7 Simple Ways to be More Creative

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will. ” George Bernard Shaw

For the past few days, the subject of creativity has been a lot on my mind. Perhaps because it is the beginning of a new year, and I am filled with fresh energy and enthusiasm. If you feel the same, here are some simple ways to help you kickstart your mind…and create what you will!

Do the same things a bit differently. Cooking rice? Think of herbs and spices you could add to it for more flavor and nourishment. Driving back from work? Take a more scenic route.
Play with children. Their creativity is the best kind: spontaneous and original. It’s sure to refresh your mind.
Never miss an opportunity to meet new people. The more you connect with others, the more you will learn and absorb. When the time comes to think of fresh ideas, who knows what image/words might chug back into your memory and give you a Eureka moment?
When your creative juices threaten to run dry, seek inspiration in places where creativity flourishes. Bookstores, art galleries, quirky boutiques, a photographer’s studio…the mental block will dissolve.
Keep an idea book. Countless ideas slip away simply because they weren’t noted down. Even if it is a seed of an idea, record it. You never know when it might come in handy!
Set yourself a deadline. Sometimes, your best creative effort happens when you’re under pressure!
Allow yourself to daydream. There’s research to show that indulging in a little creative dreaming allows the brain to mix ideas and break free of limitations, even for a bit. This has a positive effect on the way you think.
Ask seemingly silly questions beginning with “what if”. For instance, “What if one could unfry an egg?” You never know what innovative idea one such question might trigger. “Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not,” said Pablo Picasso.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Kathy P.

12:56PM PDT on Apr 30, 2013

I am a craft/language oriented person. I crochet, quilt, cross stitch, make jewelry, upcycle, scrapbook ect, I love to read and write and paint and draw, I speak 3 languages fluently. Being creative is all I know, and my 3 year old is already all about art :) loved this, thank you

April 30
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Christine J.

2:49AM PST on Jan 31, 2013

Good suggestions. Most of us could do with taking a bit of time out to be creative by daydreaming and thinking "what if?".

January 31
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Lisa S.

8:03AM PST on Jan 16, 2013

Great suggestions, and really simple enough for anyone to try. Oh, how I long to be creative, I feel creative in my mind, I simply cannot translate it into my activities. Thanks for sharing.

January 16
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Diana Z.

1:41AM PST on Jan 16, 2013

thanks for the article - I especially agree about playing with kids (it's not only much fun to play with my 6-month niece, but it's alsoeducational... for me :-)

Carol R.

6:58AM PST on Jan 12, 2013

I DO most of this already! Guess I AM Creative as everyone says!!!! LOL

January 12
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Vicki P.

10:26AM PST on Jan 11, 2013

Thank-you for the inspirational post

January 11
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William B.

1:56AM PST on Jan 10, 2013

Thank you for sharing this.
The ideas book is something I will definitey be doing from now on.

January 10
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Linda R.

7:15AM PST on Jan 9, 2013

Thank you for the inspiration to find my creativity!

January 9
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BG C.

10:00PM PST on Jan 8, 2013

Last end of my so-called poem: in 64.333 years of life I'm still accounting. Addenda... IF they are messages from said Deity...does that mean I am highly favored or am I otherwise in the sights of the Cosmic Damnator???

January 8
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9:53PM PST on Jan 8, 2013

Mighty fine! I have been writing about all the places we find "spectrums"--rainbow sequences of colors. I find those highly inspirational, even wrote a "poem" for our group. "Poem on "This Holy Spectrum"
Fixated by multicolored fasces since childhood.
Fondly found objects: little gel filters my dad used with
his camera in early '50s, Pastel blue, pink, yellow.
looking thru each of them changed the world in some increment.
Discovered looking through my child's hair up against my eyes
as the late day sun yielded
complexes of little bars and stars of those very same colorations.
Holding my mom's rhinestones in the sun just to grok
those psychedelic flashes of pure color burning my retinas.
Plucking a pepper tree frond, touching it to the surface of a
pan of water watching the colors SPREAD, glory in the sun on the water
I bend over feathery spreading oil stains in the street after a good rain.
I obsess over the color bands in a bubble blower held at proper angle.
They have a certain algorhythmical sequence, methinks.
*Celebrate, Celebrate, DANCE to the algoRHYTHMS!*
They are everywhere, surround us, impale us, make up our substance.
I see them in fine spidersilk in the morning.
I discern them when eyes are pressed up against utterly grey kitten fur.
There they are.
In certain floccus clouds, polarized airline windows, ice.
Can't escape 'em.
Some say they are Gods messages to us.
Whatever...I'm still counting them up.
in 64.333 years of life I'm still a