Last Updated on July 31, 2023 by Lori
There are so many ways to awaken and increase your creativity. It’s not just for kids, either – we should nurture our creative beings throughout our lives. What have you done recently to tap into your creativity?
Everyone has the capacity to be creative. Sure, some people have a greater gift for creativity than others, and some people spend more time cultivating their creativity than others, too. But everyone can be creative.
Everyone Has the Ability to Tap Into Their Creativity
The truth is, you’ll never know just how creative you really are unless you make an effort to “work” your creative side.
Obviously, if you are an artist, you paint – or sculpt – or draw.
Musicians create and play music.
Actors create characters on screen or stage.
These people are in tune with their own creativity.
What about the rest of us? Those of us who aren’t so inherently creative, but want to explore and grow our abilities?
Are we limited in our ability to solve problems, invent new products, or create art?
It’s easy to understand what it takes to become more skilled at hitting a golf ball. It’s not quite as clear how someone should go about increasing their skill at “creating”.
But yes, we CAN tap into our creativity.
Learn about these 8 ways to Tap Into creativity:
- Change Your Environment
- Be Productive and Practice, Practice, Practice
- Don’t Try to Force Your Creativity
- Learn From the Wisdom of Others
- Change Your Routine
- Create Solitude
- Release Your Mind and Be Bored
- Be Creative When You Are Least Alert
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8 Ideas on How to Become More Creative
The eight ideas presented below will help you explore and nurture the creativity you already have within you, that is just waiting to get out.
It really is there inside you!
You may be surprised how small changes can spark inspiration, whether you are looking for a novel approach to solving a problem, beginning a new craft, or redecorating your living room.
1. Change Your Environment
Many authors write in hotel rooms. Many painters work in studios separate from their homes.
Your creativity won’t be at the highest level in the places you spend the most time. A new environment can spark your creativity. If you’re feeling stuck, change your environment.
Your normal hangouts stimulate your normal thoughts and feelings.
Shake up your routine to boost your creativity.
- Take your computer to a coffee shop.
- Take your sketch pad to the park.
- If you must stay home (or in another typical-for-you location), try working in a different room, or even a different chair.
Do something to alter what is normal and see things from a different perspective.
2. Be Productive and Practice, Practice, Practice
Many ideas, on their own, are relatively worthless. That’s okay.
It just means you have to come up with a lot of ideas before you find a good one you really like.
Every “bad” idea gets you closer to a good one, and in that sense, there are no ideas. So be productive, and come up with lots and lots of ideas, because the more you produce, the more likely you are to hit on “the one”.
Some comedians have stated they write a hundred jokes before they find the one perfect line. Songwriters make similar claims. Many artists will sketch a scene multiple times until they feel they’ve captured it the way they want to, and only then do they begin to paint.
Try lots of different ways of doing things. Tweak your actions just a little every step of the way. Be willing to wade through a lot of bad ideas and put forth a lot of options.
Eventually, something WILL click!
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use the more you have.”
Maya Angelou
3. Don’t Try to Force Your Creativity
Yes, practice is important – but there will be times when you feel like you’ve “hit a wall” and just aren’t making any progress. If you’ve been focused on your creative project for a while and it’s just making you frustrated, take a break. Don’t force it.
Sometimes you may need to leave your project alone for an hour or even the rest of the day. You feel you’ve run out of ideas of ability, and you are getting annoyed.
Take a break.
Have a drink of water, go for a walk outside, or get some rest.
Whatever you need to do to refill your tank is good, and the more your break differs from your creative project, the better off you are – this allows the mind to rest and reset.
4. Learn From the Wisdom of Others
Studying the masters of your field will give you a greater depth of knowledge. Learning about the ways others have approached your project will stimulate your brain to look at it in multiple ways.
Remember, even Michelangelo was an apprentice at one time.
5. Change Your Routine
Changing your environment while working on your creative project is beneficial. But so is changing up your routine in general.
It may be uncomfortable to break your routine at first, but each time you do, your mind expands and adapts to the change. Fortunately, you don’t have to make huge transformations. Even the smallest adjustments to your everyday life can boost your creativity dramatically.
- Wake up fifteen minutes earlier.
- Take a new route to work.
- Make a new recipe for dinner.
- Try a new exercise class.
Shake up your world just a little and you’ll kick your creativity into high gear.
6. Create Solitude
It’s next to impossible to be creative when you’re constantly dealing with interruptions.
Find a quiet, inspiring place to do your creative work and minimize your distractions.
If you are working on your computer, close out all tabs but the one you are working on. Let the phone go to voicemail. Turn off the tv. Don’t try to multitask. Give all your focus to your creative effort.
