The ability to be creative is always a useful skill. By being able to think in unconventional means, you can find solutions and answers that might not have otherwise been possible. Yet creativity is not something that is inherent from birth. Rather, it is something that should be nurtured and grown.
This is where various brain training hobbies and habits can come in useful. By doing these tasks on a regular basis, you can develop your mind on both a conscious and subconscious level.
To set you on the path to creativity, here are 6 habits that are great for kick-starting your brain into thinking outside of the box.
1. Talk to others about your problems
There is a big difference in how we think about problems and how we explain them to other people. As a result, when you need answers, have you tried explaining it to someone else? Even if you’re not looking for their help, addressing the issue aloud causes you to address the core issue.
Sometimes, this can help you find a new angle, or just identify what areas are not important. This isn’t even something that needs another person to do, either. Just imagine how would explain the problem to somebody else and make note of what you instinctively do and do not focus on.
2. Walk away from problems
When faced with any given problem, answers don’t always come the instant you require them. Yet, at the same time, you shouldn’t force yourself to work on a problem until you find the solution. If you force yourself to do this, you likely repeat the same thought processes, which only provides irritation and agitation, rather than answers.
Instead, take a break and walk away from the issue for a while. These don’t even need to be short breaks either, as even the likes of sleep can improve your creativity. Not only do you comeback more relaxed and full of energy, you can start looking at things from a different angle and a new chain of thought.
3. Read more fiction
Books and novels are some of the world’s oldest pieces of entertainment and there’s a good reason they’ve lasted so long. Unlike modern alternatives, such as movies or television programs, books require you to actively use your imagination.
The science also backs this up, which research suggested a strong correlation between improved creativity and the amount of reading undertaken. In other words, if you make regular efforts to read, you will stimulate the parts of your brain that focus on creativity and your imagination.
As an added bonus, this is something that your brain will do on its own, subconsciously, while you enjoy literature at a conscious level. While any fictional book will do, some genres lend themselves more to brain training. Detective and mystery novels, for instance, require you to actively think more.
4. Get some exercise
There is always a strong connection between the body and mind, so exercising the former often benefits the latter. Similarly, a negative impact in one can influence the other. This is why you can get medically sick from stress.
On the plus side, this is why a quick walk outside improves creativity by 60 percent. At the end of the day, your mind is a muscle and it requires exercise and stimulation like the rest of your body.
Likewise, a good diet is also essential. Try eating more fish or including it in your meals more often. Fish is often referred to as brain food for good reason, as it notably benefits your cognitive thinking.
A little light exercise also benefits your mind, as well, improving circulation, among other things. It’s not too hard to incorporate regular walks and a little more tuna or salmon in your diet.
5. Start gardening
When it comes to getting outdoors, you should also consider the benefits of gardening. In addition to some fresh air, this physical activity provides a welcome distraction that offers enough stimulus to keep your mind from repeating itself over an existing problem.
Yet gardening can often provide many more benefits. It offers visible results for your efforts, which can only increase your confidence and ability to succeed.
There is also a learning curve to consider but this, again, helps distract your mind. While you may start growing a small handful of plants, in time you’ll be using your full creativity. You can harness the power of rainwater, for example, to water your plants and improve other areas of your home. This is just one stop on the way to a larger creative process.
6. Control your sensory input
Some working environments do not encourage creativity. This is why it’s hard to concentrate under harsh lights or with large external noises. Your brain is readily linked to your sensory input, so big changes here will change how creative you’re feeling.
To change this, start considering how your senses are being influenced. Try to avoid situations with strong, vibrant lights, as well as those that are too dim or dark. You should also avoid concentrating when you’re hungry, as your mind will be too occupied with satisfying your stomach.
On the other hand, you could improve your situation with calm music. Many people find silence too unnatural, so a gentle tune can keep your subconscious more relaxed.
As you can see, a creative process isn’t something you’re born with. Everyone is inherently creative, it just takes the right habits to develop this part of your brain and put it to good use.
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Author: Tim Sparke
Tim Sparke is the CEO at 4 Pumps and for several years, he has been an active advocate of organic farming and sustainability. Aside from being a specialist of water pumps, he also has a passion for writing and he writes the blog at 4 Pumps.
