32 Tips To Be More Creative In 2019

HOW TO BE MORE CREATIVE

Creativity is the essence of living a happy, healthy, and a fulfilled life. Creative people tend to be better at finding solutions, come up with life-transforming ideas, more composed and productive under stressful situations and are overall more playful, vibrant, and full of life.

Contrary to what many people would think, creativity is not something that only a select few possess. We all have some form of creative side to us that just needs to unleash and show its full colors.

That’s the reason why we’re here today. So let’s look into 32 tips and ways you can tap into your ultimate creative potentials.

1. Set An intention

Everybody has some form of creativity hidden within them that only needs to unleash.

The first step to unleashing your creative side is to simply set an intention to be creative and be open to the creative ideas that flow into your mind.

Setting an intention will send a command to your unconscious mind to bring forth your creative abilities when you need them and come up with relevant ideas or solutions.

2. Observe Life

We often go through life without ever noticing and paying attention to the fine details of it.

As a result, we miss out on a lot of information that might spark some creative thinking and add on to our overall wisdom.

Make a personal goal to be more mindful and more present in the moment.

Make intentional use your 5 senses. Begin to pay attention to the smaller details of life.

Notice what is there for you to learn. What lessons, wisdom, and creative ideas can you pick from your surroundings.

3. Have A Playful Attitude

Often we get too serious about certain things in life. Always judging, analyzing, and trying to find logical explanations of everything.

In doing so, our mind gets caught up consuming most of our mental energy by overthinking and taking stuff too seriously.

We tend to be more creative when we are in a light, playful mood.

When we are playful, our conscious mind relaxes allowing our subconscious mind to flow freely, not only elevating our mood but also opening windows for creativity to flow through like a smoothly flowing fresh breeze.

4. Be Curious

“Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.”
– Leo Burnett

I think curiosity has been very underrated in our society. Children are discouraged from being too curious.

But in essence, a healthy and positive curiosity is where all the creativity, revolutionary ideas, and dynamic solutions come from.

We were naturally curious as children, but as we grew up, society influenced us to be numb and dumb.

Instead of being curious about finding solutions, we learned to complain about our problems.

Instead of finding more creative and efficient ways to live life, we learned to settle for whatever there is, without ever tapping into the countless possibilities that might be waiting for us to consider.

Reignite your inner natural curiosity. Believe me, it’ll transform your life.

Check out my detailed guide on Curiosity and how can you reignite it.

5. Look Past The Conventional Ways To do Things

Life transforming ideas often come when we get out of the conventional mindset and look for possibilities outside of the box.

If you have an idea that no one else is trying or thinking about, go ahead and experiment with it.

If it works, you’ll be a revolutionary. If it doesn’t, you’ll gain great experience and be much wiser and braver than others who never dared to try.

Many people get mentally stuck at a certain point in life just because they have blindly adopted the conventional ways and beliefs taught to them by family and society.

If conventional ways were always the best, why would most of the revolutionary people in history (and even current times) dare to think unconventionally and come up with unusual ideas and solutions?

6. Immerse Yourself in Creativity

Get in the proximity of creativity. Surround yourself with creative ideas that will inspire you to unleash your own creative side.

Immerse yourself into great books and creative hobbies. Connect with other creative people.

Visit places that inspire you. It can be different for everyone.

Some might find science or history museums to be inspiring. For some attending a workshop, course, or a conference might ignite creativity.

Connect with other creative and productive people. Keep in touch with them regularly. Have meet-ups every now and then.

7. Slow Down, Free Yourself, And Get some Isolation.

Most of us get so caught up in everyday life that we rarely ever take out any time for our own self.

In this age of information overload, it is essential that we allow some time and space for our minds to think, reflect, and declutter our thoughts to make way for higher wisdom and creative thinking.

It is extremely important to connect with our deeper self if we want to live a positive and healthy life that is filled with a creative spirit.

Make it a habit to consistently take time off from the fast-paced rut of the world.

Get UNbusy and spend some time connecting with yourself. Give your mind a break and some fresh air.

Take some time to read a good thought-provoking book. Go for a walk. Sit by the beach. Pray. Meditate. Go swimming. Write your thoughts down in a journal.

Ponder over life and life’s purpose. Reflect on your thoughts, actions, and how you’re living your life.

8. Learn To Relax Under tough Situations

Often we need our creativity the most when we have to come up with some immediate solution in an urgent situation or some difficult scenario.

Many of us panic or freeze during such circumstances which makes our mind go blank in a time when we need it the most.

In order to tap into our higher problem-solving abilities, we must relax a bit and gain composure first before we could do something about the situation.

A simple way to relax is to take a few deep breaths, and ideally sit and have some water.

