How to Be More Creative in 14 Unexpected (but Effective) Ways

A creative mind is a commodity. It can be the differentiator between a standout piece of fiction and one that’s instantly forgotten. Between scoring a promotion or getting overlooked. Between innovation and imitation.

Unfortunately, creativity is not doled out in equal doses — and like the plant atop your bookcase, it can shrivel up and die if it’s not nurtured. So if you want to learn how to be more creative and imaginative, it only makes sense to turn to some unique ways to do it.

14 Ways to Boost Creativity and Ingenuity

If your imagination has been lacking, it’s time you turned to some not-so-obvious ways to cultivate creativity and stimulate your mind. Here’s how to be more creative in your personal and professional life.

1. Add Houseplants to Your Home

Plants offer so much and take so little. They clean the air, make you feel more energized, and replenish your creativity levels. Plus, the bright pops of green are a welcome addition to any room of your home, reducing stress and adding to your aesthetic.

Here’s a few plant suggestions to get you started:

1. Spider Plant: This plant is easy to care for and can thrive in low light. Its long, narrow leaves and spider-like appearance can inspire creativity and imagination.
2. English Ivy: With its lush green leaves and trailing vines, English Ivy can add a touch of nature to any workspace. It is also known for its air-purifying properties, which can help create a clean and healthy environment.
3. Snake Plant: Snake plants are known for removing toxins from the air and producing oxygen, making them great for boosting productivity and creativity. They also have a unique and striking appearance that can add visual interest to any space.
4. Peace Lily: This plant is known for its ability to reduce stress and promote relaxation, which can be great for enhancing creativity. It also has beautiful white flowers that can add a touch of elegance to any workspace.
5. Philodendron: Philodendrons are easy to care for and can thrive in a range of lighting conditions. Their vibrant green leaves and trailing vines can create a lush, tropical feel that can inspire creativity and imagination.
6. Aloe Vera: Aloe vera plants are known for their soothing properties and can help create a calm and peaceful atmosphere. They also have unique, spiky leaves that can add a touch of visual interest to any space.
7. Rubber Plant: Rubber plants have large, glossy leaves that can add a touch of drama to any workspace. They are also known for their air-purifying properties, which can help create a clean and healthy environment conducive to creativity.

2. Play Dungeons & Dragons

Before you call us nerds, what game could possibly increase your creativity more than one that’s based on imaginative storytelling? Plus, if it’s good enough for the kids on “Stranger Things,” it’s good enough for us. So grab a dungeon master and get ready to fight some monsters to flex your creative muscle.

Here’s where you can play D&D:

• Local game stores, comic book stores, and even some bars host regular D&D sessions for beginners and experienced players.
• Online platforms: Virtual tabletop platforms like Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and Steam are great for playing with people from all over the world.
• Social media groups: There are many D&D groups on Facebook, Reddit, and other social media platforms where beginners can find people to play with.
• Local community centers or libraries: Some community centers and libraries host D&D sessions or can help connect beginners with other players in the area.

3. Fall Asleep to Binaural Beats

Binaural beats can be a relaxing and easy way to enhance creativity. These sounds are created by playing two slightly different frequencies in each ear, which your brain combines to create a rhythmic pulsing sound. This sound can help your brainwaves synchronize, putting you into a relaxed and creative state.

To make it more pleasant for your listening pleasure, soothing sounds are layered over the beats, like rain, white noise, and classical music.

There are quite a few apps you can use to fall asleep to binaural beats, but you can also listen while you’re working to boost focus and enhance productivity — just make sure you choose the non-sleepy binaural beats. Using binaural beat apps is easy — simply put on some headphones and select the frequency you want to listen to.

If you’re ready to learn how to be more creative while you sleep, here’s a list of apps you can try:

• Brain.fm: Brain.fm offers a range of audio tracks, including binaural beats, designed to help improve focus, relaxation, and creativity.
• Hemi-Sync: Hemi-Sync offers audio tracks that use binaural beats and other forms of sound technology to help users achieve different states of consciousness, including creativity and relaxation.
• Brainwaves: Brainwaves is a popular app that offers binaural beats and other forms of brainwave entrainment to help users improve their focus, creativity, and relaxation levels.

4. Listen to TED Talks

There are TED Talks on everything from building your creative confidence to unleashing your inner child (and, subsequently, your imagination). This is in addition to all the talks from innovative entrepreneurs that will inspire and motivate you to think more freely and act on your ideas.

