and thoughts. They don’t have to be connected, but simply write out 100 ideas that come to mind in a single sitting. This may seem daunting, but the purpose is to generate uncensored and unfiltered thoughts that can be used as a foundation for a bigger idea. You can always filter the ideas later on, so focus on quantity, not quality at first.

3. Try the color yellow. This may sound strange, but psychologists believe that the color yellow inspires creativity. Architecture firms have a tendency to paint their walls yellow. Our chakras are a full spectrum of color that we can work with to enhance our creativity. I highly recommend Anodea Judith’s course, Supercharge Your Chakras.

4. Stimulate all of the senses. Try something different that involves the senses. For example, go to a wine tasting, art museum, concert or even a masseuse. You just might discover a fresh idea by stimulating your body and mind with new things.

5. Use the bountiful resources of others. There are plenty of people around the world who love to talk, so get them talking! Ask them questions and allow their responses to guide your thoughts and ideas. You just may come up with a unique and creative solution by using the brainpower of others.

6. Take a break. If you’re under stress or pressure, it’s time to relax. After all, our minds need a break! Your relaxation routine doesn’t have to be extravagant; it can be as simple as playing a Sudoku puzzle or going for a 15-minute walk. By refreshing your body and mind, you will actually return more creative than ever.

7. Go for a country drive. You may be able to think clearer when you’re alone in the car. Turn off the stereo and tune into your own thoughts circulating in your head. There are plenty of creative ideas already within your mind; you just have to become more aware of them!

Everyone is unique, so you may have a different way to spark your creativity. That’s okay! You can use these creativity tips as a guide to help you uncover unique solutions to ordinary problems.

Originally published at https://mindfulmysticmama.com on December 30, 2020.