Additionally, if you want to program your mind to relax under such situation and even in your day to day life, Get my FREE downloadable Deep Relaxation Therapy.

9. Be Mentally Flexible

A rigid mindset is the biggest barrier of creativity.

Be open to the possibility of multiple options and solutions. Often times there can be many answers to one question. Don’t let rigidity deprive you of all those options and solutions that might be out there for you.

You might have to let go of your own opinions to allow other out-of-the-box ideas to flow through.

10. Avoid Toxic And Negative People

Being under the influence of narrow-minded and negative people can greatly impede your creativity.

Get yourself away from such people who drain your energy. Your mind space and mental energy are precious, make sure you don’t waste it mindlessly over such people.

If you find yourself thinking too much about how those people have treated you, divert your thinking immediately and indulge in something creative and fun.

Be determined to take charge of your mental energy and NOT give the remote control of your mind and moods to anyone else.

11. Get into Art

Activate the creative side of your mind by indulging yourself in art. There is no better way to unleash your creativity than to do the tasks that require it the most.

Here’s a list of a few things you can get your hands into:

  • Sketching
  • Painting
  • Crafting
  • Designing
  • Making things out of recyclable materials
  • Finding artful ways to decorate your home or office
  • Pottery
  • Wood-work
  • Graphic designing
  • Digital art

You name it.

12. Allow Creative Thinking To Happen

One of the biggest distractions today that keep us from tapping into our higher potentials is the unrestricted use of digital media.

The internet, our phones, and social media have consumed us.

We start our days on our phones and end them on it.

Days, months, and even years go by and we barely even notice.

Our life is passing us by and most of us barely even care.

Set certain boundaries and restrictions on your use of digital media to allow free space in your mind where new creative thoughts and ideas could flow.

Whenever you are in a creative zone or doing something that requires your full attention, put your phone on silent and keep it away from your sight.

Don’t let facebook notifications and whatsapp messages interrupt you and break your flow.

13. BrainStorming

If you want to get some creative ideas regarding a particular thing, take a piece of paper and write that thing/topic in the center.

Then write any random creative thought related to it that flows through your brain. Write without hesitation. Just get it on the paper.

You can involve other people into this as well if you like.

If it is at your workplace, you can involve other co-workers in this brainstorming.

If it’s something regarding your home/family, involve your family into it. Ask them about their ideas and write them down.

After you’re done brainstorming, ideally take a day or two off before coming back to it again and see what clicks and makes the most sense for you.

14. View Things From Several Different Angles

Make a habit of considering many different perspectives to view a certain thing or situation.

Be open to other people’s perspectives and try seeing things from the eyes of different people who might be connected to that particular scenario.

This will give you great insight and feedback which you can use to come up with a more dynamic idea or solution.

15. Let Go Of Perfectionism

Often our great ideas and creativity die either because we keep our expectations too high or we overthink about how it will get done.

Just start where you are, with whatever you have. Don’t go too much into the “HOWS”. If you are determined enough, the “how” will reveal itself at the right time.

Trust the process and go along with it.

Make things simple and easy for yourself.

Let creative ideas flow freely without worrying about whether it will be too hard to do.

Stop waiting for things to be picture perfect before you unleash your creativity.

Most great people who did great things started small, with very little, and went through numerous trials and errors before making an example out of their lives.

16. Stop Comparing Your Creative Abilities With Others

Everyone has different potentials and talents in different areas of life. There is a niche for almost anything, making the possibilities endless.

The problem is, many of us limit ourselves to just a select few areas just because most people around us are into those things.

We compare our abilities with others and when we find our abilities to be inferior to them, we tend to become demotivated.

The fact is, everybody is different in their own ways. Instead of focusing on what talents you don’t have, start to focus on what you DO have.

If you think you are talentless, you are not looking in the right place. It’s foolish to compare a fish which can swim in water with a monkey that can climb a tree. Both are different with different abilities.

17. Start Your Day By Activating Your Creative Side

So many people start off their days either in a lazy and lousy state or in a hurry to go off to work.

Make your mornings productive. Go to bed a little early at night and get up at a time when you can have at least 30 extra minutes for yourself.

Make a habit of doing something at the beginning of your day that’ll activate your thinking abilities.

Pray, read a thought-provoking book, write, draw, review your life goals and visions, go for a walk in the park, play some sports, listen to a productive podcast or interview.

18. Try Something New Everyday

“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”
— T.S. Eliot

It doesn’t have to be something big and bold. Try new ways to do your daily routine tasks. Experiment with the little things of your routine life.

