August is often a time for vacation, for taking a pause before we return to the structure of school or work in the Autumn. This month, during “the dog days of summer”, our team is thinking about the value of down time, the opportunity to relax and let our minds wander. When we make space for it, August can provide an opportunity to reconnect with, or cultivate, our creative energy. Here are some ideas to help inspire your own creative energy, adapted from Kirsten Weir’s piece in the APA Monitor and Kendra Cherry’s great article on creativity on Very Well Mind.
Creativity is a skill
Despite the inspirational nature of creativity, it is a skill to be developed.
If you take the time to build it, there are many benefits to being in touch with your creative side:
Positive impacts of Creativity
Enhances cognitive function and problem solving, stimulating both sides of the brain.
Shifts our perspective and how we see the world.
Relieves stress and anxiety through the use of a creative outlet.
Develops stronger self confidence, ambition and motivation.
So how do we practically boost our creative thinking?
Bring an open mind
Develop an excitement to try new things and explore new ideas.
Openness to new experiences is the personality trait that
correlates most highly with creativity.
LET YOUR MIND WANDER
Let your creative energy flow through
“purposeful daydreaming.” Directing your
daydreaming towards the problem at hand allows
for more freedom of thought and openness to solutions
you wouldn’t at first consider.
MAKE TIME FOR CREATIVITY
Creativity cannot be accessed without time
to do so. Allot time in your day or your week
dedicated to brainstorming, learning,
painting/drawing or creating of some type to
allow your creative energy to flow.
capture your IDEAS
Write down any thoughts or ideas, make a
quick sketch, etc. so that you don’t lose that
inspiration and you can come back to them
later to edit/add to the concepts.
come back to your IDEAS
Don’t feel pressure to either use an idea
immediately or scrap it. When ideas are saved you can come back to
them 10 minutes later or 10 days later and
you may find that you have new perspective
or insight to add to the thoughts.
GO OUTSIDE
Spending time in the beauty and creativity of nature
is inspiring; soaking it all in to daydream and access
more creativity and beauty in
your thinking as well.
stick with it
Creativity is not developed by
waiting for the lightbulb moment
but by the consistent effort of
generating new ideas.
The successfulness of those ideas
is less important than the fact that
they are developing the skill of
creative thinking, generating the
flow of ideas more easily.
The most successful inventors, artists, scientists, etc, place themselves in situations to think creatively and are always practicing and developing their skill.
