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Whether you're a writer or other creative, everyone comes to a point where they run out of ideas. Then it is good to have a few creativity techniques at hand.
In this article we discuss 16 creativity techniques that everyone can use!
16 Creativity Techniques
Creativity techniques are useful when you want to generate new ideas. First, a prejudice must be removed: Many people still think that you are either creativeor not. What is certainly true is that some people find it easier to be creative than others.
Just like it is easier for some people to shoot a football into a goal. You can learn this sport to some extent and, more importantly, improve your current performance.
And that's exactly what the following tips and creativity techniques are for: to show you how to create new ideas more easily. You don't have to be a creative genius to do this.
In addition, we have previously written about creative gifts. Perhaps this article is also interesting for you!
Let's get started! Here are our tips on broadening your creative potential:
1. Do something new more often
Your brain becomes more creative if you do something new more often, such as a different morning routine,do your shopping at another supermarket or try another sport!
Exposing your brain to even small new stimuli gives it more input to be creative.
2. Mind mapping
Everyone has heard of mind mapping, but have you ever used a mind map to spark creativity instead of information you already have at your disposal?
This is how it works: You start with the word that comes to mind. You circle it and then you write another word that connects to the first, circle it, and draw a line between the two circles.
Now you already have two words to go on and make associations. Usually after a few words, your creativity kicks in and you automatically start writing (further) your story.
3. Washing dishes
Yes, really, do the dishes. Not only does washing dishes create a more pleasant environment, but the fact that you do something with your two hands and don't have to think while you do it sets creative thoughts in motion.
Moving your hands while washing the dishes uses both hemispheres of your brain, but only slightly so that creative ideas can only bubble up.
4. Painting
To broaden your creative mind, it is also extremely important and useful to start painting! For example, paint whatever comes to mind with different colours. Do you have trouble coming up with a work of art? Then choose a Paint by Numbers motif.
We have also written a blog article about why you should with children shouldpainting. Then read our article!
5. Reduce input
Do you know The Martian by Andy Weir? Stranded on Mars with few supplies, Mark Watney manages to survive by combining the few things he has at his disposal on his own. Now that's creative!
Sometimes less is more when it comes to creativity. When you reduce input, you are forced to come up with more creative solutions.
6. Meditation and/or yoga
Meditation and yoga help, among other things, to improve the ability to concentrateclear your head, allowing you to concentrate on creative topics.
We recommend that anyone who is creative (and anyone else) learn a relaxation or meditation technique as it will be much easier to improve creativity.
7. Find connections
Being creative means connecting things in new ways. Turning an umbrella around and using it as a boat for a mouse is creative because the umbrella is not intended for that.
If you want to exercise your creativity, try to find connections for things that can't really be connected. An elephant and a scalpel - what connection could there be between the two? Or a light bulb and an eraser?
Make it easy on yourself and search your immediate environment and just connect things in unusual ways.
8. Sports
Sport has a similar effect to meditation or even washing dishes: the body is busy with something else, so your thoughts can fully focus on expanding your creativity.
The most suitablecreativity techniques are sports that do not require you to concentrate too hard, such as walking on a treadmill.
9. Reading
Reading is a great way to broaden your creativity. Processes are initiated in the brain that can connect the story of your book with creative ideas.
Moreover, it has been proven that regular reading increases creativity in any case, because the brain has to process significantly more input and cross-connections can be made more quickly.
10. Change of perspective
What would Sherlock Holmes do? Or Gandhi? By changing your perspective, you not only increase your creativity, but you also change your thinking patterns and attitudes.
11. Interview with yourself
Ask yourself for advice! You probably know this: when someone asks you specifically what is wrong or could go wrong, the answer always comes almost automatically. Think out loud or talk to yourself.
12. Transform
Creativity techniques are always associated with creating things (This of course comes from the word creativity). But 'breaking' something can be very creative.
For example, you can throw away a magazine that you no longer read, but you can also use material in a creative way.
13. Notepad
Sometimes ideas come at the worst possible times. Usually when you don't need them. The reason for this is of course that you are particularly relaxed at such moments.
In order not to let these ideas go to waste, it makes a lot of sense toalways have a notebook with you. On the one hand, you can write down everything that comes to mind, and on the other hand, the collected notes can serve as a source of inspiration during a creative session.
14. Nap
One of the most favourite creativity techniques is the nap. Of course, you need time and the opportunity to lie down, but this complete relaxation, preferably in the middle of a creative project, will give you a whole range of new ideas.
Moreover, you increase the chance that you will dream about the problems that you want to solve creatively by tackling them just before going to sleep.
15. Coincidence
Some of the best inventions came about by chance, and you also have to keep your eyes and ears open so as not to miss any events.
As part of creativity techniques, you can of course induce coincidence. You want to travel, but you don't know where yet? Choose any country in the atlas.
16. Meeting new people
A great source of inspiration and help are of course other people. Meeting new people always brings creativity into your life because you get to know completely new life stories and points of view. And of course you can also ask these people directly for their opinion about your creative ideas.
Those were our tips on coming up with creative things using creativity techniques. We hope they help you and inspire your creativity!
