5 Easy Ways To Become More Creative

Want to get more creative this year? Great! Let's get started.  

Creativity is the ability to generate new ideas and new connections to the ideas we have to solve problems and make the world a better place. Being creative is one of the most important things we can do to be emotionally healthy and happy.

The good news is everyone is creative! And, we can increase our creativity by nurturing it. We can do this by making a few daily habits that will not only help us be more creative, but will all around make us better and happier. So let's tackle this New Years Resolution with just five easy ways to be more creative.

 1. Creativity Exercises
Choose a time for a  daily creativity exercise when you will enjoy it most. Decide how long you would like to devote to the exercises and set a timer.  

To avoid getting overwhelmed, create something small and stick to your timer, and as soon as it goes off it is time to stop.   If you keep it up more or less daily for three weeks, it will evolve to a habit that you'd miss if you weren't able to do it for some reason.

Don't worry at all about skipping a day or doing it at a different time.  The point of these daily exercise is to create a habit rather than creating stress or master pieces.  

Start with a small art journal, I like the Visual Journal (affiliate) and any art supplies you already have, even if that is simply a pencil.

Sign up below for the Createful Art Newsletter and get daily art prompts.  

2. Exercise
This is the most popular New Years resolution, and there are many reasons why it is a good one. One reason is our brain works better when we exercise. Yes, exercise, ugh.

Studies show it helps with depression, stress, improves memory, helps you stay focused, and jump starts creativity. It doesn't matter what level fitness you are, just take a break, give yourself a recess, and get your heart pumping.  

I am starting with a simple goal to get my heart rate up daily for at least a minute.  I like to start with baby steps, or before I know it I am overwhelmed, too sore to move, and then I quit.

It is really important to take care of ourselves, so no quitting! Exercise leads to creativity.

3. Idea Book 
Have an idea notebook. It is nice to have a place for your ideas.

If you have an idea and not your notebook, just write it on your hand, napkin or forehead. Later, transfer your idea to your idea notebook.

​I also like to use my phone because I always have it handy and I use the Pinterest App to keep inspiration or ideas I find on the internet organized there visually.  Then when you run out of ideas, voila, in your notebook and on Pinterest,  is a bunch of ideas to rummage through. You can follow my Pinterest page here. 

You can also follow me on social media here: 

4. Focus and Processing
List out your problem(s) that need creative thinking in your idea book, and focus  on them during your best thinking times.  

When are the best thinking times? When you don't need to give something else your attention, like work, kids, spouse, dinner.

There is no such thing as multi-tasking, each thing you do gets its own focus time. If you have any down time, set some of it aside for just thinking. If you have the type of mind that is up and running when you are suppose to be asleep, write down all those things keeping you up, and keep your notebook by your bed for those enlightenment times.  Sleep on it, you may be surprised to find your mind was working on solutions in your sleep.

Read through your problems in the  morning, before meditation, and before exercising to give your brain processing time.

5.  Try Something Different
Be yourself, but don't be afraid to try new things. I know what I like, BUT, I can find out more about myself when I try something new.

Work with change (because everything is evolving around you), enjoy diversity (because everything the same is just blah), explore (because being a kid is just fun).

 Here are some ideas: Don't order the same thing at the same restaurant, change your hairdo,  be a friend to someone very different from you, explore artistic styles, take a class, and listen to new songs. Toss it up a bit and you will soon discover a new creative energy about you.  

If you woSubscribeuld like to explore art, subscribe for FREE art lessons.  

Here's one of those video's on YouTube that shows a different and creative way to paint a snowflake. ​

It may be hard to get creative at times, but the solutions can be as simple as exercising our mind and body, writing our ideas and problems down, giving our minds time to focus on solutions, and trying something new for a change.

​If these seem overwhelming to you, tackle one at a time to get a creative momentum going. The world needs your creative energy. 

So here is your homework. Take the first step,subscribe and start doing creative projects with me.  They are absolutely free and fun! Hope you have a Creative Year!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”