How to Be Creative [UPDATED]

“I can’t do that… I’m not creative enough.”

Sound familiar?

Replace that with anything… Writing, painting, crafting, dancing, playing a musical instrument.

If you tell yourself you aren’t creative enough, you’re right.

But I will tell you a secret: EVERY human being is creative in his or her own way. Yes, it takes some individuals more time or effort to be creative than others; however, but the ability to be creative is in each and every one of us.

As noted in Thinker Toys, Second Edition by Michael Michalko, “Creativity is not an accident, not something that is genetically determined. It is not the result of some easily learned magic trick or secret, but a consequence of your intention to be creative and your determination to learn and use creative-thinking strategies.”

Like attitude and mindset, creativity is a choice. It’s a mindset.

The 4 Creativity “Types” of Creativity”

According to Arne Dietrich, cited in 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People by Susan M. Weinschenk, Ph.D., “there are four types of creativity with corresponding brain activities:

1. Deliberate and cognitive creativity – This requires an existing body of knowledge for an individual to draw from.
   
2. Deliberate and emotional creativity – This relates to those “a-ha!” moments.
   
3. Spontaneous and cognitive creativity – This type of creativity kicks into gear when you are hyper-focused on a problem you can’t seem to solve. Then, you take the weekend off, giving your brain a break from thinking about the problem. Suddenly, the answer or a possible solution hits you from out of nowhere or while you are engaging in another activity, such as kayaking, shopping with friends, or sitting at your kid’s soccer game.
   
4. Spontaneous and emotional creativity – This type of creativity is often associated with artists and musicians.

In short, creativity can either be emotionally or cognitively based, and it can also be spontaneous or deliberate.

Creativity is a Process

Creativity is fundamentally the process of making connections between different parts of the brain. Believe it or not, this is a process that can be perfected with practice, patience, and time. All you need to do is find sources of inspiration.

16 Tips on How to Be Creative

In this article, I will share some tips on how to generate new ideas and drive innovation, solve problems, and tap into your greatest moments of creativity.

1. Choose to be creative.

As mentioned above, much like attitude and mindset, creativity is a choice. Regardless of what we cannot control in our lives (our parents, our country of origin, our race, and so on), we can choose to be creative. So tell yourself every day that you are creative.

Additionally, if you begin to think you are a creative person and go through the motions of one, you will eventually become one.

2. Be positive.

Creativity also thrives on positivity. It’s impossible to be creative when you’re negative. In fact, nothing is more harmful and counterproductive to achieving a positive, creative attitude than fears, uncertainties, and doubts (or FUDs). Being intimidated by others or FUDs will only lead to defeat. As mentioned in the point above, tell yourself every day that you are creative.

In fact, studies have shown that there is a link between laughter and problem-solving that demands a creative solution. It also improves our decision-making quality. Additionally, the right balance and blend of optimism, positive thinking, and hope working together help individuals enter their “flow state” more easily, where they achieve peak performance and results. It is also a state of self-forgetfulness, free from worry, anxiety, and rumination. It requires a delicate balance between boredom and anxiety in order to achieve it.

3. Discover your “creative peak points”.

Every person has their own time during the day (or night) when they do high-value, high-focus work. Typically, these are also the same times when they are most creative. This could be first thing in the morning, in the middle of the day after that afternoon coffee, or late at night. There’s no “right” or “wrong” time to be creative.

Figure out when you do your best work, when you are most creative, and build your work schedule around these times. If you find it helpful, you can even block off your calendar as “focus work” or “deep work” periods to avoid disruptions, which brings us to our next point…

4. Work “deeply”.

Do you know the moments when focusing on a task at work or a personal project, and you are so fully immersed in what you’re working on that you forget what time it is? That is what we mean by “deep work”. It is also commonly referred to as your “FLOW” state. It is when your brain strikes the right balance between ability and challenge. (Of course, other factors affect your brain’s ability to achieve this balance, such as mindset and sleep quality.)

Working deeply helps you to come up with or master new ideas and apply them, create something with them, solve a problem, or learn how to do hard things quickly.

Once you understand when you work best, schedule “deep work” sessions. This could be a few hours or a few days. To truly reach the level of “deep work” described above, your “deep work” sessions should involve 0 distractions and interruptions.

All in all, deep work is about developing habits and setting routines and rituals that allow you to focus on meaningful, creative work. With that being written, there’s no “correct” deep work ritual. It could mean schedule 2-3 hour-long blocks of time every day, locked in your office or a quiet room; or a “grand gesture”, such as substantially changing your environment. It’s about finding out what, where, when, and how works for you.

5. Mind map it out.

Let’s say your “creative peak point” is 6:00 am. So, you set an alarm for 5 am to wake up, take a shower, get dressed, make a pot of coffee, and sit down to work.

