How to cultivate creativity in your everyday life
Do you consider yourself a creative person?
I think we have this idea that a creative person is someone who likes to paint, plays an instrument or sings, someone who creates and makes art. I want to challenge that assumption and tell you that we ALL can be creative.
Maybe we are not creative in the ways we typically associate creativity with (i.e. maybe not all of us will draw, pain or play an instrument), but we all possess the ability to create; to make something different, beautiful and artistic.We all have it in us to create something meaningful and fulfilling.
Why do we need to be creative?
I purposefully say we need to be creative because I believe, as humans, we have an innate call to create, to innovate, to make something, & to use our imagination.
In addition to having fun and perhaps, helping us pass the time, cultivating creativity in our everyday life has its health benefits.
Some of the benefits of using your creativity include:
8 ways to cultivate creativity in your everyday life:
1. Schedule some time (even if it’s just a short period of time) to do nothing…. and just have a “creative time.”
Take this time to disconnect from your phone or social media.
Perhaps you take time to intentionally take a deep breath and connect with yourself, and connect with your ideas.
Observe what’s around you. Imagine something you’ll like to see. Write your ideas down. Create what’s missing.
Spend some time in silence.
2. Switch up your routine a bit. Think about a little change you can make to something you do every day.
Can you change or add a different ingredient to one of your favorite recipes?
If you go walking outside everyday, can you take a walk on a different path?
If you like using make up, what’s a different lipstick you can put on?
Instead of listening to the same radio station or playlist on your commute, what if you change it up or create a new playlist of new-to-you songs?
Instead of picking up your phone first thing when you wake up, pick up a journal and write down your thoughts.
3. Try journaling. Julia Cameron, author of the book “The Artist’s Way” suggests setting aside 20 minutes every morning to write down whatever thoughts come to your mind. Writing three “Morning Pages” first thing in the morning is a daily practice to imperfectly (there’s no right or wrong way) write down everything and anything you are thinking at the moment, that can in turn spark your creativity.
If you like more “structured” journaling prompts, I highly recommend the Five Minute Journal. It is the journal I am using at the moment and the structure and intentionality of it has helped me remain committed to writing everyday. And yes, it only takes a couple of minutes!
4. Read a book or listen to an audiobook. Sometimes picking up a new book, of a different genre, style, or author we are used to can help spark new ideas. Sometimes re-reading one of our favorite books can do that too.
I just finished listening to the book/audiobook “How To Not Always Be Working” by Marlee Grace. I highly recommend this short read for creatives, like me, who’s job is based off or fueled by their creativity. This practical book provides easy-to-follow strategies to inspire your creativity when it feels depleted by your work.
5. Listen to a podcast. Podcasts are one of my favorite resources and there is really a podcast for everything from business, homesteading, history, therapy, education, etc. Some of my favorite podcast that spark my creativity are:
Music education, music therapy, therapy
Entrepreneurship
Wellbeing
6. Be in nature. Notice its rhythms, its textures, colors, sounds, shapes.
7. Make music. Pick up a new instrument. Listen to new music. I always become inspired by discovering new playlists, songs and artists I haven’t heard before. I don’t consider myself a songwriter per se, but there’s something energizing from consuming new music that we love that motivates me to try new chord progressions, lyrics, and styles in my own music-making time.
If you are not a musician, pick up a new instrument! It’s never late to learn something new. We don’t have to be prodigies or have the intention to become professional musicians to learn a new instrument. We can make music for the fun of it. Yes, music-making can be part of your self-care or mental health care plan (music therapists like me can support you in this endeavor).
Need some instrument recommendations?
If you want to learn an easy string instrument you can accompany yourself or someone else with when singing, you might enjoy the ukulele.
If you would like a meditative-type instrument, you might enjoy the steel tongue drum. (It’s a pentatonic instrument, so the notes sound really well together regardless of when, how or in what order you play them).
If you want an instrument that can help you release big emotions, stress and tension, you might enjoy a tubano drum.
8. Rest. Just like nature itself, periods of creating always require moments of rest.
There are many different ways to cultivate creativity in your everyday life but these tips might be a good start.
If you need more inspiration or even, motivation to get creative, this TED Talk might also be helpful:
"When we are involved in creativity, we feel that we are living more fully than during the rest of life.”
-Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
How are you nourishing your creativity today?