How do you get your creative juices flowing?

For long, i used to see myself as the talent “”appreciator.” I was hailing people i thought were creative and secretly wishing i could tap some.

The problem was i never gave myself permission to be one.

Then I realized we all have something unique and special within us. Its left for us to allow them manifest by giving them room to come out.

18  Tips for getting the creative juices flowing

Here’s a list of activities and exercises to help jump-start your creativity when you’re feeling stuck.

Practical tips and tricks for coming up with creative ideas, even when you feel like you’ve hit a wall:

1: Come up with 10 ideas daily

For any problem you have in mind, instead of trying to find the ultimate solution with one thought – try to come up 7-10 ideas preferably “bad ideas.”

From 10 you could pick out the best 3, then 1.

This would prove to you how the best ideas can come from dirt and ultimately get your creative juice flowing.

You just exercised your creative muscle before coming up with a solution.

NotePD is a good place to exercise this muscle.

2: Let your creative juices flow

When you’re working minimize distractions.

Aim for flow while working.

Allow your brain get into higher brain waves that can signal and get your creative juices flowing.

Check out more Productivity tips to get more work done.

3: Take Note of ideas immediately they come to your mind

Have a system of capturing ideas when they come to your mind. And also when you spot them from other sources.

For example, if you find a good story – store it somewhere and label it with an idea so when next you’re brainstorming on that particular idea – you’re can easily recall and tell such story. I use Evernote for this.

I also think you should not be afraid to take advantage of a creative spark that may be out of your schedule instead of allowing it die e.g. late night writing.

Yeah you gotta get your sleep schedule sorted…

but if the creative juice hits… stay up late my friend and let the muse pass through you

— 🌞 Sol Brah 🌞 (@SolBrah) July 8, 2022

4. Engage in a Hobby or Sport

Engaging in activities that you enjoy, such as a hobby or sport, to help relax and clear your mind.

5. Try a new activity or learn a new skill

Engaging in a new activity can help stimulate your mind and generate new ideas.

It all adds up. The idea you get from one skill can transform to something more creative mixed with another skill.

6. Take a Break from Routines 

Think of when you used to solve Algebra or Calculus (if you did).

The hardest solutions hardly come when you’re tensed or working on the problem.

Sometimes the best way to get your creative juice flowing is to simply step away from whatever it is you’re working on and take a walk.

Taking a break from your work and doing something completely different, such as going for a walk or listening to music.

Play and some light exercise can work wonders for your creativity.

7. Spend time in Nature 

Spending time in nature, which can help inspire creativity and provide a sense of peace and tranquility.

8: Stay Physically active

Zero physical activity = stuck ideas.

The more you move, the more you ideas can flow.

Take a walk outside and take note of the sights and sounds around you. Maybe you’ll find inspiration in nature, or from people-watching.

9: Use Paper and Pen

I have an amazing typing speed. So when i achieved such speed, i thought i could replace pen and paper completely. Then i noticed less flexibility and creative ideas.

This confused me. What could be the difference?

But when i read books on creativity and writing, it confirmed that was a mistake.

While typing is faster, pen and paper still beats computers on releasing your creative juices.

Better still is to mix it up. Have periods of writing with pen and paper and those of typing.

9. Take short Naps 

Taking a short nap or practicing mindfulness or meditation, which can help calm your mind and allow your creativity to flourish.

10. Consume inspirational content 

Listening to or reading something inspiring, such as a TED Talk or a book, to help spark your imagination.

11: Do some research on your topic

Read articles, watch documentaries, look at art work related to it, etc.

The more knowledge you have on the subject matter, the easier it will be to come up with creative ideas related to it.

12: Change your perspective about Creativity

Stop assuming creative people are the most gifted and talented ones born that way. You too can.

Give yourself permission to see things from different angles and come up with unique ideas. While routines and habits simplify things.

13. Think outside the Box

Our brains can quickly get used to an activity that we stop thinking. This now can now hinders creativity if we never mix things up.

Sometimes, you gotta think outside the box to find solutions.

14: Get Momentum

There’s something powerful about building momentum. Whatever is important to you, don’t do it only when you feel like.

Do it everyday until you gain momentum.

Setting aside dedicated time to work on a creative project, and giving yourself permission to let your imagination run wild.

You don’t need to have a lot of tools and resources to build momentum.

15: Use constraints

Working within certain limits can actually help spark new and innovative ideas.

Twitter is regarded as one of the best tools to use when learning to write better because it forces you to limit your writing to 240 characters or less; as a result, you learn to get to the point faster.

16: Sharing ideas with like minds 

Talking to people – whether it’s friends, family, strangers, or even just listening to someone else’s conversation – can give you some new perspectives and help jumpstart your own creativity.

When you’re around people who support you – you’re not afraid of showing your truest and deepest self which is where light and creativity comes from.

17: Set aside dedicated time to work on creative projects

How do you think creative individuals like artists and writers spend their time to advance their careers? They make time for creative projects.

Setting aside dedicated time to work on a creative project, and giving yourself permission to let your imagination run wild can be a game changer.

18. Get more Organized

Getting organized by having an Order or structure and using tools such as a Planner can help you stay creative in a few different ways.

First, it can free up mental space and reduce stress, which can make it easier to think creatively and come up with new ideas.

Second, being organized can help you make the most of your time, which can give you more opportunities to be creative.

Finally, having a plan in place can help you stay focused and avoid distractions, which can also help to boost creativity.

In short, getting organized can create the conditions that are conducive to creativity, making it easier for you to come up with new and interesting ideas.

I hate to share this, but getting more organized actually does help you feel less overwhelmed, especially as a creative. Order and structure helps tremendously. So sorry to my fellow “go with the flow” brethren. Get a planner. I love you.

— KAYA NOVA (@thekayanova) December 12, 2022

CONCLUSION 

Having structure helps you stay organized but life doesn’t have to be stiff all the time.

Listen to a new song, read a new book, have some idea showers, create a mind map, listen to someone that has a different perspective.

I guess this is one of the reasons apps like Tiktok blew up. No matter who you curate your account to fit a particular niche, there’s always a random idea the algorithm feeds you that can make your day.

Ultimately, the key is to find what works best for you and to make time for creativity in your daily life.