Now what? Where do you start?

You might have to “practice” being creative. One of the best ways to start is with a creative brainstorming exercise. You can do this by “mind mapping“. There are several mind map tools and apps you can use, such as Mindmeister or Mind Tools, PowerPoint, a white board, or a good, old-fashioned pencil and a piece of paper.

Start with an idea or a concept, and begin drawing out that idea with whatever comes to mind. It could be words, pictures, a pattern of lines, or even stick figures. Try not to overthink it; rather, treat it as a little free association exercise. This will allow you to close the gap between “creation” and “ideation”.

6. Start an “idea quota”.

Set a goal for yourself to generate a defined number of ideas per week. This could be 3, 5, or 10, whatever you feel comfortable with. Jot them down in a notebook, journal, or a digital notepad. The key here is to avoid judging your own ideas. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible to fill your quota. It doesn’t matter how ridiculous, silly, or impossible they are. Quantity over quality.

7. Say no.

I used to be someone who always said “yes” to everyone’s requests, regardless of how large and important, or trivial and ridiculous. I am naturally a “people pleaser”. I always want to help others. And I would give the shirt off my back for people I love. And if I ever have to say “no”, I feel guilty, like I let the other person down.

However, over the years, I have learned that saying “yes” all the time only wears me out and robs me of my time to be creative and run my business.

One morning I read this great blog over coffee, which featured this awesome graphic. I keep this open on my laptop screen every day. This way, before I say “yes” to yet another commitment to make someone else happy, I refer to this graphic to help me take a step back, assess my priorities, and reflect on how I really feel about the ask.

The point here isn’t to be a jerk. It’s perfectly okay to say “no”. It’s about setting boundaries, protecting your time, and allowing you the time you need to be creative.

8. Make connections.

As I mentioned above, creativity is the process of making connections in the brain. Of course, everyone is wired differently, so take the time to discover A) what connections you need to make to solve a problem or create something awesome, and B) how to harness high levels of creativity to make A happen.

High creativity = Problem solving

One of the main aspects of creativity is the ability to understand the complete problem, then brainstorm solutions. Creatives usually come up with solutions when they are combined with other insights or when they make connections.

9. Build a routine.

It might seem counterintuitive, but healthy habits, rituals, and routines are all important for fostering creativity and doing creative work. This is because the human brain thrives on some level of structure, which allows it to function and focus. We call this “structured thinking”.

Many creative professionals wince at the word “structure” as it seems like this means removing creativity from the thinking process; however, it does the exact opposite. Creativity thrives on rules, structure, routines, and habits. By giving your brain boundaries, you not only build focus, but also allow your thoughts to roam freely and on top of one another.

10. Break that routine.

As mentioned in the point above, routines are great for approaching problem-solving in a structured, lateral-thinking manner. After all, humans are creatures of habit. However, over time, it’s okay to break that routine. For example, if you normally work in an office, try working outside. If you normally golf, try boating. If you normally run on a track, try hiking. You get the point. Small breaks in routines can lead to new ideas.

11. Rest and refuel.

So, you established a great routine? Great. Now forget that routine. I don’t mean entirely, but maybe for a day or two, or three, or seven.

According to the book, Principles by Ray Dalio…

“Our greatest moments of inspiration often ‘pop’ up from our subconscious. We experience these creative breakthroughs when we are relaxed and not trying to access the part of the brain in which they reside [the neocortex]…

Many people believe that the way to accomplish more is to cram more into the conscious mind and make it work harder, but this is often counterproductive. Clearing your head is the best way to make progress on any project.

Knowing this, I now understand why creativity comes to me when I relax (when I’m in the shower) and how meditation helps open this connection. It’s physiological. I can actually feel the creative thoughts coming from elsewhere and flowing into my conscious mind. It’s a kick to understand how that works.”

Yes, a routine is important, but relaxation is key to a creativity-driven life. This is the concept of “indirect reflection”. In fact, simply taking a break from the busy workday can help you refresh, refuel, and be more creative later that evening or even the next day.

If you can’t take a long weekend away or a vacation, try taking an hour or two, or even one weekend day, and going for a walk or a hike. In fact, studies have shown that there is a direct link between walking and creativity.

12. Be Open-minded.

If you are a close-minded person, you will likely find it more difficult to really get in touch with your creative side. However, by keeping an open mind to new ideas, new changes, and ways of working, you will find that you are more creative.

One point that I want to make clear: There is such thing as being too busy. Not only does this risk burnout, which is creativity’s ugly cousin, but when there is too much floating around your brain all at the same time, you end up subconsciously becoming close-minded. By taking time to relax, decompress, refresh, and reflect, you will discover new things, think of new ideas, or gain a fresh perspective on problems.

