Whether you see yourself as a budding artist in need of inspiration or doubt you have a creative bone in your body, here’s the encouraging truth: creativity is a learnable skill. Think of your brain as a muscle that needs exercise, specifically cognitive exercises, to grow and develop creatively.
So, what can we do to flex our creative muscles when we’re struggling to generate fresh ideas? Everyone has their own preferred methods for “getting in shape”, but to help you get started, here are three diverse approaches to ignite your creative spark.
1. Play with pottery
Claymania has captivated the hearts of the entire nation. A trend spreading like wildfire, stylish studios are popping up all over the country, celebrities are taking to the ‘Gram to showcase their unique creations, and TikTokers are enthusiastically promoting the soothing benefits of this activity.
Pottery can be a fantastic outlet for expressing your creativity in a truly hands-on way — there are no rules to follow, and you get to break free and let your imagination run wild. Plus, when you tap into your creativity, it’s a great way to manage your negative emotions. It allows you to express ourselves in ways that words sometimes can’t capture. Combine the feeling of achievement that accompanies crafting something beautiful using your own hands, and you’ve got the ideal formula for a happier version of yourself.
If you’re eager to explore the delightful realm of pottery at home, you’re in for a treat. There’s a plethora of wonderful home kits available, ready to be explored. Take Pott’d, for instance, which provides an air-dry starter kit that is brimming with “everything you need to create your own unique clay creations at home”, including 2 kg of clay, pottery tools, paint, and brushes.
2. Discover the art of journalling
From iconic singer-songwriters to renowned chess grandmasters, seemingly everyone is buzzing about the incredible, life-altering advantages of putting thoughts to paper.
“When we journal, it is for us and us alone,” voices The Wild Wordsmith, a copywriting and wellbeing studio. “All we are doing is putting pen to paper and seeing what comes out. This, therefore, can encourage us to be bolder and braver in the way we write and the images that we paint. This is a valuable mindset to bring into our everyday lives.”
Setting aside some time during your day to journal, even if it’s just 10 or 20 minutes, can quickly get your creative juices flowing. You can write about how you’re feeling, your goals for the day, things you’re excited about in the future, or simply jot down whatever comes to mind. Exploring your thoughts in this way might be the key to unlocking a more creative you.
There are five common types of journalling, Better Up notes, which are:
- