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?
- DAYDREAM
- GO FOR A WALK
- GO FOR A RUN
- DOODLE OR DRAW
- PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
- EXERCISE
- READ A BOOK BY A NEW-TO-YOU AUTHOR
- TAKE A NAP
- HANG OUT AT A COFFEE HOUSE
- TAKE A BATH
- MEDITATE
- START A NEW PROJECT
- FIX SOMETHING THAT’S BROKEN
- NOTICE COLORS
- WRITE WITH YOUR NON-DOMINANT HAND
- GO FOR A BIKE RIDE
- LAUGH
- EAT SOME FRUITS & VEGGIES
- SOLVE PUZZLES (SUDOKU, ANYONE?)
- MEET NEW PEOPLE
- BRAINSTORM
- TAKE A NEW ROUTE
- FIND SOLITUDE AND/OR SILENCE
- CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
- LEARN SOMETHING NEW
- BREAK A SWEAT
- PLAY A GAME
- WANDER
- INDULGE YOURSELF WITH SOMETHING TODAY
- MAKE LISTS
- CARRY A NOTEBOOK
- FREE WRITE
- TURN OFF YOUR SCREENS
- TAKE BREAKS
- SING
- DRINK TEA
- LISTEN TO NEW MUSIC
- SURROUND YOURSELF WITH CREATIVE PEOPLE
- GET FEEDBACK
- COLLABORATE
- PERSEVERE
- PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
- MAKE MISTAKES
- GO SOMEWHERE NEW
- COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
- BREAK THE RULES
- READ A PAGE OF THE DICTIONARY
- CREATE LIMITS
- GOT AN IDEA? WRITE IT DOWN
- CLEAN YOUR WORKSPACE
- HAVE FUN
- FINISH SOMETHING