Remember, a busy mind is NOT an open mind.

13. Declutter.

As mentioned in the point above, decluttering your mind is important. Decluttering your mind might also mean decluttering your physical space.

Your home. Your office. Your car.

Not only will decluttering and simplifying your life will leave you feeling fantastic and fulfilled, but it also allows your subconscious mind to relax, without focusing on all the “stuff” or the “noise” sitting around you.

14. Listen to music.

…But not just any type of music… Studies have shown that music with repetitive, monotonous, and strong beats can stimulate brainwaves and help you focus on the task at hand.

Furthermore, listening to music allows the brain to release the “feel-good” chemical dopamine. Dopamine allows us to feel satisfaction when we do something we enjoy or eat a delicious meal. It boosts mood, motivation, and focus, all of which are essential factors in being productive and creative.

Music also helps create good distractions, which help improve your state of mind. It can ward off negative stimuli or feelings and regulate breathing, which increases oxygen to the brain, and improves cognitive processes.

So, if you are trying to boost your creativity levels, try a little music therapy.

15. Set realistic deadlines.

Most of us would admit to having a love-hate relationship with deadlines. Deadlines keep us motivated and focused; however, if they are too tight or unrealistic, this can have the opposite effect and hinder creativity.

In fact, research shows that a moderate deadline, as opposed to one that’s extremely tight, can boost creativity. So, the next time you need to set a deadline for a certain task or project, set one that is fair, achievable, and realistic. Here are some tips for making deadlines more motivational.

16. Build a process.

Once you figure out what you need to harness your creativity or when you are most creative, the next step is to build a process. And by this, I’m referring to a personal process or system that leverages the activities or timeframes to get you in a creative “mood” or mindset.

For example, a good “creativity-building” process might look like this:

1. Gather relevant material pertaining to a particular topic to read and review.
2. Allow new information to “incubate”.
3. Write down any ideas that come to mind.
4. Add them to your project pipeline to prioritize and produce.
5. Create.
6. Review and reflect.

It could also be a routine:

1. Wake up early.
2. Drink water.
3. Stretch and exercise.
4. Make coffee.
5. Read and write.

What Are Your Creative Resources?

Before I start any new creative project, I ask myself this question: What are my creative resources? What are my sources of inspiration?

These can include:

• Browsing creative social media channels (such as Pinterest or Instagram)
• Going for a walk or spending time in nature
• Mind maps, notes, or sketches
• Spotify playlists
• A “vision” board
• A journal or ideas log
• Books and blogs
• Relaxing…

I will clue you in on a little secret… With the constant day-to-day responsibilities, meetings, projects, and tasks, I personally have a hard time shutting off my brain at the end of the day. It constantly goes and goes and goes, replaying all the events from the day, and thinking ahead to doing it all again tomorrow. Forget trying to do anything “creative” at night…

However, I found that what works for me on occasion is drinking alcohol. I don’t mean drinking every day, nor do I get trashed every night just to write a blog. At the end of the week, either on a Friday or Saturday night at the end of the day and a long week, I enjoy a shot or two of whisky. During these moments, I find that it’s just enough to take the edge off and calm my mind. I find that I suddenly have a flow of ideas… so fast that I can’t even keep up with writing them down.

The key here? No, don’t get plastered just to harvest a little creativity (especially if you’ve struggled with alcohol or substance abuse in the past). The point is to take time to discover what you need to relax, and do it.

The list of tools you can use to promote creativity is endless. However, they aren’t a must. It’s best to focus your energy on creative ideas and vision rather than on the equipment. In fact, sometimes using the most obscure tools can lead to creating the best work. If you ask any artist, he or she sometimes uses whatever tools are available at the moment creativity strikes.

Living a Life of Creativity

“Live a life of creativity and art—not fear.”
– Some awesome person

All in all, remember that every idea starts somewhere—and it usually isn’t while at work. In fact, studies have shown that few individuals or professionals are creative while at work. The best ideas come to mind during vacations, travel, or even recreational activities. Your creative ideas likely aren’t going to come to you while you are sitting in front of a screen. Break out of your comfort zone.

However, telling yourself you aren’t creative enough limits yourself and your mindset. In fact, close-mindedness is the number-one enemy of creativity.

Remember, the worst enemy of creativity is self-doubt. The minute you look at a beautiful piece of art or a unique creation and think, “I can’t do that…”, you will never achieve the level of creativity you need to actually be creative.

Before you totally shut yourself down, try some of the ideas mentioned in this article and see which work for you. When you discover what does work for you, then build a process or routine that involves those activities.

So, whether or not you feel like you can do it, the creative ideas are there. You just have to work at them.