As a busy, creative mom, I have a stack of notebooks I grab and carry throughout my day. Sometimes there is a glimmer of an idea, but I don’t want to miss writing or sketching it. Far from doing a daily journal, my notebooks sometimes prod me into thinking. Sometimes the notebook glares at me or pinches me, prodding me to be creative.
While I might also be able to compile my ideas in my smart phone, if necessary, there is a joy in the writing that gets my creativity going, albeit briefly, before my next action.
Besides carrying a notebook around, there is a nice list of “Ten Steps for Boosting Creativity” that I ran across on a corporate site that deals with capturing business innovation. Click around the site to see it’s a great starting point and its ideas can help support business innovation and creative thoughts. (Even though I’m more of a Mozart fan for creativity and this list suggests Bach. Which composer do you recommend?)
I particularly like the jpb.com idea of exercising my brain, which seems slightly easier than exercising my body. (Less movement involved on most days, except when I need to take the old brain for “walkies.”)
What’s on your list of 10 ways to increase your creativity? (Feel free to share one or all ten…or feel free to suggest a composer you prefer for creative thought.)
here are a couple ways that help me increase my creativity:
1) change your routine (eat something different for breakfast or travel a different way to work)
2) be out in nature – whether it is sitting out on your front porch or going for a hike – being outdoors seems to open you up to new ideas
3) travel – even just going across town to a different part of the city you have lived in for 10 years can be very exciting and stimulating!
4) look at or engage in another creative discipline – if you are a graphic designer try exploring photography
5) talk to a child, better yet sit next to them while they are drawing or writing – the ideas they have are amazing!
6) go to an art museum (or if you are not near one – explore online)