Did you know that you can literally train your brain to be more creative? You also don’t have to wait for inspiration to strike.
Understand that creativity can be designed
If you are in a creative profession, or want to be, the idea that you can be “blocked” comes up a lot. You’ve seen movies and stories about people with writer’s block or artists who are in a dry spell. The problem with this is that most professionals are not allowed to have blockages or dry periods, so why the creatives?
The truth is, just as a doctor can perform surgery on time, so can any creative person. You can write on a schedule. You can paint on a schedule. You can do whatever you want on a schedule. You don’t need to have the desire, passion or inspiration to do it, just the skill and dedication to do it.
Learn something new
If you’re starting to get bored, or like you’re having a dry spell or a blockage, learn something new. You can learn more about your profession that is new, or you can learn about something new that stimulates the other side of your brain. Either way, when you learn something new, it will help you train your brain to be more creative.
Practice being creative on demand
Don’t buy into the idea that you can’t be creative on demand. Instead, buy into the idea that you can do it. So practice doing it. Create the right schedule for you when you get creative. Have a plan and do it.
Activities that help activate your creative side
It can also help if you find a transition activity to do right before you switch from the things you are doing to something creative. For example, you may want to take a walk between activities, do a crossword puzzle, or read for a few minutes between creative activities.
Spend time on different creative endeavors
Don’t just do one thing that’s creative. Try other things too. The more ways to indulge your creative nature, the more ways you can do it.
Exercise both sides of your brain
Find a way to stimulate both sides of your brain. Things like origami, throwing and catching a large ball, juggling, jumping rope, and things that require you to use both your hands and your feet, as well as your other senses, will help stimulate both sides of your brain.
Write your thoughts and ideas
When you have creative thoughts at any time of the day, be sure to write them down. You can forget about it if you don’t write down your ideas and thoughts right away. You can use your smartphone to help you collect this information.
Use your imagination like children do
One amazing thing about children is their ability to imagine things. If you are not sure how to do this, go out with your own children or those of your friends to experience it. They let your imagination run wild in exciting ways. You can still do it.