You can set yourself up to be more creative by doing a few simple things. Whether you create for a living or just like to be a creative person, here are 5 ideas to help you get your creative juices flowing again!
5 Ways to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing Again
1) Create margin. Without margin, there is no room for creativity. Creativity flows from margin, and by margin, I mean white space in your schedule. Times when we aren’t doing anything. Sabbath. Rest. Downtime. Blocks of time to work on projects that really matter to you. I’ve written a lot about the rest aspect of margin in my book, Rest Assured: Seven Days to Stillness, Sanity, and the Sabbath You Need. It’s easy for life to become all work and no play. Start with a block of time or a day of rest. You won’t regret it!
2) Disrupt your normal routine. Plan something fun. Go to the beach. Sleep in. Go hiking. Take a walk. Friedrich Nietzsche said, “All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.” Find what does it for you and go do it! Author Mark Batterson says, “Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective.” I have found that to be true. That’s why I suggest everyone take a Sabbath day every week and at least one personal retreat every year. I’ve written a blog on it so I won’t elaborate. It’s called, Why I Love Retreats (and think you should take one too).
3) Find other creative people. Creativity fosters more creativity. It’s harder to be creative when you are not feeling inspired. It doesn’t always have to be face to face either. Listen to a podcast. Read a book. Go to a concert. Play or listen to some inspiring music. Get together with a creative friend with similar interests.
When I was in college, I picked up a guitar. I noticed when I played with other people who were better than me or just knew different things than I knew, it sped up the creative process. I learned more and I learned faster. Remember, what you put it you will get out. So get around other creatives! O, and by the way, we all have and need some form of creativity in our lives. You may not consider yourself a “creative,” but we all have problems that require creative thinking, and we are all of some more inspiration!
4) Set aside creative spaces. Do you have places you go to get the creative juices flowing? I do. My home office is one. A pond near my house is another. There are also a few coffee shops that I frequent. When I get bored in one place or need a change of pace, I hit up one of these other places. Where is your creative space? Natural beauty and wonder also inspire creativity. If all else fails, get outside!
5) Find your flow. Find your peak creative time and use it to work on things that are meaningful to you. At what time do you find you’re the most creative? For some people it’s late at night. My peak creative time is from 7:30-11:00 AM in the morning. That’s why if at all possible, I set aside that time to do the things in my life that require the most creativity and focus, and I guard that time very carefully.
I hope these simple ideas will help you be more creative. Why not try out one of these things today? If not, jot one down in your calendar for another day.
Your Turn
Is there a way you can carve out some more margin early in the morning or later in the evening for creative endeavors? How can you disrupt your normal routine to shake things up a bit? When are you most creative? Where are your creative places? How do you foster creativity in your life? When is your peak creative time? Who are one or two people who inspire creativity in you?
These are all questions that can help you find your creative flow again. Pick one to answer and take action on it in the next 24-48 hours. You won’t regret it!
*Photo by Olga Parker via Flickr
