Habits that Fuel My Creativity
Tips to keep the creative juices flowing
Creativity is a necessary skill for all kinds of work — not just design. Without creativity, there would be no innovation, no ideation, and no improvement. That’s why every person and workplace benefits from employees bringing their full creativity to their work.
That said, you might not always feel creative. In this case, the best place to start is to examine your daily habits and choose ones that enable you to fuel your creativity, not drain it. To stay inspired, you must invest time in developing your creativity on a daily basis, the same way you’d invest time in the gym daily to build stronger muscles.
Why does creativity feel like a nonrenewable resource?
Many people see creativity as a nonrenewable resource. In other words, they believe they have a limited amount of creativity and once it’s been used up, it’s gone for good.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This happens because many of us have experienced being creatively blocked, out of ideas, or just in a rut. We might remember a time when we felt full of creative insights, but now, we just feel uninspired.
The important thing to remember is that feeling blocked or uninspired doesn’t mean creativity has run out. There is no way to “use up” all your creative energy — it is limitless. What’s really happening is that you need to do something to reinvigorate your creative mind and refill your inspiration tank.
Habits that boost creativity
Creativity gets stronger the more you use it. With repetition and practice, you can develop daily habits that grow your creativity so you can come to depend on it. Here are some of my favorite ways to do that:
Take regular breaks and vacations
While the thought of fully unplugging for even one hour might feel like an impossibility, taking time away from work is critical to maintaining your mental, emotional, and physical health. Allow yourself to step away! Your to-do list will still be there when you get back, and you’ll bring renewed enthusiasm and creativity to help you tackle it.
Step outside of your space
Whether you work from home or in an office, get outside of your space whenever you need a boost of creativity. Take a walk, go to a new cafe, or take a whole day to visit the art museum. When stepping “out”, don’t be afraid to go somewhere and do something completely opposite from what you’ve been doing. If you’ve been sitting at your desk for hours, go walk around the park. Switching up your scenery like this will help you access new ways of thinking (as well as get a much-needed break).
Brain dumps
Also known as free writing, stream of consciousness writing, and morning pages, brain dumps are a great way to clear your mind so you can focus on the task at hand. Set a timer and write down everything you’re thinking about, and don’t edit too much.
Become an observer of life
Inspiration is literally everywhere — you just have to notice it. Imagine the world is trying to speak to you. What is it trying to tell you? What symbols are you seeing pop up again and again? What imagery emotionally calls to you? Stay present on your morning commute, in your conversations with teammates, or even on your social media scroll. All of these places are full of potential sources of inspiration.
Self-care
Rest is necessary to creative thinking. We can’t innovate when we’re exhausted after a night of no sleep, when we’re feeling like our work is pointless, when we’re bored of our job, etc.
Learn something new
Whether you tackle a new craft, learn a new topic, or just try out a new sport, doing something new can open your mind to new possibilities and spark inspiration for your work. You might take up soccer and get inspired by the way you and your team work together — which might influence the way you handle your next work project.
Habits that crush creativity
While there are habits that can fuel our creativity, there are also habits that can do the opposite. Any habits that lead to burnout or depletion will absolutely destroy your creativity (not to mention wreak havoc on your mental health). These include working long hours, never taking breaks, spending all your time thinking about work, feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities at work, and more. Stress, anxiety, and exhaustion will all make creativity far more difficult to access.
Don’t wait until you’re burned out and in a creative rut to take self-care seriously — the longer you ignore your symptoms, the worse they’re likely to get. Investing in yourself now might seem like an indulgence, but trust me that you’ll end up more productive, more creative, and more excited to return to work if you allow yourself enough time to rest.
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