As kids, we’re all these wildly creative beings. Growing up, our opportunities to practice can become less and less frequent, unless as individuals we’re driven towards art or music or cooking, or other outlets that let us flex muscles. Even sometimes within places we might be very creative, like say innovating within a business setting, we’re driven toward safer paths and predictable outcomes, even when that is bad for the long game.
It makes me sad how often I work with people who swear that don’t have a creative bone in their body. I’ve written before how much I believe we are all creative beings, and I’ll keep beating that drum through YAY and elsewhere. We all have it within, but we do have to actively train and use it, just as a runner must. The mission of YAY is to help people and organizations discover their more creative selves, and in that vein, I wanted to share some of the areas of practice that work for me.
Craft.
Even when I’m very busy, I like to have at least one project per month that falls into a maker or craft category. Specifically within this sphere, I am looking for anything that stretches my current knowledge, exposes me to new techniques, makes me consider aesthetics, and/or practices existing creative skills. For me, this area includes activities like sketching, knitting, and cooking. I often aim for a new recipe or food per week, for example, or if I am feeling really stagnant, I will take a class at a local art center.
IDEA TO TRY
A sketch a day. For a week or month or a year. I love that sketching can be a five-minute burst of creativity. All you need is a pencil and paper. Even investing a small amount of time can lead to more creative confidence over the course of a year. If you aren’t feeling particularly inspired, just search “doodle a day prompts” online. Pinterest is chock full of doodle lists and challenges.
Adventure.
This category is important to me, because like a lot of humans, I can easily default to comfort and security in my day-to-day. I do like exploring, especially when it comes to travel or outdoor adventures, and learning new things can be its own kind fo adventure, leading me beyond my comfort zone. Adventure in one area of my like helps me take risks in others—and risk tolerance can be so helpful in building creativity.
Sometimes these activities may overlap with Craft, if I’m trying something brand new. But it also includes things like exploring new places, taking different routes, and even reading something that takes me on a mental adventure. I have learned that approaching even simple, daily tasks with a sense of adventure can lead to something interesting.
IDEA TO TRY
Commute adventure. Take a typical commute, like how you get from home to work, or from home to the grocery, and challenge yourself to find different ways to get from A to B—a new path, a new mode of transport, or both! You can also add a sense of adventure by focusing on noticing things you might otherwise glaze over in the hustle and bustle of just getting to the destination.
Rest.
When I am overly stressed, tired, or have a jam-packed schedule, I feel my lest creative. To get back into a creative groove, sometimes the best medicine is good ol’ fashioned rest. For me, this area includes writing, reflection, meditation, and, perhaps the hardest thing of all, doing nothing. That kind of space allows the mind to wonder. I try to start each day with reflection time before tackling to-do lists and meetings and such. This way I know I have at least one small bit of time for thinking and dreaming.
IDEA TO TRY
Morning gratitude. Carve out a few minutes each morning to think through what brought you joy, how you were able to exercise your creativity, and what made you feel grateful from the day before. You can write them down or simply take a moment to think about it. It is striking how this small practice can influence your behavior over time. At least for me, it reminded me that joy and creativity are important to me, and if I came up empty it was a gentle reminder to design my days to make space for these things.