7 Ideas for Being More Creative Every Day

Finding your creative spark is a process we all have to go through at least once in our lives. For people who rely on their creative abilities for their livelihood, that spark can sometimes prove to be elusive – especially when there’s a deadline looming. For others who don’t think they even have a creative cell in their body, the thought of actually igniting their creative fire can be downright scary.

The plain truth is that we are all, each and every one of us, creative beings in our own right. Creativity is the mother of innovation, and regardless of how you use yours – as an artist, an inventor, to help others, or just as a means of creating pleasure for yourself – you deserve the awesome feelings that use can inspire.  Your creative fire is already smoldering deep inside you, and just a simple spark can be all it takes for that fire to turn into a raging inferno of creative passion.

Here are 7 ideas you can use when you feel the need to be more creative:

Change the time of day when you practice being creative

I think we all have certain times of the day when we feel more creative. For me, it’s early in the morning and late at night. I usually start getting my best ideas around 10 p.m.

It’s been said that these two times of day are special because we’re not fully alert and so are more open to thinking freely and using our imagination.

If you’re used to being creative during the middle of the day and feel like you need more, try working early in the morning or just before bedtime and see if it makes a difference.

Talk to a child

Most children aren’t constrained by the same rules of thought that adults are. When you ask a question of a child, be prepared for anything. They’ll often have a perspective you never would’ve thought of, and that can be a great boost to your own creativity.

Suspend judgement

One of the biggest obstacles to creativity is premature judgment. Not all your ideas and creations will be good. Consider all the possibilities before dismissing any of the available options.

Surround yourself with creativity

Take yourself on what Julia Cameron calls an “artist’s date”. Spend time in museums, art galleries, or at the symphony. Read great literary works. Spend time with artists.

Other cool options for artist’s dates are places like fabric stores… the colors and textures in a fabric store blow my mind every time. Café’s are good too, especially for writers. They’re a great place to people watch and come up with ideas for characters in your novels.

Come up with at least five new ideas each day.

Great ideas are like great songs. You have to come up with a lot of them to discover a few hits. Keep your brain on the task by forcing yourself to be creative each day. You’ll be sure to find a few “hit” ideas each week.

Take your own advice

Ask yourself what advice or ideas you would give a friend if they were in need of more creativity. Then do that for yourself.

Sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to come up with the great idea. If you remove yourself from the equation and brainstorm as if you were giving advice to someone else, you get out of your own way and allow your thoughts to flow more freely.

Go for a walk

I can honestly tell you I get most of my best ideas walking. I love walking along the river bank and the other trails in the city and just letting my mind wander. Sometimes I take a notebook and pen and sit on a rock somewhere to write down ideas. Other time they come mid-step, and I’ll just record a voice memo on my phone and flesh it out when I get home. Either way it gives you mental and physical exercise both, and that’s a win in my books.

These are all easy steps you can take up increase the level of creativity you use every day. As a creative entrepreneur, you can’t really afford to let yourself get blocked. Try one of these ideas when you feel the need for more creativity, and let me know how it works for you!

Thanks for being here!