52 Boosts

Inspired by this 29 Ways to Stay Creative video (and certainly lacking creativity lately), I compiled a list of creativity boosters. Many of these are taken verbatim from the above-mentioned video. Others I found online. The remainder have worked for me in the past. To inject an element of whimsy, I printed out one idea each on business cards and made myself a 52-card deck. I’ll choose one each day or each week–whatever I’m in the mood for–and work on that idea. Couldn’t hurt. Do you have suggestions to add to the list?

  1. DAYDREAM
  2. GO FOR A WALK
  3. GO FOR A RUN
  4. DOODLE OR DRAW
  5. PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
  6. EXERCISE
  7. READ A BOOK BY A NEW-TO-YOU AUTHOR
  8. TAKE A NAP
  9. HANG OUT AT A COFFEE HOUSE
  10. TAKE A BATH
  11. MEDITATE
  12. START A NEW PROJECT
  13. FIX SOMETHING THAT’S BROKEN
  14. NOTICE COLORS
  15. WRITE WITH YOUR NON-DOMINANT HAND
  16. GO FOR A BIKE RIDE
  17. LAUGH
  18. EAT SOME FRUITS & VEGGIES
  19. SOLVE PUZZLES (SUDOKU, ANYONE?)
  20. MEET NEW PEOPLE
  21. BRAINSTORM
  22. TAKE A NEW ROUTE
  23. FIND SOLITUDE AND/OR SILENCE
  24. CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
  25. LEARN SOMETHING NEW
  26. BREAK A SWEAT
  27. PLAY A GAME
  28. WANDER
  29. INDULGE YOURSELF WITH SOMETHING TODAY
  30. MAKE LISTS
  31. CARRY A NOTEBOOK
  32. FREE WRITE
  33. TURN OFF YOUR SCREENS
  34. TAKE BREAKS
  35. SING
  36. DRINK TEA
  37. LISTEN TO NEW MUSIC
  38. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH CREATIVE PEOPLE
  39. GET FEEDBACK
  40. COLLABORATE
  41. PERSEVERE
  42. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
  43. MAKE MISTAKES
  44. GO SOMEWHERE NEW
  45. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
  46. BREAK THE RULES
  47. READ A PAGE OF THE DICTIONARY
  48. CREATE LIMITS
  49. GOT AN IDEA? WRITE IT DOWN
  50. CLEAN YOUR WORKSPACE
  51. HAVE FUN
  52. FINISH SOMETHING