10 Ideas to Boost Your Creativity
Creativity is like a muscle. It needs to be stretched, challenged, and sometimes pushed outside its comfort zone. Almost no one treats it that way; they leave it sitting on the sidelines. That is a real shame, because being creative is what makes you special, what opens doors, and even what makes you a more interesting partner. Today we are going to stretch those creative muscles again.
Here are 10 ways you can dramatically improve your creativity.
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1- Listen to music
Music stimulates the part of our brain that controls motor actions, emotions, and creativity. Classical music can give an extra boost: according to the “Mozart Effect,” listening to Mozart may increase creativity, focus, and other cognitive functions. While it is not clear whether this works for everyone, a little classical music never hurt anyone.
2- Pick a terrible idea
Step away from whatever idea has you stuck for a few minutes. What is the most useless idea you can imagine? Make a list of the worst ideas you can come up with. Now comes the real creativity stretch: What are the best features of these terrible ideas? Looking at awful ideas may spark something creative you can transfer to your strong idea.
3- Meditate
Stuck in a mental rut? When you hit panic mode, try meditating. It promotes divergent thinking, a mental state in which we can generate new ideas. In my case, some of my best ideas have come in the shower. I feel so relaxed that I leave every problem and worry at the office, and once the water is running I start to feel my mind open to possibilities I could not see before.
4- Spend time outdoors
Remember the thrill of being a kid running around the playground, inventing games and adventures? Bring that feeling back simply by getting a dose of green. Being in natural environments is like playtime for adults: it opens the five senses, energizes the body, and most importantly, stimulates the imagination.
5- Socialize
When we spend time with people we trust, we tend to have deeper conversations. The Barrons believe these chats often lead to creative thinking because we can be ourselves and talk freely about our passions. One of my business ideas literally took shape over dinner with friends and colleagues. We were talking about what they were doing, and it made me want to open a business in Mexico. Then they started talking about how much they enjoyed the aperitif and the wine at dinner, and right then I decided I would open my own import company. At that same dinner I convinced my partner to go into business with me. None of it was planned. It simply came to me. And now CPF Francia has been importing exclusive products across Mexico for more than three years.
6- Dare to try something new
Doing things out of habit tends to undermine creative thinking. On the other hand, seeking novelty is linked to creativity (and overall well-being). Even something as simple as taking a new route to work or trying a good recipe counts. I always insist that having a routine is important; you can see that in several articles such as “6 tips to be a healthy entrepreneur” or “Reduce your stress at work.” But it is also important to do unplanned, different things.
If you have read The 6 Human Needs, you already know that certainty matters, but not more than uncertainty. Dare to try something new. Make your life an exciting experience.
7- Play at work
Consider looking for a job that encourages “play” during the workday, such as team outings and gym breaks. Letting loose for a few hours can help us think more freely, increasing creativity and productivity when we return to the desk. In my case, in every company I own or partner in, my rule is simple:
You work for results.
My employees have no annual vacation limit, no fixed schedules, and no obligation to spend a set number of hours in the office. Why? Because I was an employee before I became an entrepreneur. Whether it was my colleagues or me, no one actually worked eight hours a day. On average we spent two to three hours on social media, one to two hours on meals, breaks, and coffee, and the rest on real work. When we started hiring people, we let them manage their own schedules. They have a list of goals, bonuses for hitting those goals, and extra bonuses for exceeding them. I have employees I do not see for months because they hit five months of targets in a single month, take a few months of vacation, then come back and crush the next set of goals. They are my most creative employees!
8- Work when you are tired
Yes, sleep can help us generate new ideas, but working during our non-optimal time of day can also promote creativity because we are less inhibited. Morning people might try working at night, and night owls might try getting to work early.
9- Spend time alone
I suggested that hanging out with friends can boost creativity, but sometimes a little peace and quiet is necessary. Escape with headphones, reconnect with your own thoughts, go for a walk alone, or focus on the task at hand.
10- Do nothing at all
Alan Cohen once wrote: “There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” Sometimes your mind simply needs to unplug from processing so much information in the form of articles, internet posts, text messages, and other miscellaneous material.
Processing too much information can make your mind spin and shut down both productivity and creativity. Taking time to relax before continuing a task can pay big dividends for your creative capacity, just like doing exercises to keep it sharp.