Creativity is the ability to create using our imagination or from original ideas. Your creativity help you made new solutions by seeing the world in a different way. In this sense, creativity is a vital precursor to innovation; presenting new ideas and perspectives to solve ‘old’ problems in a new way.
Regardless of the work field, creativity provides stimulating solutions with benefits helping to advance our careers, projects and our way of living. This is the main reason different public and private organization are continuously search for more ways to promote creativity. Many of the top, leading companies around the world provide creative environments for their staff, as well as creativity training and activities with this perspective in mind.
You can be part of this creativity journey with small amount of tactics, low cost activity without spending too much time. In fact, it can be simple, engaging and productive.
Taking consistent action in your everyday events can help you flex your creative muscles daily.
Here are 5 ways you can ignite your creativity for innovation today:
1. Learn something new
You can learn a new skill, idea or ability rewiring your brain and improving your performance. Additionally, you can slow down your aging. Learning something new during cooking or n instrument or from your favorite sport will be easy and rewarding. You can also take new projects opening up to new abilities and competencies by approaching problems differently. It will challenge your status quo and create new pathways making things happen. Your mind will be more receptive. Learning a new topic from an expert, honing a skill and taking on a new hobby, like creating jewelry or international cooking are also great ways to boost your creativity.
2. Stimulate your creativity with activities
Focus on spontaneous activities to practice connections and new idea generation. Try the a simple and stimulating 3 minute exercise from The Muse (originally from this Harvard Business Review article). There are many possibilities for this type of activity or exercise. For example, building something known (like a small airplane) from everyday materials you can find at your office or in your home. Making something familiar with unfamiliar materials or different restrictions.
3. Explore new avenues within your field of expertise
Exploring new routes and alternative options to understand and resolve problems can open up ideas you otherwise would not consider. Think about how you can approach your day to day work from a different perspective. Consider different methods or approaches from colleagues in your field. Research what novel approaches are currently being studied or implemented in your field. How are other peers approaching the work or study? Give yourself time to explore different possibilities and discover how you can apply your own creative solutions.
4. Read about (or listen to) different topics
Connecting concepts builds your creativity and provides insight for new way of thinking. You might be surprised to see how many fields are interconnected and giving benefit or value added. For example, we learned agriculture from the way aunts cut the leaf and turn leaf biomass into food. A train engineer was able to re-design a train nose by the inspiration from Kingfisher's streamlined break for noise reduction releasing airwaves gradually. Integrating content will expand your field of knowledge and help you with new neurological connections. You can try reading, watching a video series or listening to a podcast about a topic that peaks your interest. Podcasts are among the most popular options because they allow the listener to learn about a new topic while they go about their day –driving to work or making cores at home
5. Take time off to rest and relax
Like all of our body, our mind needs rest. Rest and relaxation promote the regeneration of the neuronal pathways our brain uses to deliver information. The importance of rest and “unfocusing” has been well studied. According to this article from Harvard Health Publishing, “…when you turn your “focus” brain off, it will retrieve memories, link ideas so that you become more creative, and also help you feel more self-connected too.”
You can plan to rest and relax during the day. Taking frequent breaks to recharge or taking a 10 minutes nap can be greatly beneficial to an over-stimulated mind. Another way is to engage in relaxing activities, like meditation, taking a stroll in nature or simply making time to be calm and quiet.
Now you are booting your creativity with a key starting point towards innovation. Try these practical exercises to spark your creativity today. You will be surprised with your new step forward for every day idea generation within your profession or life.
Are there any other ways you spark your creativity? How do you encourage creativity in your own field or in your everyday life? Let us know in the comments below
This article was collaborated with Tania Rodriguez Hernandez
Sources:
English Oxford Living Dictionary - https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/creativity
Three Creativity Challenge from IDEO's Leader -https://hbr.org/2013/11/three-creativity-challenges-from-ideos-leaders
Learning a new skill can slow your aging -https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/learning-new-skill-can-slow-cognitive-aging-201604279502
Secrets to Brain Success: Intelligent Cognitive Rest -https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/secret-to-brain-success-intelligent-cognitive-rest-2017050411705
A 3 minutes Exercise to Spark Your Creativity -https://www.themuse.com/advice/a-3minute-exercise-to-spark-your-creativity
Insect can teach us how to create better technologies -https://theconversation.com/insects-can-teach-us-how-to-create-better-technologies-68179
Five Animals that have inspired modern technology -https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/34592574
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