Here’s a list of some great TED Talks to get you started:

• “The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers” by Adam Grant: Organizational psychologist Adam Grant shares the habits of highly creative people and how we can all learn to think more innovatively.
• “Your Elusive Creative Genius” by Elizabeth Gilbert: Author Elizabeth Gilbert explores the nature of creativity and how we can learn to cultivate it in our own lives.
• “Where Good Ideas Come From” by Steven Johnson: Author Steven Johnson examines the origins of creativity and how we can create the conditions that foster new and innovative ideas.
• “The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown: Researcher Brené Brown explores the importance of vulnerability in cultivating creativity, connection, and empathy.
• “Embrace the Remix” by Kirby Ferguson: Filmmaker Kirby Ferguson argues that creativity is not about coming up with something completely original, but rather about remixing existing ideas in new and innovative ways.
• “How to Build Your Creative Confidence” by David Kelley: IDEO founder David Kelley shares his insights into how we can overcome our fear of failure and unleash our creative potential.
• “The Puzzle of Motivation” by Dan Pink: Author Dan Pink examines the science of motivation and how we can cultivate creativity and ingenuity by tapping into our intrinsic motivation.

5. Try Unabashed Brainstorming

Whether solo or with others, set the precedent that no idea is a bad idea. Write it all down freely, and eventually, the weird stuff will lead to something great. You might be surprised at how imaginative you can be when you let yourself brainstorm without borders.

Here’s how to be more creative by brainstorming:

1. Generate as many ideas as possible. Don’t censor or judge your ideas; just write them down.
2. Set a time limit for your brainstorming session to help you stay focused and on-task.
3. Consider using prompts to get your ideas flowing.
4. Build on the ideas of others in your group. Listen actively and try to expand on or combine the ideas of others.
5. Take breaks as needed to refresh your mind and avoid burnout.
6. Use visualization techniques to help stimulate your imagination and creativity.
7. Don’t worry about perfection or feasibility at this stage. Save the refining and evaluating for later in the process.
8. Use mind maps or other visual aids to help organize and connect your ideas.
9. Consider brainstorming alone or with a small group to help you generate more ideas and stay focused.
10. Practice brainstorming regularly to improve your creative thinking skills.

6. Paint Your Walls a Creative Shade

Color is said to have a psychological effect that can improve everything from your creativity to your happiness. Whether you do an accent wall in your home office or paint all your bedroom walls, this can be a fun way to boost creativity.

Try these creative hues:

• Blue: A calming and soothing color that can help you focus and stay productive. It’s also associated with creativity and inspiration, making it a great choice for a home office.
• Green: A refreshing and revitalizing color that can help reduce stress and promote creativity. It’s also associated with growth and new beginnings.
• Yellow: A cheerful and energizing color that can help boost your mood and increase productivity. It’s also associated with creativity and optimism.
• Purple: A bold and inspiring color that can help stimulate creativity and imagination. It’s also associated with luxury and sophistication.
• Orange: A warm and inviting color that can help promote a sense of enthusiasm and creativity. It’s also associated with energy and excitement.

7. Play Like a Child

Break out the coloring books and Play-Doh because you’re about to throw it back old-school style. Whatever your preferred method of play is, it’ll give your mind a much-needed rest so creative thoughts and big ideas can break through.

Here’s how to be more creative by playing like a child:

• Build with blocks or Legos: Playing with blocks or Legos can help stimulate the imagination and encourage creative thinking.
• Draw or paint: Coloring or drawing can be a fun and relaxing way to express your creativity and imagination.
• Play make-believe: Using your imagination to create stories or scenarios (see #1 above) can be a great way to boost creativity and play like a child.
• Play outdoor games: Playing games like tag, hide-and-seek, or kickball can help you feel more energized and playful. Swinging on a playground is also a great stress reducer.
• Play with a pet: Playing with a pet can help you feel more carefree and playful, boost your mood, and reduce stress.
• Dance: Letting loose and dancing to your favorite music can be a great way to feel more playful and creative.
• Play board games: Board games can be a fun way to challenge your brain and engage in social play with friends or family.
• Try video games: Video games enhance creativity because they fire up your cognitive abilities and improve hand-eye coordination and reaction times.
• Take a playful approach to problem-solving: When faced with a problem, try to approach it with a sense of playfulness and curiosity, rather than stress or anxiety.

By incorporating these playful activities into your life, you can tap into your inner child and boost your creativity and imagination.

