Creativity and inspiration are not solely reserved for the artists and creatives of the world. Each one of us has and needs a certain level of different type of creativity in order to thrive in work and life. We just need to find what it is that triggers it for us. For some, it is the familiar everyday tasks and known spaces, whereas some of us need a challenge, change and novelty in order to feel accomplished and complete.
We all feel stuck at times. It doesn’t matter what you do in life, nothing trumps that amazing feeling of fresh ideas taking over and transforming any work into a joyful experience. If you need an additional boost of newness that will make the work you’ve been doing for a while new and exciting again, search no more. Here are 7 ways to find inspiration no matter where you may be.
1. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness may seem like some overhyped New Age gimmick that gets people to do silly things. However, that cannot be further away from the truth. Essentially, to be mindful means to be in the moment and let your overwhelming thoughts go without your active participation in them.
Disconnect from the devices and connect to the power of your own inner guiding system each day. Meditate, walk through the park, and watch nature, children or animals. Be in the present moment and focus on the breathing. Let your thoughts quiet down in order to make space for new creative ideas to emerge.
2. Create an Inspirational Space in Your Home
Set up a small part of your home into a creativity sanctuary. Fill it with things that trigger specific emotions that create a productive atmosphere in your mind. Firstly, take the time to declutter the space properly. Get rid of anything you have no use of anymore, in order to create space for new ideas and new items that can serve a creative purpose. Create a vision board with pictures that inspire growth in any area of your life. Surround your space with your favourite books and framed photographs, and add timber cladding to the wall to achieve that antique and rustic library tone. Top it off with some scented candles for a complete feel.
3. Try New Things
Challenge yourself on a regular basis to do something you have never done before. It doesn’t need to be adventure sports; it can be something as simple as taking a different route to work, trying out a different style of clothing or taking up painting.
Your mind and creativity flourish by being provided with new ideas and knowledge. Learn something new whenever possible. Take classes on topics you’ve always been interested in, but the excuse of never having enough time has stopped you from exploring them further. Fresh knowledge will broaden your horizons and create opportunities for new ideas.
4. Be Physically Active
Once your entire body is active, you become more relaxed and free from overthinking, which lets the inspiration come to you in a more natural way. Your mind is fuelled by the energy produced during a full-body exercise. Physical activity requires you to focus on the present moment and let go of all the thoughts that are not serving you right now.
Furthermore, people that work out regularly show better results at focus tests and are generally more perceptive. According to studies, exercise affects the creation of new neurons in the hippocampus region of our brain. Take this into consideration next time you catch yourself contemplating skipping a fitness session for a cosy evening of Netflix and chill.
5. Turn to Others for Inspiration
Spending time in conversations with friends or colleagues you consider smart and interesting can help you get diverse standpoints that can inspire some astonishing discoveries. If you feel stuck for inspiration, you can always call some friends and pick their brain, or you can listen to a thought-provoking podcast, watch a documentary or a Ted Talk, or read a biography about someone you admire.
6. Let the Worst Ideas Out First
Trying to be perfect at anything will only clog your creative channels. Instead of beating yourself up for not succeeding at finding the right solution, let the wrong ones out first. Use this trick of successful storytellers for clearing any creative blockage. Write down some ideas, even though you wouldn’t dare showing them to anyone.
It will help you clear the space for new, better ones. Give yourself permission to be terrible before you can excel.
7. Verbalise It
Inspiration never comes by order, or when you need it the most. It usually strikes you in situations when you are relaxed or engaged enough not to stress over it. Like after spur-of-the-moment, stimulating discussions with like-minded people. Next time when you feel out of ideas, intentionally strike up a conversation that you know will help you make a breakthrough.
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