How to be more creative in your everyday life

I'm a strong believer that creativity is one of the most powerful tools for improving the processes that surround us and, dare I say it, transforming the entire world. Even so, I understand that it's easier to talk about it and believe in its potential than to actually apply it to different areas of our lives when, for most of the day, we're held back by things that go beyond us: telling us how to dress, how to act, how to speak, and how to produce more with zero risk.

Maybe I'm being a bit overly optimistic, but I still believe there are small ways to make our lives more creative without compromising any expected results, and, dare I say it, even improving them. So in this post, I'm sharing some ideas of things you can start doing today to be more creative in your daily life:

Write

Some time ago, I read a book that taught a technique that really brought about a lot of change in a short time: every morning, when you wake up, write three pages by hand about anything. It's just opening your brain and putting everything that's going through your head and everything you're feeling onto paper. Besides releasing some thoughts that were holding you back and creating space for new ideas to emerge, sometimes incredible things emerge amidst the meaningless words that can be used later.

Also, I don't know about you, but I feel different when I write—especially when I write on paper. It feels like many of my filters come off, many of my fears return, and I can talk to myself more honestly and openly than I could anywhere else. That's why I always carry a sketchbook with me everywhere and jot down anything that comes to mind or that I need to express in silent words —and this definitely encourages me to be more creative when I need to shout something out to the rest of the world.

Question yourself, not just others

I know that we often tend to judge the work of others (whether with good intentions or not), especially when we are in academic circles or at work, but we rarely stop to question ourselves.

It's scary to face yourself, and equally necessary. If we stop to rationalize why we do something or how we could do it differently to achieve a goal, it's likely that over time the answers will come as easily as when we stop to talk about anything else.

Learn and let yourself learn

Absolutely anything new you learn gives you some kind of knowledge that can be useful at some point. So, watch tutorials on YouTube, read books, watch videos, movies, and documentaries, and talk to new people. Learn to crochet, play the ukulele, bake a strawberry pie (don't forget to invite me over for a bite), play chess, or build a terrarium. Besides allowing you to discover parts of yourself you didn't even know existed before, new knowledge opens your mind to finding solutions to a wide variety of problems.

Another thing that helps in this process is letting yourself learn. I won't lie, I'm quite stubborn in this regard, but I do my best to hold back. If someone is giving you constructive feedback or showing you another path, listen. You don't have to agree, but listen and don't argue (at least not to insist on your choices). Ask your teachers or mentors to teach you new things and never assume you know more than anyone else— the truth is, anyone knows something you don't, and that can completely change the way you see things.

Go to fairs, museums and exhibitions

Not every city has encouraged cultural events—I know, I live in one of the worst in this regard. Even so , there's always an event happening somewhere that gives you an opportunity to breathe art and continue creating. Visit creative fairs, go see plays, dance, and music performances, discover a new museum, and stop to browse the exhibitions we so often miss in shopping malls and other public establishments.

Take photos without likes

One thing I've recently started doing that's been incredibly rewarding is photographing absolutely everything I find interesting when I'm out and about. I don't post these photos anywhere and rarely show them to anyone. Besides the fact that I now notice the things around me much more, I still engage in the creative process (albeit unconsciously) of trying to find a way to accurately represent what I'm seeing through a simple photograph.

Do things alone

As a good little carrot with social anxiety, I know all too well how terrifying it can be to go out alone for coffee or to the movies and (yikes) have to talk to someone I don't know or run into an old acquaintance along the way. As a creative, I also know that most great ideas come when a person is deeply connected to themselves. So, as Julia Cameron would say, go to weekly "artist dates" (that is, dates between you and yourself) and don't forget to ask the friendly question: "Hey, how are you?"

Move

To encourage creativity, it's not enough to just feed your brain—your body also needs to be functioning and happy for you to be able to create new things. Put on that heavy song that makes you want to go out and shake your booty (in my case, it's always Baby Got Back) and dance like you're alone in the world, go for a run, do yoga outdoors, or go for a bike ride. Whatever you do, shake that body!

Strike up strange conversations

Instead of talking about the weather or how your neighbor's dog won't stop barking in the middle of the night (!!!), how about talking about the origin of life, the existence of aliens, the possibility of parallel universes (I believe, what about you?) or the secret lives of animals? These kinds of unusual topics activate parts of your brain that were previously on automatic mode—and any connection to the origin of creative thinking is no coincidence.

Seek motivation

Whether it's through TED Talks, series, games ( in this post we made a list with some tips), books or inspirational quotes (hello, Motivation Box for Artists in Crisis ), we need some kind of fuel to catch our breath and keep going.

Even if you're the Grinch of motivational speeches, try some of the options above. You might surprise yourself and find something within yourself that you've long felt lost.

With love,
Re