7. Release Your Mind and Be Bored
Boredom encourages daydreaming and reduces the activity of the logical parts of the brain.
With your logical centers taking a back seat, your creativity can shine through. Let your mind wander without any real focus, and you may be surprised at what randomly “pops” into your head.
This is why some of our best ideas occur in the shower!
8. Be Creative When You Are Least Alert
It might seem logical that you’d be most creative when your brain is most active, but science has shown the opposite is true.
For example, if you’re a morning person, your best ideas will probably come at night. If you tend to be a little foggy early in the morning, this is your ideal time to work on a creative project.
“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”
Mary Lou Cook
Read More:
- Are You Ready for a Personal Transformation?
- 10 Inspired Journal Prompts to Spark Your Creativity
- How to Create a Bucket List: for Women Over 50
- Keep Your Brain Sharp: Enjoyable Activities to Do When You’re Home Alone
- The Benefits of Coloring for Adults
Final Thoughts on How to Tap Into Creativity When You’re Feeling Uninspired
You can make the most of your creative gifts. There are well-established tips for increasing your creative powers.
Try including these 8 ways to awaken your creativity:
- Change Your Environment
- Be Productive
- Don’t Force Your Creativity
- Learn From Others
- Change Your Routine
- Create Solitude
- Be Bored
- Be Creative When You Are Least Alert
You never know precisely when a brilliant idea will hit, so increase the odds in your favor. Open your eyes to all of the ways you can tap into your creativity and explore new areas of life.
Lori, this is a fantastic blog post full of great ideas to get those creative juices flowing again. For me, the one I can relate to most are the interruptions killing creativity. Yes! I find this to be 100% true. This is the main reason why my most productive hours seem to be between 8pm-2am. I’ve taken care of everything else I’m going to get done for the day, and can just focus. It usually works like a charm.
I think not forcing creativity is another big one. It may work for some, but “pushing through” blocks for me does absolutely nothing except create frustration. Sounds to me like it does for you as well! Just as you suggested – taking a break/nap or going for a walk in nature are two of the most powerful cures for creative blocks. Isn’t it amazing how just walking away for a bit can re-open the flow of thoughts?
Thank you for this post. You’re helping a lot of people! 🙂
Holly, thank you so much for all of your kind comments! It sounds as though this post struck a special chord for you, and I’m glad you enjoyed and learned from it. Your comment “you’re helping a lot of people” made me tear up a bit – That’s always my goal! I really do appreciate the time you took to read and comment, and hope you will explore the rest of my blog for posts that speak to you.
These are great tips! I took a couple weeks off from writing because I was feeling super uninspired. It really helped to kind of refresh my brain.
I’ve taken many breaks from writing, too, and I find it does help with the creativity – but for me, I sometimes have a hard time getting back into and a one week break becomes two. I hope that’s not your experience! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Love this! I started my blog in my 50’s to add a layer of creativity to my life!
I love that! I started my blog in my 50s to prove that I could still do hard things! (The tech side is somewhat terrifying, and I do mine all by myself!) Thanks for reading!
Thank you Lori! This is just what I needed! I’m taking a break from the blog for a few days to get my creative juices flowing!
Thanks for reading! I’ll be expecting a particularly create post from you when get back from your break! 😉
Great suggestions. I’ve been struggling with my creativity lately. Thanks for the tips!
I hope you find some of these work well for you, Len. Keep at it, you are bound to have a breakthrough soon! Thanks for reading.
When I lived in the mountains I would take a hike, find a secluded spot. I would sit there take pictures. I also had a small tape recorder and would record any thoughts and ideas that came to me. It was crazy how many ideas I had when I spent time in nature.
You have some wonderful ideas here. I’ve hit a brick wall so I’m going to put in place some of your ideas today.
Isabella – I really, really love what you shared! Nature is kind of the ultimate creativity-booster out there! I hope you find some inspiration from the ideas in this post (meanwhile, I’m dreaming of being alone on a mountain top!)
Hi Lori. Just a quick comment to let you know that I have nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. You can read my post here: https://richiesroom.com/sunshine-blogger-award/
Thank you so much! Too kind! I will most certainly read the post and respond.
Loved these. Yes changing routine and getting a change of scenery are so important. Here in 2020 it can be difficult to get those creative juices flowing or change scenery as much as you like. I have a few go-to movies, books and music that always put me in my groove. If you can get to a gallery or a walk in nature that can help reset the mind if you are in a creative rut too.
Elise, those are excellent suggestions! Being inspired my others’ works and nature – perfect! They certainly will boost the creative juices! Thank you for sharing those ideas.