I’ve been thinking a lot about creativity this week
I talked to a woman whose whole business is being creative. But she needs to get creative with how to market it. I also talked to a consultant who knows how to implement great projects – but not how to inspire people through his communications.
Then, I had a bit of a creative eureka moment the other day. It was while I was whisking the eggs for breakfast. A fantastic idea just popped right into my head for no reason whatsoever. It was actually the answer to a question I have been thinking about for a long time – looks as though it was just biding its time to reveal itself to me!
I quickly pulled a postcard out of the kitchen drawer and scribbled that stuff down!
I also listened to a Jay Shetty meditation about focus, and he talked about literally removing visual obstacles and distractions when you want to focus on one thing, That’s when I realized that this is what I do when I do one of my “sitting on the living room floor” creative sessions, and why it is so successful.
The thing is – we all need this creativity, no matter what kind of business you are involved in.
So here are my tips for upping your creativity and ideas-generation:
- Be ready when the ideas strike. Don’t wait – write them down because you’ll forget them. Writing them down makes things clearer and helps you remember better
- Schedule space for creativity. It can be hard to force creativity but it certainly isn’t always going to come and tap you on the shoulder. Making a space in your calendar to sit with the idea of getting creative can allow the ideas to start flowing, And if you need help getting started then……
- …..Change your view. Maybe you are used to getting creative at your desk, but I find that changing my situation can give me the space I need for my brain to start working differently. This is what sitting down on the living room floor does for me. I have all my paper and pens and sometimes the cat comes and helps. I also lie down and stare at the ceiling sometimes. But I don’t have my computer or phone distracting me.
Maybe an hour or two in a coffeeshop could do the same for you. Or walking out in nature and speaking thoughts into the voice recorder app on your phone – or talk to text. The important thing is to take yourself out of the usual situation.