5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Creativity
What was the last thing that inspired you?
It’s easy to find a million ways to procrastinate. However, there are times when we just need something to start the proverbial ball of productivity rolling. Here are five ways I find inspiration.
1. Get Moving
The simple act of taking a walk almost always gets my mind flowing. Especially if that walk includes nature. Something about being surrounded by trees and small creeks gets my creativity bubbling away.
2. Visit an Art Museum
My favorite thing to do when I’m in New York on business is carve out time to visit the Metropolitan. There is something truly transformative about sitting in front of a Van Gogh or Bonnard and soaking in the scene. Closer to home a visit to a local art museum or gallery can be just as interesting. I think of it as a great way to cleanse my mental palate.
3. Read a Good Book
Reading is a great way to temporarily transport yourself to a different place and time. Time spent with a good book leaves me feeling like I just took a mini-vacation. I’m also inspired by the author’s ability to pull me into another world.
4. Just Write
Set a timer and write stream of consciousness for five minutes without any censoring. After you’re done look at what’s really on your mind. Sometimes just getting those unvarnished thoughts out of your head and down on paper helps things start to flow.
5. Give Yourself Permission to Fail
Sometimes we just need to give ourselves permission to be really bad at something for five minutes. Write the worst dialogue you can imagine, draft a horrible business proposal, think of a terrible idea for a start-up company. Once you deliberately try to fail, you’ll probably realize you’re actually pretty good at what you do.
What about you? How do you get creative? Please leave a comment and share your own ideas on getting inspired.
Reading a brilliant book always gets me. Sitting with a few unanswered questions about my story is another. I usually have to start that process AWAY from my computer, but usually get there pretty quick when I start to have ideas I’m afraid of losing!
Becky Levine’s last blog post..Agent or No Agent: My Two Cents
Hi Becky,
I agree. I don’t usually get inspired sitting in front of my computer. However, it’s where I end up once I am inspired. That’s a really interesting point.
MF, thank you for this most enlightening and useful list. I really do agree and have to say that the best moments for me in getting the creative juices flowing are taking secluded walks in the woods (or desert), painting, and free-style writing. Of course, tweeting does not help, hence why I am here writing a comment instead of working on the impressionistic style painting that has been a work in progress for TWO years now (I thought only one, but I was wrong). Now if only I can restrain myself from the computer for more than twenty minutes.
Screwed Up Texan’s last blog post..You Can Help End the Cycle of Abuse
Hey SUT aka Allie,
Of course it’s my gain that you’re here instead of working on your painting! Still, I should probably urge you to work on your painting.
Honestly, I can use anything to procrastinate–the internet, cleaning the house, phone calls–you name it I’ve used it. For me there’s two kinds of procrastination. The regular oh just start already kind and then the deeper kind. When the deeper kind strikes I eventually have to stop and ask myself what’s going on. Why don’t I want to work on a certain project. That’s when I have to re-evaluate the course I’m on and maybe make a change.
In any case, it’s always great to see you here!