Albert Einstein once said, “creativity is intelligence having fun.” In fact, creativity can improve your health both emotionally and physically. Studies show that completing a creative project can reduce your blood pressure and increase dopamine, that feel-good hormone.
Let’s face it … when your boss assigns you a creative project, it can be intimidating. My first thought is “how the heck am I going to write something about THAT subject?”. Turns out there are ways you can boost your creative cells to get you from start to finish. Here are some tips:
- Get up and walk. Or cycle. Or swim. Just get up and move. Any exercise, even walking for a few minutes can put you back on the creative track.
- Daydream. Push back your chair and let your mind wander. It may go somewhere useful.
- Surround yourself with inspiration and positivity. The colors blue and green represent openness and growth, and may stimulate ideas. It could be pictures, or music, or pets. Yes, pets. Mine are always nearby when I’m writing. They ask for a hug and it makes me smile. Smiling releases neuropeptides that fight off stress.
- Meditate. Yoga. Clear your mind. Invite in possibilities.
- Brainstorm with someone. You may be stuck on an idea and they may have a solution that inspires or re-motivates you.
- Reward yourself. Sometimes you just need a pat on the back. If there’s no one else around, you may have to do that yourself. When I solve a problem I’ve been struggling over, I reward myself with a piece of dark chocolate!
- Be positive. Push those negative thoughts of “I can’t do this” aside and power yourself forward.
- Google something new. Whether it’s “why does xxx happen” or “what’s an unusual word for xxx”, just do it!
- If you drive every day, take a different route. If you walk every day, try a new path. It will take your mind out of automatic and inspire you to concentrate more.
- Take notes when you have an idea. You’re driving? Pull over and write it down.
BONUS TIP: Some foods may provide a creative boost. Take a break and snack on greens, fruit, or nuts. They pack a nutritional boost and may get you back in the creative mindset.
Ready? Set? CREATE!
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