8. Try a Hypnosis App to Banish Anxiety and Fear

What is holding you back from being more creative? It might be fear, anxiety, or low self-esteem. If you’re afraid to express or act on ideas, you might benefit from hypnosis that can remove those blocks.

Here’s a list of hypnosis apps to try:

• Mindset – Empowering Hypnosis: Mindset is an app that provides guided hypnosis sessions to help improve creativity, productivity, and overall well-being.
• Hypno – Hypnosis & Meditation: Hypno is an app that offers hypnosis and meditation sessions designed to help reduce stress, increase focus, and stimulate creativity.
• HypnoBox: This app offers hypnosis sessions to help improve confidence, focus, and relaxation, all of which can contribute to increased creativity.

By using these hypnosis apps, you can stimulate your creativity, increase focus, and overcome creative blocks to approach your work with a renewed sense of inspiration and innovation.

9. Attend a Storytelling Event

Get to know the creative community in your area by attending a storytelling or open-mic night. You’ll be inspired by the creative minds you meet, the stories they tell, and the bravery they exhibit when they get up in front of strangers to share their thoughts.

There are several ways to find storytelling events in your community:

1. Check local event calendars: Many cities and towns have event calendars that list upcoming events, including storytelling events. Check your local newspaper, city website, or community bulletin board for information on upcoming storytelling events.
2. Check with local libraries: Libraries often host storytelling events for children and adults. Contact your local library to see if they have any upcoming events scheduled.
3. Attend open mic events: Many open mic events, such as poetry slams or comedy nights, also feature storytelling. Attend these events and talk to the organizers to see if they have any storytelling-specific events scheduled.
4. Join a storytelling group: Look for local storytelling groups or clubs in your community. These groups often meet regularly to share stories and offer opportunities to learn and develop storytelling skills.
5. Use social media: Search for storytelling events or groups on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. You can also post in local community groups or forums to ask for recommendations.

By participating in storytelling events and connecting with other storytellers in your community, you can develop your creativity and storytelling skills.

10. Listen to a Creativity-Boosting Podcast

If you normally listen to small business podcasts or social media podcasts, switch things up by putting on something a little more imaginative.

The following podcasts will teach you how to be more creative with each epside:

1. Creative Pep Talk: Hosted by Andy J. Pizza, this podcast is dedicated to helping creatives overcome self-doubt, fear, and creative blocks.
2. TED Radio Hour: This podcast features interviews with TED speakers, exploring a wide range of topics and ideas from creativity to innovation.
3. Design Matters with Debbie Millman: This podcast features interviews with some of the world’s most creative minds, including designers, artists, writers, and thinkers.
4. How to Fail with Elizabeth Day: In this podcast, Elizabeth Day talks to successful people about their failures and how they have learned from them. This can help inspire you to take creative risks and learn from your own mistakes.
5. Radiolab: This podcast explores a wide range of topics, from science to philosophy to culture, often through storytelling and unique sound design that can spark your imagination.

11. Appreciate Art

Exploring thought-provoking art installations, performance art events, and galleries can be a great way to stimulate your creativity and encourage new ways of thinking. Exposing yourself to unconventional (the weirder, the better, in our opinion) artistic expressions can challenge your preconceptions and expand your understanding of what is possible. These experiences can also spark your imagination, inspire new ideas, and push you to think outside of the box.

Here’s a list of some great options in U.S. cities:

• The House on the Rock – Wisconsin: The House on the Rock is a museum located in Wisconsin that features a collection of eclectic and bizarre exhibits, including the world’s largest indoor carousel, the Infinity Room, and the Streets of Yesterday exhibit.
• Meow Wolf – New Mexico: Meow Wolf is an immersive art experience located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The exhibit features a surreal and interactive art installation that includes a multi-dimensional mystery house, neon trees, and hidden portals.
• The Museum of Jurassic Technology – California: The Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles is an eccentric and surreal museum that displays exhibits ranging from tiny, mysterious sculptures to elaborate dioramas featuring bizarre characters and objects.
• The City Museum – Missouri: The City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri, is a unique museum that features an array of fun and interactive exhibits, including an indoor jungle gym, a giant ball pit, and a rooftop Ferris wheel.
• The Neon Museum – Nevada: The Neon Museum in Las Vegas is a unique outdoor museum that displays vintage neon signs from the city’s iconic casinos and businesses. The museum offers guided tours that highlight the history and significance of each sign.

