How to Be Creative

Co-authored by Joui Turandot

Last Updated: September 21, 2022 References Approved

Creativity is a skill that you can work on with time, training, and effort.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Joui Turandot
Branding Consultant
Expert Interview. 4 June 2020.} There are many areas you can focus on to improve your overall creativity. Engage in creative exercises like reading, writing, and listening to music to sharpen your creativity. Learn as much as possible and open yourself up to new ideas and experiences. Make lifestyle changes like walking more, exercising regularly, and getting more sleep to give your brain the boost it needs to increase your creative skills.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Challenging Yourself with Creative Exercises

1
Do the 30 circle test. You can do this test during dull moments at work. It helps you push yourself to think quickly and creatively. To start, draw 30 circles. From there, make as many circles into drawings as possible in one minute. You can do the test over and over again, trying to break your record each time.^{[2]
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- The 30 Circle Test helps boost creativity because it forces you to embrace multiple ideas. Many people have a tendency to self-edit and pause to wonder if something is a good idea. The 30 Circle Test forces you to think fast, forcing you to experiment with ideas without rejecting them.
- For printable sheets of empty circles, do an Internet search for "30 circles printable".
2
Doodle in your spare time. Doodling is sometimes thought of as a childish pastime, but it can actually help increase productivity. This can increase creativity by increasing your engagement with the world and attention span. Doodling helps you stay engaged during activities where you would otherwise zone out. The more information you're able to absorb, the more creative you will be.^{[3]
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Trustworthy Source
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
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- Doodle during activities where you feel your mind wandering. For example, if you find yourself drifting out of focus during a meeting at work, do some doodling. You can also doodle in school during boring lectures.
- Try keeping a sketchbook where you doodle when you start to feel bored or disengaged.
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3
Write flash fiction. Flash fiction means very short stories, often no more than 100 words. Writing a flash fiction story will help you become more creative as you'll be forced to tell a fleshed out story with a beginning, middle, and end using only a small number of words. This will help you learn how to convey necessary information in a limited space.^{[4]
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- There are many flash fiction writing communities online. Try getting involved with a flash fiction writing community and responding to prompts and participating in contests.
4
Listen to music. Simply playing music in the background can inspire you creatively. It can help you focus better and increase your overall concentration. Classical music tends to work particularly well for creativity and concentration.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source
Greater Good Magazine
Journal published by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which uses scientific research to promote happier living
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- Not every genre of music works for everyone. While classical music has beneficial effects for many, experiment a little to find the music that best helps you concentrate and feel creative.
5
Make something with your hands. Using your hands to create means you get information from all of your senses. This can help encourage more creative thinking. If you want to feel more creative, try activities in which you create using your hands. For example, try something like knitting, sewing, or other crafts to bolster your creativity.
- Other activities like arranging your bedroom, cooking, calligraphy—anything that has an inkling of creativity—can help you build your creative muscles.^{[6]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Joui Turandot
  Branding Consultant
  Expert Interview. 4 June 2020.}
6
Play video games. Some video games are actually good for the creative mind. Interactive games that require movement as these stimulate multiple senses help with creative thinking. Things like Wii Tennis or Dance Dance Revolution would work well. Avoid games that require you to sit for long periods.^{[7]
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7
Read more. Reading is great for your creative mind. Make a habit of reading regularly. Pick books from multiple genres and styles of writing to expand your horizons and really bolster your creativity. Try to make time to read every day.^{[8]
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- Try joining a book club. This will help direct your reading if you're unsure what kinds of books to start with.
- Get a library card. This will help you save some money on books.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Broadening Your Knowledge

