What’s the difference between a creative person and a non creative person? The answer is nothing. Well, okay, there might be one or two habits people who are labelled ‘creative’ have developed that make them successful. Let me spill the beans.
I went to a creativity event in Nottingham a few months back where creatives ranging from architects to authors and from fashion designers to web designers shared their road to creativity. Here are some of the top tips I collected on enhancing your creativity:
1. Record your ideas, whether it be by dictaphone, notebook, sketch pad or phone, whatever you do, get them down as they occur to you. You will forget them otherwise, no matter how brilliantly they seem to burn at the time.
2. Use social media as a sounding board. Simeon Hartwig, the designer behind Bantam clothes uses social media to check out responses to new ideas. Just like bloggers often use Twitter or facebook to pose questions.
3. Say No. Focus on the projects that really excite you.
4. Spend a few minutes in nature every day. Sounds corny, but my best ideas come the minute I step out of my front door after a morning sitting stuck at my desk.
5. Nurture your inner child and learn from children, who aren’t afraid to write, draw, improvise and invent freely. Visualising your ideas is powerful. Ricky from Livescribes, who help people and businesses do just that, got us drawing each other.
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| I accidentally gave my friends beards. So I scribbled them out. How did drawing get so icky as a grown up? |
6. Problem solve. Creativity isn’t an ability, talent or gift, creativity is finding the solutions to the obstacles in your path.
7. Places can spark your creativity. Author Nicola Monaghan uses the example of moving back to her hometown of Nottingham as the catalyst for her career as a writer. But, you don’t have to move, just visit, or revisit.
8. Say Yes. Don’t be afraid to try something, to ‘drive in the dark’. You don’t always need to know where you are going.
9. Don’t be afraid of limited resources. Hartwig’s best design came the day he forgot his materials and was forced to improvise with the I heart NY t shirt off his back. He graffiitised it to say I heart Notts and it sold, lots.
10. It helps to surround yourself with other people who are open to creative journeys.
Good Luck, enjoy the journey. And why not check out these creative tips from Filmmaker and Honestmum Vicki.
Picture credit - © Fabricio Simeoni De Sousa | Dreamstime.com
Great tips
I am a big fan of outdoors and yes always have my best thoughts whilst walking the dogs. Some of my yummiest meals come from day’s I don’t think I got anything to use ( I am using food as materials here!) in fact I planned a blog post on just that!!!
Finding your creativity opens up so much more for you, we all have a creative side it not always obvious but it’s there
Will be checking out the tips link x
Ali recently posted..Spiced oat cookie cakes
As always you made me giggle Ali. You’re comments are always so creative, I love them!
I’m coming to get some empty cupboard recipes, def needed here.
The Alexander Residence recently posted..Your Online Shopping – Give as you Live
At the beginning of March, my husband and I went to Offset 2012, a design conference in Dublin. As a writer, I felt a little out of place among all the design types in attendance! But the whole experience was fantastic. I felt inspired and felt my creativity invigorated for weeks afterwards. I think it’s great to expose your mind to ideas from people who think differently to you, and I definitely agree with number 10 on your list, that surrounding yourself with people who are open to creative journeys is good for your own creativity.
Lisa | Mama.ie recently posted..Baby Led Weaning two years on
Hi Lisa. I love that all the creatives are here commenting
It’s easy to get in a rut, and so good to try different perspectives out. Love the sound of Offset!
The Alexander Residence recently posted..Your Online Shopping – Give as you Live
These are all great tips! I consider myself to be a pretty creative person but there’s always room to try out new things and expand my ideas
Great post! xx
Jules Young (@muddleduck) recently posted..Addio Capri!
You are soooo creative Jules
The Alexander Residence recently posted..Your Online Shopping – Give as you Live
great tips love the i love notts one. I often find myself winging it and it often workd!
Becky recently posted..MoneyVista an online personal finance plan.
Love it, you are amazingly creative and resourceful Becky, I had no idea you were winging it
The Alexander Residence recently posted..Your Online Shopping – Give as you Live
Very helpful ideas here – thanks!
I particularly like number 3 and number 8
Ruth @ Minibreak Mummy recently posted..Minibreak Mummy loves: my Mia Tui handbag
Hi Ruth. Yes, I love the contradiction in saying Yes and No too! I’m very distracted by the comment luv link to a post on your handbag, because I know you do very creative posts on handbags
The Alexander Residence recently posted..Your Online Shopping – Give as you Live
Brilliant post, Penny, very helpful and really makes me think about a lot of the projects I’m starting or about to delve into and where I really want to take them, what fits with me creatively. Sounds like a great event!
Babes about Town recently posted..Win a Dream Getaway with Sudocrem Sunscreen Mousse for Kids and Babies
Hey Uju, now you are a lady with loads of creative ideas on the go. See I’ve ticked off point 10
The Alexander Residence recently posted..Your Online Shopping – Give as you Live
Wonderful, inspiring post and tips to live by as a creative x
HonestMum recently posted..Creating & Customising…