“Creativity is intelligence having fun” – Albert Einstein.
According to LinkedIn, Creativity is now considered chief among the soft skills that employers value most. It’s important for innovation and problem solving, and it’s a skill that everyone can develop.
In its broadest sense, creativity is about generating ideas or possibilities that are novel and valuable. There are countless ways to boost your creativity, including exploring creative pursuits. (And no, you don’t need to be an artist.) Not only liberating, creative pursuits are also mindfulness activities because you focus on the sensory detail and not the stresses in your mind.
Tips for unleashing creativity
Whether it’s to help generate ideas for a career change or to introduce more creativity into your work or life, here are some tips and resources that we think may help unleash your creative side. (As with most things, start with a growth mindset – creativity can’t flourish under criticism.)
- Try collage. Create a picture of your dream career or future life and use it for motivation or planning. Or just do it for beauty or fun.
- Try colouring in. There are loads of colouring-in books for grownups. Google it.
- Join a choir.
- Can’t draw? But you can probably doodle lines and shapes, which Harvard Health suggests has “thinking” benefits too.
- Cook for enjoyment or take a cookery class.
- Create a pin board of ideas and inspirations – check out Pinterest.
- Go to a gallery, if you don’t usually. Or if you regularly attend, check out a different one.
- Listen to music or play an instrument. (Can’t get to an instrument? There’s an app for that.)
- Go for a walk in nature and take photos – experiment with filters and camera settings.
- Ever considered handicrafts? The options are endless – from woodwork to paper, sculpture to mixed materials. Get inspired on Etsy or other handmade platform sites.
Top Books
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (2015)
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (2002)
A Whack on the Side of the Head by Ron Von Oech (2001)
Top Sites
Skillshare: find loads of inexpensive creative online courses.
Ted Talks: watch creative and inspirational talks.
Pinterest: discover and save creative ideas.
How are you giving light to your creativity at home or work?