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Develop your expertise. Part of being creative is gaining expertise in one area or medium and learning as much as you can about it. Begin by reading articles and watching videos on the subject to gather more information about it. If possible, sign up for an introductory course at a local college or community centre (e.g. a beginner painting class).^{[9]
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- Inspire yourself by experiencing the creative works of others in a medium that interests you. For instance, if you are learning how to paint, visit a museum or art gallery.
2
Be open to new experiences. The most creative people are willing to engage with multiple ideas, broaden their horizons, and be surprised. Avoid resisting and dismissing things that are unfamiliar to you, and accept opportunities to try new creative endeavors. For instance, attempt a medium like clay sculpting even if you believe that you will dislike it or be bad at it.
3
Use play to foster creativity. Being more childlike can help your creative side by freeing you from adult hang ups for a while and opening your mind. Use toys and art supplies to stimulate your imagination and make new connections. If you're short on creative ideas, take the time to draw a whimsical picture or play with building blocks or legos.^{[10]
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4
Share and explain your knowledge. They say that you remember 90% of what you learned by teaching it to someone else. Explaining your newfound knowledge to yourself and others can help to cement it in your own mind. While you are learning something new, make a point of explaining it to yourself in your head. Picture yourself giving a TED talk or tutoring someone on the topic. ^{[11]
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- If you feel particularly confident, make a video about the topic to post online, or explain your knowledge to a friend or colleague.
5
Prompt yourself to think of new ideas. Engage in activities that actively force you to think of new ideas. For instance, play word association games by writing down one word and then any words that connect to it. Use analogy to find similarities between two seemingly dissimilar things to break down and examine your associations with each.^{[12]
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- For instance, look for similarities between a textbook and an iPod.
- If you feel stuck, try some word association games or search for synonyms online.
- A similar idea is a game sometimes called "Word Melt", in which you change words into other words, by changing one letter at a time. For example — WORD → WARD → WART → WALT → MALT → MELT
6
Set aside time for brainstorming. Creativity takes practice, so set aside time each day to retreat to a quiet or inspiring place to generate new ideas. For instance, visit a quiet park or sit in a library and let your mind flow freely. Write all of your ideas (good or bad) in a notebook, on a whiteboard, or on your computer without stopping to edit or rethink them.^{[13]
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- Find a time that will work for you regularly. If you always have time after dinner, for example, take an hour after dinnertime to turn off distractions and engage with new ideas.
- You don't even have to know what you're going to do with this brainstorming time. Just let yourself be. Let whatever inspiration comes come, and if none does, keep going and eventually it will.^{[14]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Joui Turandot
  Branding Consultant
  Expert Interview. 4 June 2020.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Changing Your Lifestyle

1
Socialize with different people. To give your creativity a jump-start, socialize as much as you can, particularly with people who are different from you. Spending time with people whose life experience and world view is unlike yours can expand your mind and offer fresh perspective on everyday things. To meet new people, attend events or do activities that are outside of your normal routine and engage in conversation whenever possible.^{[15]
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- For instance, if the art world is new to you, visit a gallery or museum and strike up a conversation with an artist or patron. Break the ice by saying something like, "I'm new to the art world. Is this a passion of yours?"
- Try varying your established routes to increase the chances you’ll meet new people.
2
Walk when possible. Walking can provide you time to think over ideas by allowing you to zone out and engage with creative thoughts. Walking will also allow you to engage with new surroundings or nature, both of which may inspire your creativity. Make a point of walking several times a week for at least fifteen minutes, or everyday if possible.^{[16]
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3
Exercise. Exercising regularly can boost creativity by reducing stress and improving cognitive function. Create an exercise regimen for yourself to follow, aiming for about 30 minutes of exercise a day. Choose light cardio exercise like walking, jogging, or bicycling.^{[17]
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Trustworthy Source
MedlinePlus
Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine
Go to source}
4
Get enough sleep. Sleep can help your mind stay rested and refreshed, leaving you creatively recharged. The brain is also very active during sleep, so "sleeping on a problem" may allow your mind to re-evaluate connections and formulate new ideas about an issue.^{[18]
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Research source}Strive to get a solid 8 to 9 hours sleep each night, and stay on a sleep schedule.^{[19]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I start being creative?

Joui Turandot
Creative Leadership Coach
Joui Turandot is a Personal and Creative Branding Consultant and the Founder of JTM Consulting, a business that specializes in public persona branding, business branding, creative leadership coaching, and speaking workshops. Joui has more than 10 years of experience as a fashion designer, filmmaker, photographer, costume designer, stylist, and personal development coach. She uses her diverse experience to guide creative leaders and entrepreneurs through a journey of self-discovery and embodied personal expression to help them grow their business and step into the next level of leadership. Joui holds a BA in Media Studies from Mills College and holds credentials in the Somatica Core Training Method by the Somatica Institute and in the Art of Circling Training by The Circling Institute.

Joui Turandot

Creative Leadership Coach

Expert Answer

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First, start by appreciating the creativity you already have and remembering that creativity is a skill/muscle that can be exercised and strengthened. Then, try out new things that get your juices flowing. The important thing is to commit to practicing creativity regularly—once a day or once a week.
Question

How can I be creative all the time?

Klare Heston, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker
Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).

Klare Heston, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker

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This is a decision you can make. All new habits take about 21 days to develop. Start breaking your routines and/or ruts. Creativity is more about a mindset rather than just where you go and what you choose to do.
Question

How do you get creative?

Klare Heston, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker
Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).

Klare Heston, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker

Expert Answer

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You can start by starting to think and act 'outside the box!' Try something different such as a different tv network, a different genre of book, a new style look, or a different haircut. At least research something really different even if you don't actually try that thing right away. Bookmark it!