Here are a few things to get you started:

  • Read about a new topic.
  • Take a new route to work.
  • Eat something different.
  • Try out different colored clothes that you haven’t tried before.
  • Have a conversation with a stranger.
  • Go and explore a new store that you haven’t visited before.
  • Try writing with the opposite hand.
  • Do random and thoughtful acts of kindness.

19. Make Technology Your Servant

In the 21st century, thousands of things that people had to sweat over manually can now be done automatically and within a small amount of time.

Instead of getting distracted with technology, be creative with it and use it productively to your advantage.

Look for ways to simplify your life through technology.

See if you can automate certain mindless tasks that usually take up a chunk of your life so that you can focus on things that really matter.

20. Challenge Your Beliefs, Opinions, and Assumptions

We might believe something to be impossible or difficult.

We might have an assumption regarding something that is negatively affecting our state.

We might have biased opinions regarding many things.

All of this can be a great barrier that is stopping us from tapping into our greatest potentials and unleashing our hidden creativity.

“You must unlearn what you have learned.”
— Yoda

Make it a habit to challenge and question such thoughts that might NOT be serving you positively.

If you are flexible and open-minded enough, you’ll find some amazing insights and creative thoughts flowing through your mind.

”To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination.”
— Albert Einstein

21. Get Inspired

Find something that will inspire you. Something that will act as a switch to get you into a creative state of mind.

Try reading biographies of great people.

Get a bit into history.

Watch inspiring documentaries.

Listen to interviews of people who are the movers and shakers of the world.

Often times our problems or problems of other people inspire us to search for answers and solutions. Try helping someone out in a creative manner.

22. Move!

“All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.”
– ّFriedrich Nietzsche

To be able to let our mind flow, we must allow energy to flow through our bodies.

Movement through exercise is a great way to energize your mind and inspire creative thinking.

Exercise puts you into an active, go-getting state instantly.

Not only that but it rids your of any negative emotion or state that might be hindering your productivity.

Incorporate exercise in your regular routine. Ideally, start your morning off with a 20-minute sweat breaking exercise.

23. Get In Touch With Nature Regularly

Benefits of connecting with nature are endless. Entire articles or even books can be written on it.

In the context of creativity, nature has a huge impact when it comes to unleashing our creative, artistic, and problem-solving abilities.

Nature changes you from the inside.

You may or may not feel the effects of it taking place immediately, but as you continue to connect with nature regularly, you begin to notice some drastic changes in the way your mind operates and how you carry yourself in day to day life.

Nature itself is very calm and subtle, and so are its effects.

As you connect with it, you’ll experience ideas and inspiration subtly trickling down in your unconscious, sometimes without you even noticing.

So make it a habit to get in touch with nature consistently. Even if it’s just once a week or once every two weeks.

24. Start A New Hobby

Many of us get stuck into the same usual repetitive routine that goes on for years upon years.

When we do the same familiar things daily, the creative side of our mind doesn’t get a chance to kick in and show its colors.

Make a commitment to take an interest in new things and keep on adding brand new hobbies to your life.

Pick something that you are curious about but haven’t experienced it yet.

Dive into that particular thing. Find people with similar hobbies and connect with them.

Not only will you get to meet some new people and learn a great deal, but also add a new dimension to your life.

25. Treat Creativity Like A Muscle

When you have to grow a muscle, you train, push, and stretch it regularly.

Our mental capabilities behave the same way, including our creativity. If you want to keep growing it, you must keep using and pushing it regularly.

Similar to a muscle, the creative side of our mind also need some break in between to rest and refresh so it can continue to grow stronger.

26. Learn A New Skill

Why just settle for what we already know? Why not learn new things and add new skills to our arsenal?

Making conscious efforts to learn new things and develop new skills keep us young, fresh, and relevant.

In the age of the internet, learning has never been so easy and at arms reach.

Here’s a list of ideas for you to get started with a new skill.

Learn:

  • To speak and read a new language
  • How to do basic animations
  • How to draw properly
  • Photography
  • Cinematography
  • Painting
  • Crafting
  • Public Speaking
  • How to use photoshop
  • Martial Arts
  • Archery
  • Horse Riding
  • Cooking/baking
  • How to do standup Comedy
  • Gardening
  • Mathematics

27. Learn To Channelize Your Thoughts And Life-Learnings Through Creative Writing

Whether it be writing in your personal diary/journal, writing for a blog, or writing a book, any form of writing where you can express your thoughts and life learnings is hands-down one of the best ways to access your creative side.

We all have hundreds if not thousands of life experiences where we learned some form of life lessons. Something that added on to our wisdom.

Learn to channelize your thoughts into words. You don’t have to be perfect.

At first, you might sit blank with a pen and a notepad (or your computer), that is totally OKAY. Keep at it.

That’s how you push the creative side of your mind to get into action!

