Unlocking Your Creative Spark: Small Habits, Big Ideas
When we imagine creativity, we often think that creative people are born gifted. Knowing which note to play, or which colour fits the mood best, seems to come naturally to them. In reality, creativity is a skill that needs to be nurtured, expanded and cultivated with the right practices. Creativity is not always a gift at birth, it thrives when the mind is given room to play, connect and explore. Whether you want your creativity to come back stronger than ever, or want to explore new ideas, we have selected just a few daily changes that could be very useful in unlocking your creative spark!
Shift Your Perspective
One of the most effective ways to unlock creative energy is to step out of your comfort zone and familiar ways of thinking. For example, free writing allows you to silence your inner critic and let ideas flow unfiltered. Set a timer for at least 10 minutes and let your mind flow with any thoughts or ideas you have. Another technique that could help you with creativity is role reversal: reimagine scenes from the perspective of a completely random object. Simple “what if” scenations can push the boundaries and encourage fresh and new ideas.
Expose Yourself to New Fields
Creativity cannot thrive in an echo chamber. While reading your favourite novels is beneficial, the key of new discoveries are different genres, academic fields or cultures you are not familiar with. As well as that, music can be a powerful catalyst too. Shifting from classical to electronic music genres can change the rhythm of your work as well as mood and tone. It’s science! Research shows that learning from distant fields can spark new and creative ideas, as well as develop new problem solving skills.
Change Your Environment
Our surroundings can shape our thoughts in many different ways. Rearranging your workspace, adding fresh plans or incorporating sensory cues like scented candles or fun colours can shift your mood and encourage deeper and more creative focus. Movements are equally important! Standing under trees or taking a moment and looking at the quiet sky can expand your perception and improve your creative thinking.
Connect With Others
Even though we often claim to work better alone, collaboration can open up your mind in ways you haven’t even thought about. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people can help with creative flow. However, we will argue that it is just as important to discuss your ideas with people completely opposite from you. They can offer you amazing opinions and different perspectives that you could have missed. Participating in creative communities, workshops, or reading groups ensures your ideas are flowing across different minds.
Play & Experiment
Plays are often overlooked in adult life, yet it is central to creativity. Improvisational exercises such as theatre, storytelling or sketching can strengthen spontaneity and push you beyond self-consciousness. Trying a new hobby that is unrelated to your main creative pursuit expands your expression. Moreover, engaging in quick and playful acts such as improv games, lego building or simple doodling increase your divergent thinking and skills to come up with many new ideas.
Writing by: Ieva Dambrauskaite
