Disconnect From the Internet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t expect to paint the next Mona Lisa, invent the next search engine, or finally finish that novel if you\u2019re too busy looking at other people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can come back to your phone and social media when it\u2019s time to show off your work, but otherwise, you won\u2019t believe how much of a relief it is to disconnect from the Internet. It\u2019s surreal what this does to your concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you think getting off your phone is going to end with you being bored and still <\/em>not getting any work done, think again! Because you know what? In this case, we want <\/em>to feel bored. Boredom, according to research, can actually make you more <\/em>creative. Your bored mind is likely to look for stimulation, making it resort to daydreaming, i.e., helping you come up with new ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if all else fails, being away from your phone at least stops you from procrastinating. Every minute that you spend not <\/em>scrolling through social media is a minute where your brain is allowed to breathe, create, and wander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indulge in Some Blue Sky Thinking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Or alternatively, come up with as many ideas as you can. Blue Sky thinking is simple. Allow yourself to brainstorm with no limitations. Forget about time limits, standards, and any boundaries and simply create. The sky\u2019s the limit here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chances are a genius<\/em>, super creative idea is biding its time until you work through all the bad ideas. Creative people are known to generate zillions of ideas, and while admittedly, not all of them will be a home run, a few gems are always hidden in the pile. Instead of aiming for that brilliant, \u201caha!\u201d moment right away, feel free to come up with as many ideas as you can, even, and especially, if they seem ridiculous. After all, didn\u2019t Thomas Edison say, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cGenius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration\u201d ?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Ideally, the next step after generating as many ideas as you can is to follow through with some of them. Here comes another trick that will ultimately help you become more creative in your life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let go of the myth of perfection. If you approach creativity like it\u2019s something to be mastered, perfected, it starts to become flighty. Perfectionism is <\/em>the enemy of creativity, and it\u2019s a mind-melting barrier that halts your brain from being creative by pressuring it with stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does aiming for perfection do? It makes it hard to push past the starting phase and see the finish line. Have you ever found yourself frustrated, staring at a blank page? Is the fear of failure, of not living up to expectation, of someone else possibly critiquing you, paralyzing you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen to Music<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Daniel Levitin, the author of \u201cThis Is Your Brain On Music,\u201d<\/em> explains in detail just how beneficial music is for you. Not only is it inspiring and fun to listen to– and have the occasional dance party to\u2014but also, there is science involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See, there are basically two modes for how your brain operates. In one mode, you\u2019re incredibly focused, concentrating on something. In the other mode, your mind wanders– and this is where the creative magic happens. Music helps you reach the mind-wandering mode where different thoughts start to fly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s already accepted that music improves cognition and does wonders in enhancing memory and learning, so it\u2019s not a big leap to link music to creative thinking. Extra points if it\u2019s happy, \u201cfeel-good\u201d music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make a Creative Portfolio<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This next tip is a way to easily practice creativity and <\/em>will work as something to come back to when you\u2019re not feeling inspired: make a creative portfolio. Look at what inspires you the most, what makes you feel pumped up and excited and inspired? Is it a certain author? A song? A video? Is it a celebrity? A family member? A friend?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you find yourself to be at your most innovative when there is a certain activity involved? If you happen to find inspiration from something in real life, take a picture of it. Collect things from moments that motivated you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gathering mementos of the things that usually inspire you will help you tap into a wonderful creative energy and focus on it. It could be anything from a Pinterest board, a blog where you share your favorite things, or a mood board in your room where you pin pictures. And then whenever you find yourself feeling un<\/em>creative, look through this portfolio and you\u2019ll recall that initial excited, inspiring feeling you first felt when you made it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wake Your Right Brain<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s not an exact science, this may be just the trick for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you know where the creativity center of your brain is? According to experts, your right brain hemisphere, which controls the left side of your body, is where the magic happens. You can activate it to increase your creativity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your right brain can be activated through mental stimulation, which basically helps your mind stay extra sharp. The benefits of these mental exercises include reducing stress and anxiety, decreasing depression risk, improving cognitive function, and improving your sleep quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also try an easy way to activate it by doing things like jumping up and down on your left foot or using your left hand to write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something as simple as drawing will do the trick. What these visual arts do– painting, drawing, sketching, and manifesting your ideas on paper– is shut off your conscious thoughts and let you freely, and without pressure, explore your creative side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Moving<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Around a century ago, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cSit as little as possible. Do not believe any idea that was not born in the open air and of free movement– in which the muscles do not also revel.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

You know who else used moving as a way to jumpstart their creative process? Author Ernest Hemingway used to box. Haruki Murakami loved running so much that he devoted a book to it. Kathy Acker loved bodybuild. The list goes on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best thing about creativity is that everyone has a, well, creative<\/em> way of approaching it. But if you want a sure-fire way to be more creative in your life, any form of physical activity is a good place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yoga is said to be incredibly helpful as it allows your mind to calm down and for your thoughts to wander. If yoga isn\u2019t your cup of tea, any physical exercise will help. At its simplest, exercise increases the blood flow and oxygen to the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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