As you continue to have an intention of writing, eventually words will flow out.

In the beginning, it might just be a few lines or a few small paragraphs, but as you make it a habit to write regularly, you’ll develop a stronger connection with your thoughts and develop the ability to translate them into better and better words.

The more you do it, the better you’ll get.

One of the reasons why I believe creative writing is so important is that it serves as a productive pathway for any negative/tough/painful experiences to flow out in a positive and productive form.

I personally began to write when I was going through some of the toughest phases of my life.

I learned to translate my tough and painful experiences into something that might help other people and be some force of good.

Initially, I didn’t have much vocabulary and I couldn’t write much. But over a period of several years, now I have to cut down on the length of my articles to avoid making a small book out of it : P

28. Create An Environment Around You That Inspires You To Be Creative

Where do you usually spend most of your day? How does that space look like currently?

Whether it be your office, home, or home-office, make sure you create an environment that instantly puts you in a productive and creative state of mind.

Get involved in designing and customizing your workspace in a way that brings the best out of you.

You don’t have to be extravagant, just make mindful changes and keeping your space well organized and tidy.

Put things in your surroundings that are a source of inspiration for you.

It can be:

  • A Painting that you made
  • Picture of a place you want to travel to one day
  • Photo of a physical thing that you intend on achieving
  • Quote that moves you written big and bold
  • Small indoor plants that remind you of nature
  • Colorful decorative items that inspire playfulness in you
  • Collection of the books you love arranged neatly
  • White-board where you write your creative ideas and inspiring thoughts
  • Softboard where you stick pictures and cut-outs of your creative ideas and plans

You get the idea.

29. Live As If You Are Free Of Hurdles And Any Creative Idea Is Possible

Many of us usually get caught in the current crisis of life.

As you can guess, a mindset that is focused on crisis and problems is far from being optimal for creativity to unleash.

Becoming a possibility-thinker and being solution-oriented is one of the best ways to kick into creative gear, even during an apparent crisis or stressful circumstances.

Don’t fret over lack of resources. Be “Resourceful” and the resources will follow automatically.

Remember that Creativity isn’t something that is optional. It’s a necessity.

It allows us to handle problems effectively, get out of the crisis, and act appropriately in case of any urgencies.

Non-creative people tend to get stressed out, panicked, anxious, frustrated, or stuck under any such uncomfortable or critical circumstances.

Whereas being in a creative state of mind allows us to actively access our senses and thinking abilities, and immediately look for a resolution.

30. Be Brave

You’ve got to be brave to try out new things, take some risks, and think outside the box.

Know that your creativity and creative ideas might not always be welcomed immediately by society.

You may get some criticism or resistance. Brace yourself for it.

Realize that not everyone will see what you are seeing. Most people won’t be able to perceive your thinking, as their own world-view might be quite different than yours.

Part of unleashing your creative side to the fullest is to let go of the worries of “what will people say” or “how will people perceive it”.

Sometimes you just have to become carefree of the world and allow your positive intuitions to lead.

31. Don’t Quit. Persist.

People give up too early on their ideas and solutions. Give your ideas some time to mature and develop.

It can take a bit of time and a bit more experience for your creative ideas and solutions to work.

If you’re stuck at some point with the execution of your idea, give it some more time. Believe me, a solution will soon click into your subconscious mind.

Talking from personal experience, throughout the years I got stuck countless times in the execution of so many ideas or resolutions of certain problems.

After giving it enough time and often taking a bit of a break for a few days, almost every single time the solution just clicked out of nowhere, and that what initially seemed too hard or even impossible, all of a sudden seemed very easy and possible.

I call these “small miracles of life”.

I’m a big believer that God puts us under uncomfortable situations for us to grow.

When we show resilience and persistence under those situations, He puts inspiring thoughts and solutions into our minds.

We just need to trust God’s timing and ask for His guidance regarding the matter.

32. Get Into The World To Materialize Your Creativity

Finally, what good is all the creativity if it doesn’t manifest into the world in some way, shape, or form.

As we discussed above that it is necessary to have “some” time in isolation to clear your mind and allow the creative thinking process to happen.

As the same time, It is equally necessary to keep in touch with the world and Not totally disconnect.

If you disconnect with the world, where will you unleash all your creativity and magnificent ideas?

Also, where will the new ideas and solutions come to you if you do not connect with real people and real-world challenges?

Creative ideas don’t usually come when we are in our comfort zones, but when we are put to a challenge and our mind is either inspired or forced to think outside of the box.

So be strategic about when to take a break from the world and when to dive back into it again and rock the world with your amazing ideas, inspirations, countless possibilities, and unlimited potential.

Bookmark this article and come back to it again whenever you need the inspiration to get creative.

Until next time.

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