Creativity: How To Get Ideas Flowing
Posted on 12th January 2022 at 14:58
Creativity is often described as being like a muscle that gets stronger with use. If you’re out of practice, however, it might be difficult to get the creativity flowing again.
Whether you've been in a creative rut for half an hour or a week, there are things you can do to feel inspired again.
Fresh air and exercise are both great for the body, but long walks are beneficial for the mind too.
Doing something monotonous (in this case, walking) gives your brain the chance to do its best thinking. When you are going through everyday motions, you are performing actions that are well-rehearsed. This leaves your mind free to wander wherever it pleases without having to focus too much on the task at hand.
Take a long walk outside and see where your mind takes you. Not only will you return from your walk feeling more relaxed but also hopefully with a great idea to jot down!
We all tend to get hemmed in by our own patterns of thinking – having a conversation with others can break us out of a creative rut if we find that we've been following the same old trains of thought for too long.
Collaborating with others on a project is a great way to get creativity flowing, especially if you work in a large group where you freely share ideas.
Others may have a creative solution to a problem you’ve been having or may be able to offer a completely new perspective.
It’s very difficult to focus when you’re surrounded by clutter and day-old cups of tea.
Open a window to let the fresh air in. Tidy up everything you’re not using right now and close the tabs that are no longer needed.
Cleaning up your workspace may not be the most fun thing in the world, but at the very least it will give your mind physical and mental space to think.
If your workspace is already clean and tidy, consider getting a change of scene. Work from a different room if you can or go out to work in a café or library. Sometimes being surrounded by others working can make you feel more productive, and you might be able to draw inspiration from the world around you.
Find that you often get your best ideas in the shower? It’s not just you.
Unless you have a waterproof phone, the time when you are showering is likely to be completely free of social media and technology.
Most people find that this is conducive to creativity – not only does unplugging from your phone prevent you from being distracted by notifications, but it also removes the temptation to procrastinate by doing something more fun online.
Taking the time to forcibly unplug can work wonders for the brain. Next time you’re struggling to come up with an idea, try disconnecting from technology for a while. Give your mind a chance to rest without being bombarded with notifications and restore your connection to your creative side.
It’s easy to procrastinate when you’re not feeling inspired, but this will likely inhibit your creativity even more. If you wait for a great idea to appear before you even start working, you might be waiting for a while!
As difficult as it can be, sometimes you need to start working on a project for creativity to strike. Set a timer for half an hour (most people work best in short bursts) and get started. It doesn’t matter if you don’t love your ideas or if you end up redoing the work – it’s getting started that is important.
If you’re trying to write something, start typing and see where you end up. If you’re trying to design a new logo, start designing some that you know you might not like. You may end up surprising yourself!
It’s a lot easier to edit or improve a project once you’ve gotten the ball rolling, so get started on your project and you’ll most likely find your creativity along the way!
Above all, remember to be patient with yourself. We all have days where we feel uninspired. If you keep trying, you’ll find that your creativity is back in no time!
Do you have any ideas on how to get creativity flowing?
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