No matter how much you enjoy innovative projects, sometimes you are just not in the right mind space to come up with anything unique. Because of the fast pace of things in the real world, there is always a lot of clamouring for your attention. It naturally follows that you feel inclined to quit the more fanciful pursuits such as being creative to focus on the more pragmatic side of life. That is the story of most adults. We back-bench our creativity to give attention to other things we feel are more important.
Children enjoy tapping into their imagination because they are still so curious about the world they live in. They slip easily into a creative space, which is why they enjoy dressing up and acting like their favourite story characters. They enjoy making macaroni necklaces and hand-painted cards for their loved ones.
As they grow older, they lose that sense of wonder in favour of fitting into the adult world. Of course, they still find activities that engage their interests because it is part of their school curriculum to take part in different clubs. Once they graduate to join the workforce, there is often little to inspire them to keep locked in on their creative nature. So many leave creativity behind and focus on alternatives that seem more logical. Unfortunately, when you kill off your creativity and stop being curious and engaging your imagination, it makes for a bland existence.
To fully experience the beauty of life, you must have the freedom to explore your talents and abilities. A creative life helps you do exactly that. You get out of a one-dimensional existence and into a fascinating reality, where you get to discover more about yourself and your environment.
‘Cultivating your creativity is good. It helps with problem-solving, motivation, and career growth. Research also suggests that when you express your creativity, you will experience greater wellbeing and happiness.’ Tracey Brower.
Finding creative inspiration.
It is a satisfying experience to come up with a brilliant, original idea. When you see it come together after all the hard work, there is this sense of accomplishment. It is fulfilling. It is difficult, however, to be continuously creative. You need to constantly find inspiration to produce amazing work. Finding the right influence is the key to unlocking whatever is hidden within you. It is what will help you get in touch with your creative self.
Find your safe space.
Creativity flows when you are at your most comfortable, with enough freedom to be your authentic self. Coming up with fresh ideas or tackling challenges works well in a no-judgment zone where you do not have to listen to critics or explain yourself to anyone. If you want to find inspiration, you need to consider getting a workspace where you can sit down and think without interruption. You get to choose what goes into that space. It could be a photo that reminds you of a time of great happiness, or of someone who inspires you or supports you. Looking at it may give you enough positive vibes to spark creativity in you. You could even put plants to give it a certain ambiance or posters with your favourite motivational quotes.
Connect with other creatives.
Inspiration rubs off on you when you interact with people who share similar interests with you. Engaging with them motivates you to create in moments when you just cannot seem to wrap your head around the actual process. These days, you do not need to even have physical meetings. You can call them if they are accessible or even read their books or listen to their podcasts online to find inspiration.
Declutter your mind.
You cannot find new inspiration when you are not in the right frame of mind. There are a thousand and one thoughts that go through your mind every day and most of them are negative. You need to free your mind so that it can process what it needs to. If you are creative, your mind will be awash with a lot of ideas, some of which may not be good enough to pursue. It is important to keep your mind uncluttered so that ideas flow freely.
Change your routine.
Monotony is the antithesis of creativity. Rarely do you get inspired by being rigid with your routine? Introducing changes to your schedule might just be what you need to pique your creative instincts. You could consider introducing physical exercise. This stimulates brain activity, making your mind more active. You could also start taking nature walks. Taking in the beautiful environment around you will surely tickle your imagination and bring innovation to your doorstep.
Keep an idea journal.
There is no telling when an idea will come to you. You surely do not want to forget anything that comes to mind as you seek inspiration. Writing ideas down will give you something to look back on when you hit a brick wall and run out of ideas.
Listen to your favourite music.
There are certain songs that resonate with where you are at any stage of your life. If they have a positive message, they may spark something in you that helps you find the inspiration to produce your art or crack wide open an idea for that work project you are working on.
To be more creative, take little steps each day. Acknowledge where and when you feel most inspired, motivated, and original, and spend more energy in those areas. Find your muse and you will come up with amazing ideas.
Surrounding yourself with creative things, people, and ideas will set your life up for inspiration. Do this, and you will be out of that creative rut in no time.