Techniques to Improve Creative Ability

Sometimes you may feel like you are not that creative. You might feel this way because you have not been thinking creatively in a long period of time, and hence, your skills are not well developed or could be dormant. Fortunately, several techniques will help you build your creative thinking ability.

Develop Rituals

The best way to ensure you’re always being creative is by creating regular rituals that inspire you. Allow yourself to fall into a rhythm of activities that will trigger your mind, and your brain will be primed for reaching its creative state. Examples of such rituals include:

Reading every morning to spark your imagination.
Discover new music or old favorites every day.
Meditate for five minutes to flush out your mind.
Doing deep breathing exercises throughout the day to focus better.

Do something creative each day, even if it’s just five to ten minutes of your day. It keeps your creative spirit running. You don’t have to create a masterpiece; you only need to:

Write a short article or blog posting.
Create mind maps of what was discussed in the meetings.
Research new product ideas.
Organize and recreate your digital and physical files.
Capturing nature’s beauty in photography, such as sunset shooting.

Break Time-Its Power

Taking regular breaks, especially when one’s mind gets blocked or he feels that some problem cannot be overcome, is necessary. Being taken off from a challenging task permits the subconscious mind to work with information, often coming up with inspiration. It is good to get off the constant digital noise we hear each day. Shoot for time outside and unplugged at least once a week, if not daily, as this practice builds creative thinking skills.

Write it down in a small notebook or even in one of the many notes applications available on your phone. Later on, they may be a rich source of coming up with new ways, ideas, or products.

Have Fun and Be Social

Having taken time to enjoy life and interact with friends or colleagues creates the difference. The laughter-filled conversations, the return of ideas between you and others, allow the mind to relax while the creative urge is fueled. Breaking away from your daily routine fosters an environment for creativity to set in.

Apply the “Three Ifs” technique to provoke your thinking and generate smart questions about any idea. Consider questions like those listed below to extend your thinking:

What if I changed this (object, system, etc.)?
How would I modify or enhance it if I projected using it ten years in the future?
What would I do if I were given a one-million-dollar grant to make changes to it?

The use of such questions in any situation can catalyze new ideas and allow your mind to think out of the box. This three-question approach, if practiced often enough, spurs creativity within and is highly noticeable.

Tap into Your Most Creative Hours and Inspire Yourself

Knowing when you are most creative and productive is the keystone to creative thinking. Many people find that times of emotional turmoil actually enhance their creativity. When your best time is, take advantage of these moments to tap into your creative thinking. Put on some music, surround yourself with objects that inspire and let your mind run wild.

You also want to put yourself in the company of people who are equally creative and stimulating. In periodical contacts, you will learn to see things from another point of view and find a new look for your creative process. Talking about creativity as such will probably help you to bring clarity into your mind regarding which projects or concepts to pursue.

Finally, value the spirit of risk in creative effort. Nothing douses the sparks of creative thought like playing it safe; its embracing opens one to think more widely and freely. Creativity is a matter of degree: though there may be a few who are born with that creative spark, in possibility, everyone can become a creative thinker. Nurturing and cultivating creativity through the above-referred strategies will keep you continuously inspired and engaging in creative effort.