Creativity isn’t just for ‘creative’ people.

We can all tap into our inner resources to come up with new ideas and different ways of looking at things. Sometimes you just need a little distance from the project or situation you’re immersed in to allow new ideas to come in. 

From experience, some of my best ideas have popped into my head at the end of a yoga class, just before I’ve fallen asleep (thanks brain) and in the shower. Creativity requires some mental space before it will show up, so step aside and get ready to make room folks.

Here are 15 ways you can boost your creativity:

• Take your laptop and work in a different place
• Meditate daily to clear some headspace
• Use a mindmap to brainstorm ideas (even the whacky ones)
• Go for a walk
• Take a short nap (no more than 30 minutes)
• Move your body 
• Visit an art gallery and immerse yourself in creativity
• Spend an hour in active rest (gardening, knitting, colouring etc)
• Revisit ‘failures’ and see what you can learn
• Take a day off
• Idea bounce with a friend or colleague
• Journal
• Go outside and sit on the grass for 10 minutes
• Take a shower
• Talk to a coach or mentor

How to Use These Ideas Without Creating Another To-Do List

Please don’t turn boosting your creativity into another project you have to excel at. Pick one suggestion that appeals to you and try it.

If you’ve been staring at the same problem for hours, change your surroundings. If you’ve been consuming everyone else’s ideas, put your phone down and give your own thoughts some room. If you’re exhausted, perhaps the next useful step is rest.

You don’t have to produce something brilliant afterwards. The point is to make space for curiosity, rather than demanding an immediate result.

Making sure you’re both well hydrated (with water, not gin) and well rested (the average person needs 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night) will also help keep your creative juices flowing too.

I’ve found a really helpful question to reflect on when I’m working on something new is to keep asking ‘what else?’ and jot down the answers. Once you switch your creative brain on, there’s often no stopping it, so keep a notebook at the ready and get ready for the ideas to flow in.

What If You Have Ideas, but Keep Talking Yourself Out of Them?

Sometimes the difficulty isn’t coming up with an idea. It’s what happens next.

“That’s probably stupid.”

“Someone else is already doing it.”

“Who am I to give that a go?”

Before you’ve explored the possibility, your inner critic has rejected it on your behalf. Very efficient. Not particularly helpful.

Try separating coming up with ideas from evaluating them. Write them down first. You can consider what’s practical, affordable or worth pursuing afterwards. An idea doesn’t need to become a commitment the moment it enters your head.

And if you notice that fear of getting it wrong, being judged or disappointing someone keeps stopping you, that’s worth exploring too.

Make Room for What You Want to Create

Creativity has a place beyond art, photography or writing. It can help you imagine a different working life, approach a difficult decision or explore what you want your next chapter to look like.

If you’re struggling to move from “I’d love to…” to actually taking a step, coaching can help you untangle what’s getting in the way and decide where to begin.

I offer warm, practical, no-nonsense coaching online, wherever you live.

Book a free discovery call HERE

Let’s talk about what you’d like to create or change, and whether working together would help.