Every week, we will post a new creativity challenge. These challenges will vary from individual to team based.
This week’s challenge: Find inspiration in the most unlikely places
We all have days when we “want to be creative” and get everything in our day set to do just that. Then we find ourselves facing Blank Canvas Syndrome. Then nothing gets created, and we feel frustrated. Not good.
So how do we get over that? If you want to be creative, but just can’t make it happen, it’s time to jump start your brain a bit.
Step 1. Go for a walk. Outside. Now.
Go now. I’ll wait. If conditions do not permit you to walk right now, bookmark this for later. While walking, don’t think about ideas. Just enjoy the walk and passively observe things around you. If you feel inspired to sketch or photograph something, do so. Don’t worry if it has nothing to do with your creative issue.
Walking is really good for sparking our creativity. Stanford University proved it in a 2014 study.
Step 2. What did you notice?
Try and recall everything you saw on your walk. Sometimes the silliest things will spark a new idea. A misspelled sign, heavy clouds, an old man with questionable fashion choices, a child being a child. Quickly jot down what you saw in a list. If you took pictures, or drew sketches, include those on the list.
Step 3. Make connections
Look at the list. How does the man with weird clothes connect to the cloudy day, or to the misspelled sign? Make up a story in your head to connect them all together. Perhaps the old man owns the store with the misspelled sign. Maybe his clothes were chosen based on his interpretation of the weather. Maybe the child lettered the sign for him.
Step 4. Take another walk. If needed.
If you’ve made a story, your brain is working out creative solutions. Go back to what you wanted to work on. It will come to you now. If it doesn’t, take another walk in a different direction, and this time focus on something small in nature. Bees and ants are good because their hive mentality reminds us of ourselves from a 50,000 foot view.
