Saying about control and creativity in one sentence is quite weird. We get used to the fact that inspiration is the power that comes from nowhere and disappears whenever it wants. However, how could brilliant minds such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Fyodor Dostoevsky manage to finish their masterpieces?
You see, creativity is a skill that can be developed and even controlled. Once you practice it, you will be able to be creative anytime you want. It will become easy for you to generate new ideas, solve problems faster, and develop confidence. It has also been proven that creativity decreases the risk of untimely death, reduces stress, and helps get rid of negative emotions.
Are you in a creative coma right now? That’s how you can call your muse:
Take care of yourself
You’d be surprised how many factors influence your mood and energy levels. To stay focused on your thing, make sure you eat healthy and sleep well. If you want to create something great, you don’t need to drink plenty of alcohol or smoke one cigarette after another. You need to have a clear mind and be rested. Look at Japanese writer Haruki Murakami – he wakes up at 5 in the morning and writes his stories until noon. At 9 pm he is already in bed even though he gets a lot of invitations to the parties. The author says that it is important to find your productive hours and take care of your body during the day.
Rethink your diet and avoid eating foods that lead to uncomfortable full feeling in your stomach. Eating vegetables, fruit, and drinking green tea with yellow kratom will help avoid mood swings and make you more energetic.
Get rid of distractions
Your brain is not a trash can. Scrolling on social media and listening to stories of negative people are those distractions that don’t allow you to reach your full potential. Also, it takes a lot of time and energy. How will you catch your brilliant ideas if you constantly think of the pictures someone posted recently on Facebook? You need to learn how to distinguish useful information from the trash. When you start mindless Internet scrolling, ask yourself the following questions:
Does it make me feel good?
Is it something I can use in my work?
If both answers are ‘no,’ close that web page immediately.
Read novels
According to a study titled ‘Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Novel on Connectivity in the Brain’, reading makes people more creative. When you read descriptions of characters and places, you improve your brain function and mental capacity.
A famous entrepreneur, Elon Musk, is an excellent example of an avid reader. Musk admits that he reads science fiction on a regular basis; it helps him to relax and find creative solutions to world problems.
Watching movies isn’t the same as reading novels because it doesn’t require that much effort.
Meditate
Sometimes you need to give your mind a break. It doesn’t mean you should sit in front of the TV and do nothing but watching meaningless TV shows. Instead, you can start meditating. Close your eyes and try to imagine the room you are in, picture the colors and the items around you. This practice can help you get rid of overwhelming emotions and increase your mental energy. If you think that meditation wouldn’t work for you, go to the gym and exercise until you are out of thoughts.
Everyday practice
If you want to develop creativity and make it your thing, you need to practice this skill daily. There is no need to draw pictures or write short stories every single day. Just start observing places where you are and strangers on the street. For instance, every time you see someone new, try to tell their story. Is that lady a single mom with a loan? Does this man hate his job? Will this couple buy a house in the near future? Create stories, try to see someone’s future or the past.
Become a procrastinator
Do you need to find a creative solution immediately but you don’t have ideas at all? In this case, stand up and go for a walk or play video games, or call a friend. Some people would call it ‘procrastination.’ However, engaging yourself in activities is a part of the creative process. Your mind will not stop looking for solutions while you are doing something completely not related to your problem. It has been described in detail in the TED talk of psychologist Adam Grant.
Learn new things
Creativity implies having a sharp mind. That’s why you need to keep learning new things. To do so, you can sign up for a class, read more books and ask questions every time you don’t understand something. To be creative, you should nurture a child’s curiosity. There are so many things that you haven’t learned yet.
Speak to people
Don’t hesitate to tell your ideas to someone you trust. Your loved ones can suggest some improvements you haven’t thought about. It is important to look at your work from a different angle.