5 Lesser-Known Ways to Give Your Creativity a Jumpstart

Most people think that creativity is a magical ability that some people are born with and others are not. And while it is true that some people are more naturally creative than others, the reality is that anyone can learn to be more creative if they put in the time and effort.

In fact, there are a number of things you can do on a daily basis to get more creative in your everyday life.

And in this post, I'll share a few specific ways that might surprise you. Let's get exploring!

Go for walks

A Stanford study found that walking increased people's creative ability to solve problems by 60%! This was even when people walked on a treadmill facing the wall.

The recommendation to go for walks as a way to get creative is not new. In fact, it's something that a lot of highly creative people have been doing for centuries.

Julia Cameron, the author of The Artist's Way, even recommends 30-minute walks as part of her creative practice. Her other recommendations include going on solo artist dates and doing 3 pages of stream-of-consciousness writing as soon as you wake up.

So if you're feeling stuck on a project, go for a walk and see if that doesn't jumpstart your creativity. The exercise, movement, and mental stimulation that comes from changing your environment will give your creative juices some extra power.

Doodle

Another way to get more creative is to Doodle. Sunni Brown, the author of The Doodle Revolution, makes the case that doodling is not a waste of time, but actually an important tool for thinking and problem-solving.

She argues that doodling can help us to process information more effectively, retain information better, and boost our creativity. And there is some scientific evidence to back up her claims. Doodling is known to increase recall, focus, and enhanced creativity.

So if you find yourself doodling when you're supposed to be paying attention, don't scold yourself. Embrace your inner artist and let the doodles flow!

Freewrite

A third way to get more creative is to freewrite. This is a technique that is often used by writers to jumpstart their creativity. The idea is to set a timer for a specific amount of time and then just write.

You can write about anything that comes to mind, no matter how random or nonsensical it may seem. The point is to keep your hand moving and not to worry about spelling, grammar, or whether what you're writing makes any sense.

What happens is that your surface thoughts and ideas get expelled on paper, forcing your brain to dig deep to find real gems of insight.

This is the gold that you can then use in your more focused writing.

So if you're finding it hard to get started on a project, try freewriting for 10-15 minutes. You may be surprised at what comes out!

Clean up your environment

A fourth way to be more creative is to clean up your environment. The stereotype of the messy artist and scatter-brained scientists has created the false impression that a disorganized workspace is good for people.

However, it's far more likely that working in a room with piled-up clothes, scattered objects, and wilting plants is hurting your creativity than helping it. Productivity expert David Allen says that creativity comes from having an empty desk and nothing to do. That is, when you've gotten rid of your busy work, you create the space you need to come up with new ideas.

Similarly, Marie Kondo, who's best known for helping people discard objects and tidy up, remarks that people see a boost in creativity and energy when they clean up their homes.

Take the time to clean up your space. Get rid of objects that you don't love and don't serve a purpose. When you have a clean home or office, you'll feel relaxed and find yourself more creative than you expected.

Likewise, clear up your email inboxes and do small tasks that you've been putting off. Taking care of small jobs like sending an email, making a doctor's appointment, or just making a grocery list can clear your mind.

Do nothing

A fifth way to be more creative is to do nothing. In our society, we are so used to being busy all the time that we don't know how to handle periods of rest and relaxation.

We feel like we should be doing something all the time, even if that something is scrolling through social media.

But it's important to give your mind a break from time to time. When you do, you'll feel bored, but that boredom will act as fuel for your creativity.

Boredom allows your mind to wander, explore, and make connections that it wouldn't otherwise make. So if you find yourself feeling bored, don't reach for your phone or turn on the TV. Just sit with the boredom and see what comes up.

Conclusion

If you're looking to boost your creativity, try one of these five methods: go for walks, doodle, freewrite, clean up your environment, or do nothing. Each of these activities will help you to think in new and innovative ways. So give them a try and see what works best for you.