Are you feeling blah? Is your creativity dwindling? Maybe you need to shake things up… or make space for your mind to feel free… or just try something new. I can guarantee that at least one of these 60 ways to boost creativity will work for you today.
Drink a glass of water while you gaze out the window
Paint your nails a funky color
Arrange the fruit on your dessert plate to resemble a face
Search for your favorite visual artist and browse the images
Turn on a playlist and sing along
Water your plants, and as you nurture each one, talk to it and thank it for being part of your life
Find all of your pencils and sharpen them, then distribute them throughout your home or work space so they're handy
Drive to a park you've never visited and take a leisurely walk, exploring the space
Treat your next grocery shopping errand like a research trip, with the goal of learning about one new-to-you food so you can prepare a meal with it
Answer the next text you get using only emojis
Change clothes into something that embodies how you want to feel
Dance along to a song during a work break
Organize all of your thread spools, gathering dangling threads so they all look tidy (bonus points for rainbow order!)
Hunt for a new-to-you restaurant to try this weekend
Change the order of the machines you use to work out (if you usually start with stationary bike and follow up with elliptical, try reversing the order)
Search YouTube for "how to draw X" - there are lots of cool draw-along videos
Spend half an hour coloring in a coloring book (search online for downloadable pages if you don't have a coloring book you love)
Sort your sock drawer by color order
Join a craft club or guild
Watch a documentary about an artist
Here’s a little look at my thread storage in my studio. I love looking at my thread in rainbow order – it inspires me!
Are you afraid none of these ways to boost your creativity will work for you?
OK. Now that you’ve read the first 20, let’s talk. What’s really eating you? Are you afraid your creativity is gone for good? I’ve been there, too – it can be so scary! But real talk here: You’re just having a mini dip. That’s it, nothing bigger than that. We all have them!
Picture me telling you right now that it’s all going to be OK. Somewhere in these 60 ways to boost creativity is a trick that will jumpstart yours again.
- Head to the library and browse their collections, especially arts
- Head to Instagram and browse hashtags like #yarnbomb, #modernquilter, #homegarden and #nailswag
- Listen to a podcast (bonus points for asking friends which podcasts they love)
- Grab your favorite eye shadow palette and play with new looks
- Make it your mission this week to try a new-to-you fruit or veg
- Meditate (I love the free Insight Timer app)
- Approach your day like a photojournalist, snapping pics of everything you see
- Make up a story to tell a kiddo – make it convincing!
- Search up how-to videos on making origami and give it a try
- Pick up a magazine at the newsstand, something you've never read before... or an old favorite that you know will offer inspiration
- Put on a t-shirt you haven't worn in years and think about how you felt the last time you wore it
- Search for art classes near you – art studios, craft stores, schools, churches... many of these places offer great classes
- Try a new hair clip or ponytail holder in your hair today. How can you style your hair in a new way?
- Go through your stationery supplies and organize them into categories, so you can find what you need easily (and be reminded of what you currently have)
- Pop over to Pinterest and browse keywords or accounts you love
- Try wearing a different perfume for a day and see how it feels
- Search online for "murals in X city" and take yourself on a local mural tour (or plan it for an upcoming trip)
- Think of your favorite poet. How would she/he/they describe today?
- Draw a doodle on a small piece of paper to put in your kiddo's (or spouse's) lunchbox
- Search up tutorials on your favorite crafts and give one a try
Here are just a few of my art supplies in my studio. By organizing them using jars, I’m able to find everything I need quickly – just one way I support my creative process.
Some questions to ask yourself
If you’re feeling uncreative, there are some other questions to ponder:
Do you really need to find ways to boost your creativity, or do you need to find ways to prioritize your creativity?
Are you putting too much pressure on yourself?
Do you have a health issue that might be complicating matters, like depression or fatigue?
What would ideal creativity look like to you? Is that realistic? What’s the smallest baby step you could take toward that goal?
If any of these resonate, take some time today to regroup and consider what you really need. It might be simpler than you originally thought.
Join a Facebook group of creators/crafters/artists in your favorite medium, and engage people in conversation
Put your favorite song on repeat, singing along until you lose yourself completely in the words
Talk to your mentor/coach/colleagues about an idea you have
Collaborate - make a craft/meal/drawing/google doc with a friend
Get some good sleep! Practice "sleep hygiene" and make your space as comfy and cozy as possible
Grab your markers and choose the "ugliest" color, and doodle with it for a while... try adding a second color to the drawing and notice what happens
Use your non-dominant hand for a daily task, like brushing your teeth or washing dishes
Take a 10-minute walk around your neighborhood
Spin a globe and pick a country, then search online to explore what kinds of art and craft they're known for
Practice some diaphragmatic breathing to calm your nervous system
Light some incense...light a candle... say a prayer or make a wish
Take a bubble bath (bonus points for rubber duckies)
Drive a different route home from work and notice all the shops and other businesses along the way
Re-organize your clothes closet so the outfits you love most are easily accessible every day
Take extra time to write in your journal about your creative desires...and ask for guidance from the universe
Eat a healthy meal mindfully, savoring the texture, smell and taste
Daydream...let yourself get bored and let your mind wander
Watch a movie and imagine yourself the star’s their shoes
Have a cup of tea
Try talking to your pets and imagine their responses
Want more ways to enrich your creativity?
Not enough? Want more ideas? Check out the other blog posts in our creative resilience, creative wellness and creativity categories.
Have some ideas of your own? Please share them in the comments! Let’s make this a space to share ideas. Thanks!
