Why Your Creativity is So Important
Your unique way of thinking is essential – it helps you be productive and further your success across all aspects of your life.
Being creative isn’t just about picking up a paintbrush or writing a poem – we also use creativity every single day to help us get through our lives. For example, if you adopt a creative approach towards your problems, you’ll be better equipped to adapt to any challenges you encounter along the way without getting knocked down by an unfamiliar problem. In the workplace, this makes a creative mindset an invaluable asset, as it helps you solve problems, enabling your mind to explore new paths to finding solutions and support you when you’re under pressure.
Why Being Creative Can be Tricky
At work, most of us tend to perform routine tasks and stick to tried and tested methods to finish each project efficiently. You might do the same thing everyday to achieve the same result. However, studies show that a repeated approach to a workflow that you know achieves results, or a problem-solving process you always follow, can limit your creative drive.
Since you can’t schedule a moment of inspiration or a brilliant idea, your daily work routine and approach might hold you back from coming up with a revolutionary solution that makes processes easier or gives you a much better result!
In a recent poll, 80% of people believed they were under more pressure to be productive than creative. However, creativity could be your key to being more productive! If you want to nurture your ingenuity, in this blog post we’re discussing 10 top tips to help you achieve more with a creative mindset.
1. Embrace curiosity
If you find yourself wondering if there are better ways to approach current tasks, then embrace this mode of thinking and allow yourself the space to be creative. Don’t view curiosity as a distraction but rather as a powerful tool for creativity. Take note of where your mind wanders and pursue opportunities for innovation. Taking new routes and exploring innovative ideas can be an effective way of getting out of a rut!
2. Try to get into the flow of things
You know when you get immersed in your work and time flies by? That’s creativity carrying you in a mental flow. In this state of immersion, you’re at peak productiveness and creativity.
However, it can be hard to get into the flow of things when overwhelmed and unmotivated. When working on an important and challenging task, try breaking the workload down into manageable goals, making it more digestible. This can significantly improve your focus and help your creativity. You’ll find yourself amazed by what you can achieve.
3. Challenge yourself
Practise your problem-solving skills by engaging in something complex or unfamiliar, for example, you could try learning a new sport that demands technical skills, e.g., rowing or rock climbing, or perhaps you might try learning a language or learning how to play chess. When faced with difficulty, our brains start problem-solving straight away – that’s the nature of how we figure things out. Adapting to challenges and finding new ways to achieve things boosts our creativity.
4. Find a creative outlet
Taking up creative self-expression hobbies, such as writing, art, or photography, has been proven to support our mental health and wellbeing. A detailed study by the National Library of Medicine showed clear indications that creative engagement has significant positive effects on our mental health. Spending more time in a creative mindset and, of course, enjoying creative hobbies, will also allow you to better express how you feel and be more present!
5. Small lifestyle switch-ups
Making minor adjustments to your daily routine can help you stay engaged and alert throughout the day. Altering your route to work, what you eat during the day, and other similar minor changes can help keep your mind engaged and your wellbeing on an even keel.
6. Keep learning
Learning is a way of exercising the brain in order to keep it healthy. Learning new things will give you new experiences and build your creative skills. Try stepping out of your comfort zone by starting a new course to learn about something you’re interested in. It could be anything from bike maintenance to cooking, Pilates, or painting.
7. Take a break
Not only does stepping back allow you to re-approach a problem from a new and fresh perspective, but it also allows you to ‘incubate’ ideas. Your subconscious mind keeps mulling over problems while you take a break – this gives your brain the space it needs to come up with new ideas whilst avoiding creative burnout!
8. Exercise
Exercise is a mind-focusing, memory-enhancing all-round mental and physical health-booster! Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki states that exercise strengthens the part of the brain we use for creativity, allowing us to think more creatively and use our imagination to support us in our everyday lives. Exercise also releases endorphins that can help you stay motivated and focused after exercising.
9. Find your creative set-up
Ideally, everyone’s work environment should be unique to them, because we all thrive in different surroundings. Indeed, different people find different surroundings engaging, so whether you like minimalism with less distractions or things to fidget with, posters, music, plants, or the alluring hustle and bustle of a coffee shop, invest some time into cultivating the perfect creative set-up if you can. It could help you subconsciously stay in a creative mindset.
10. Use collaboration to your advantage
Whether you’re a remote worker, in-office or hybrid worker, collaborative technologies and workspaces are becoming increasingly common. Shared documents, desk spaces, or open offices are mechanisms for encouraging creative thinking in a shared atmosphere of group creativity. Use your office group spaces to brainstorm and invite collaborations on your online work.
Summary
Stay curious, engage and work with others, and be open to learning new things. Challenge yourself with new creative outlets, and remember the importance of breaks and implementing tiny changes in everyday routines to keep yourself on your toes.
We all have times where we feel a bit stuck in a place of low motivation, so don’t kick yourself when you’re down! Try stopping and coming back to the task later with the help of one of these 10 creativity boosters – something might just help trigger that eureka moment!