How would you define creativity? Some call it a personal experience, others delve into the neuroscience behind how it works in the brain. It can be tricky to put into words but easy to spot when you see it.
Creativity involves thinking in new ways, often spontaneously, and out of the box. It has been described as a recombination of ideas and influences. It’s essential for generating new ideas, innovation, and solving tricky problems.
And for creative people, it’s especially fulfilling when we can express that creativity purely for our own enjoyment.
Creativity is not limited to artists, designers, or writers. Attorneys, builders, and engineers can be creative, just the same as painters, potters, and poets.
But keeping the creative juices flowing can be tough. That’s especially true if you’re a professional who works from home and thrives on the collaborative hive mind that can be found in a traditional office. If creativity is a recombination of ideas and influences, yet you work from home, by yourself, how can you make sure you are taking in new, fresh, and inspiring thoughts to pull from?
How can you spark your creativity when you’re tired? How can you push through your next creative block? And if you work at a job you don’t consider creative, why is still nurturing your creativity a healthy goal?
We’ve got answers. Plus we’ve curated a list of daily habits that are essential to staying fresh and nurturing your own creativity.
How to Spark Creativity
Here at DIYwhileWFH, we believe everyone can be creative, sans brain damage of course. But all too often we can get stuck in a “productivity mindset,” where we are hyper-focused and driven to get things done. Our purpose is not to say that productivity is bad, but rather to highlight the importance of not always being in the mode.
Unfortunately, the constant productivity mindset can leave little room for our imaginations to wander, and to spark our inner creativity. But just a little bit of change is needed to get out of our rut:
Go for a walk
It goes without saying that exercise is good for our bodies and our minds. But physical activity is a great way to spark creativity too. This study, from the American Psychological Association, conducted experiments on the creative benefits of walking.
Check out their findings: “Walking opens up the free flow of ideas, and it is a simple and robust solution to the goals of increasing creativity and increasing physical activity.”
So if you’re looking to boost your creativity, get active and go for a walk! Focusing on solving the problem of the creative block will often be the culprit of not being able to solve it.
Create your environment
Singers and musicians need somewhere it is okay to make noise. Where they feel safe to be loud and hit the wrong notes or go off-key. Painters need the space for their art supplies. Woodworkers need a shop for their tools and a shopvac for the sawdust.
Can’t spare an entire room or garage or studio for your passion? That doesn’t mean the environment you do have can’t be utilized. Maybe de-clutter a drawer to make space for your tools. Could some shoe boxes hold supplies?
Of course, if you’re able to set up your area and leave it you’ll have a much easier time getting started each day, but don’t let square footage limitations, well, limit you. As an aspiring creative, we challenge you to get creative about your environment and workflow.
Connect with other creatives
Working with like minded individuals can be just what you need to get unstuck. Fellow artists and makers can give you a safe space to think freely, explore new ideas, and express yourself. Build a tribe of creatives who cheer you on and help you grow.
Zoom and FaceTime are common choices if you want to connect, but don’t want to leave the house. But if you are feeling the urge to leave the house, why not meet up for coffee or a meal? Or if you have a good friend, why not swap working from each other’s places? The change of scenery can go a long way.
Make a new playlist
Whether you prefer to work in silence or you can get anything done without pressing play first, music can be an exciting tool to jump start our creativity.
Try creating a new playlist filled with music from new artists or broaden your tastes into a new genre. Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music can even offer recommendations based on your current tastes. Or tap into your fellow creatives and see what they’re listening to. Their musical style may be exactly the thing you need to hear.
Watch a TED talk
On a similar note, learning from innovators and experts can inspire you to think and dream bigger and spark your creativity in a way that propels new innovations. By taking a step out of your own thought process and immersing yourself into someone elses way of thinking you could start to see your creative rut from a new angle.
Take a pause in your day and watch this TED talk, “David Kelley: How to build your creative confidence.” It is a keeper, and we hope it leaves you confident that creativity is accessible to everyone, not just artists.
Do something creative every day
Forming a new habit takes time. But trust us, doing something creative every day is worth the commitment! The daily practice can make you more mindful, and help spark creativity, joy, and overall productivity.
Ideas for your new, daily habit may come easily. But just in case, here is a list of some of our favorite daily habits for creative people.
14 Ideas for Daily Habits for Creative People
Honestly, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating daily habits to help your creativity. Here are 14 of our favorite ideas:
- Doodle – Get your pen moving on the page, scribble, design, color. No judgment here, just have fun!
- Try a new recipe – A worker’s gotta eat, right? May as well try something new. Give yourself a 7-day cooking challenge. Or open the fridge and use only what you have to create something new.
- Start a knitting project – This daily habit can not only help you to relax but it can give you a huge sense of accomplishment once you see your finished project, be it a scarf or a potholder.
- Make origami – This beautiful art form can be a lovely daily habit to add to your routine. Folding paper into beautiful art can help you refine your problem-solving skills.
- Write a daily haiku – This daily habit has helped some of our team break through their writer’s block. Haikus are short, unrhymed poems that are arranged in 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, respectively. These brief, creative expressions are even more enjoyable when shared with a friend.
- DIY greeting card – Get crafty and make a piece of art that doubles as a greeting card. You’ll love the process and the recipient will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Set aside time to work on it a little each day. We’re sure you’ll love the process as much as the results.
- Daydream – Daydreaming can help to relieve boredom and give a sort of escape from your current task. Some of us seem to naturally have our heads in the clouds. But regardless, try carving out time each day to let your mind rest and dream of new ideas.
- Dance – Throw yourself a little dance party! It may sound silly, but science backs us up here. Dance itself is a form of creative expression. The improvisation and movement can help our brains work in new ways and in turn, kickstart our creative flow.
- Brainstorm with a friend – If sharing is caring, then sharing new ideas with a friend is truly nurturing your creativity. Have a think tank session and let the ideas flow.
- Read – Reading just a few minutes each day can reduce stress, help us learn new things, and even allow us to escape into another world. But as far as creativity goes, reading is an amazing way to help our imaginations. Just the thing we need to spark our creativity each day.
- Work outside – This isn’t exactly a creative act, but most of us don’t like being stuck inside all day. We’re huge advocates of setting aside time to work outside. Not only will the fresh air do you some good. The natural diversity around you can help you tap into your creative side.
- Take a nap – Ideas and creativity start in the brain. Studies show the brain functions better when it is rested. The next time you’re tired, take a nap. It’s science.
- Use social media for creative inspiration – We’re not talking doom scrolling for laughs only. Rather, view social media as a tool to expose yourself to others’ creative works. Our writers follow artists, creators, and makers of all creative mediums.
- Try new things – Science shows that being open to new experiences and ideas is the most consistent common thread between all creative people. Recombining ideas inspires more creativity exponentially with the number of new experiences you enjoy. Even the not-so-great ones.
Try a few of these daily habits or come up with your own favorite ideas. Just a few minutes each day can really make a difference. And sticking with your new habits can foster your overall well-being and even your career.
Why It Is Important to Nurture Your Creativity
Burnout is a real threat to all workers, including remote workers and creatives. Daily habits that nurture your creativity are just one way to fight burnout.
But more than that, these daily habits can help you be more imaginative, more innovative, more inspired, and more fulfilled in your day-to-day life and your profession. Creativity can help us solve problems more openly. It can help us be more resourceful in our daily lives.
When your schedule is bombarded with demands, carving out a few minutes each day to creatively express yourself can help with productivity and contentment.
So give it a shot. Choose one from the list, or two…or all 14. Whatever you choose, be intentional, purposeful, and spark your creativity every day.