12. Try a New Activity

Getting out of your comfort zone will wake up your mind (and creativity). From a cooking class to one of those painting classes at a local bar (there will be wine!), step away from the Netflix for a night and open your mind to new experiences.

Here’s how to be more creative by trying a new activity:

• Pole dancing: Pole dancing is a physical and creative activity that can help you express yourself through movement and music. Pole dancing encourages you to tap into your creativity and build confidence in your body.
• Improv theater: Improv theater is a form of live theater that encourages performers to spontaneously create scenes and characters based on audience suggestions. Improv requires quick thinking, creativity, and collaboration with others.
• Sculpture: Sculpture is a creative art form that involves molding, carving, or otherwise shaping materials such as clay, stone, or metal. Sculpture encourages you to think creatively about form, texture, and composition.
• Gardening: Gardening can be a meditative and creative activity encouraging you to connect with nature and grow something beautiful. Gardening can also teach you about patience, perseverance, and the cycles of life and growth.
• Mindfulness meditation: Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. This practice can help you quiet your mind, reduce stress and anxiety, and tap into your creativity.
• Classes: Taking a class can be a great way to learn a new skill, meet new people, and spark your creativity. Whether you go for cocktail-making, painting, succulent-planting, or a cooking class, you can learn new techniques and explore your interests in a fun and supportive environment.

13. Keep a Dream Journal

Keeping a dream journal can be a powerful tool for inspiring creativity. Dreams are a product of the subconscious mind, and can often contain imagery, symbolism, and themes that may not be immediately apparent to your conscious mind. By keeping a journal of your dreams, you can capture these elements and explore them in greater depth.

The key to this is keeping the journal next to your bed. Immediately upon waking, jot down everything you remember about your dream: the colors, the landscape, the words, how you felt, what you saw, who you saw, etc. Use vivid detail so you can be transported back at any time. It’s a great way to unlock — and appreciate — your creative mind, as well as find inspiration for many areas of your life.

14. Travel Somewhere New

Traveling to a new place and immersing yourself in the local culture can be an excellent way to boost creativity — plus it means going on a vacation and that can never be a bad thing if you ask us! When you visit a new place, you are exposed to different perspectives, lifestyles, and ways of thinking that can help inspire your own creativity.

One way to immerse yourself in the local culture is to seek out authentic experiences, such as trying local cuisine, attending cultural festivals, or visiting historical sites. By doing so, you can gain a deeper understanding of the local people, customs, and traditions, which can in turn inspire your own creative ideas.

Another way to immerse yourself in the local culture is to interact with the locals themselves. Strike up conversations with people you meet, and ask them about their lives and experiences. This can help you gain new perspectives and ideas, and may even lead to collaborations or new friendships that can inspire your creativity long after your trip is over.

The Benefits of Having a Creative Mind

Creativity is a powerful tool that can have a profound impact on your life. From that big business idea to catchy headlines for your blog posts, knowing how to be more creative will benefit you in all aspects of your life.

Here’s a look at the biggest benefits of a creative mind:

Improved Mental Health

Creativity has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health. Engaging in creative activities can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and can provide a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Creative expression can help improve cognitive function, memory, and overall brain health.

Increased Self-Awareness

Creativity can help you better understand yourself and your emotions. When you engage in creative activities, you are able to express your thoughts and feelings in a unique and personal way. This can help you gain insight into your own experiences and perspectives, and can help you better understand yourself and your place in the world.

Better Problem-Solving Skills

Creativity requires you to think outside of the box and come up with unique solutions to problems. By practicing creativity, you can develop your problem-solving and decision-making skills and become more adept at finding solutions to complex issues. This can be a valuable skill in both personal and professional settings.

Boosted Productivity

Engaging in creative activities can boost your productivity in other areas of your life. When you take time to nurture your creativity, you are giving yourself a break from the stresses of daily life. This can help you feel refreshed and energized, and can increase your focus and motivation when it comes to other tasks.

Enhanced Communication Skills

Creativity can help you better communicate your ideas and thoughts to others. When you engage in creative activities, you are able to express yourself in unique and powerful ways. This can help you better communicate your ideas to others, whether it’s in a personal or professional setting.

Fire Up Your Creative Mind

Whether you want to learn how to be more creative to help you in business or your personal life (can’t it be both?), we hope these tips help. So go check out some underground art or try your hand at hypnosis… You won’t know what works for you until you try it.

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