“The only unique contribution we will ever give to this world will be born out of creativity” Brené Brown
When you hear the word creative, do you immediately think of skillful artists, successful musicians, established authors or even long gone childhood memories involving sticky back plastic and washing up bottles? Maybe you think creativity is just a word reserved for those talented types on Etsy. Whilst those people are clearly artistic, I also think that everyone has the potential to live a creative life. I do not think you need to be born creative, I think creativity is just like everything else – if you work at it, whatever it is, you will get good at it. Simple. And I promise you, even if you don’t turn out to be the next Jimi Hendrix or J.K Rowling you will have fun in the process. Here are 6 simple ways to boost creativity:
Try something new. A couple of years ago, I decided I wanted to play the guitar. So, I got one and slowly taught myself using Youtube and guitar tabs online. My neighbors moved out around the same sorta time as I started learning so I dunno if that is just purely coincidence or not, but I did get better. I’m not rock star standard yet but I can string some chords together and play a few tunes which resemble Oasis songs. It’s a form of creativity that I enjoy and find super relaxing too. If there is something which you want to learn, I say go for it! Have the courage to try and the persistence to get better.
Listen to podcasts. Podcasts are a brilliant way to feel inspired and learn from those who have done it all before. Recently, I have been listening to Magic Lessons by Liz Gilbert where she talks about living creatively and Ctrl Alt Delete by Emma Gannon who chats about the internet, social media, feminism, creativity, identity, mental health, life, careers and everything in between. There are thousands and thousands of podcasts out there, so have a search online for ones which suit your tastes. You never know what snippets of wisdom you might uncover by tuning in and taking note.
Browse Pinterest. My favourite thing to do every morning is go on Pinterest and browse the latest pins. I like looking at motivational quotes, beautiful photography, colourful art, cute cats and cool haircuts. But that is just me. So instead of logging onto Facebook or reading some negative news, go onto Pinterest for a daily dose of inspiration and motivation. Start the day in a positive and uplifting way. You will feel better for it and it may even spark a little creativity too.
Be persistent. To get better at something, you have to keep doing it and doing it and… you know, doing it. There is no other way. For example, I must have taken the same photo today about 20 or more times, rearranging the props, adding something new, taking something away, approaching from different angles, zooming in, zooming out before I thought it was okay. I then spent more time in Photoshop messing around with fonts, changing the colours and moving things around before I was actually happy. So I say stick with it and keep experimenting until you get there.
Get moving. Feeling in a creative slump? Get some exercise! My best thinking happens when I go outside, put my headphones in and just walk. The mix of fresh air and a change of scenery is enough to clear the mind and make space for some imaginative ideas. Exercise is my go-to activity when I am feeling uninspired and generally down. Whatever I do, whether is it is swimming, walking, yoga or a fitness class – I always feel better afterwards, full of inspiration and positive energy.
Let go of perfection. There is no right or wrong when it comes to being creative, you are free to express yourself however you want to. You don’t need to follow any set rules; just go with the flow and make it up as you go along. Your creation will be special, unique and tell its own beautiful story. Most importantly, don’t use self-doubt as a barrier that prevents you from starting a new project. Whatever your standard now, keep going and you will improve. So be brave, pick up the pen, practice the piano, paint that picture, whatever, and you might actually just surprise yourself.
I hope you enjoyed my post today! What do you do to boost creativity and inspire new ideas? Do you have any favourite podcasts at the moment? I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!
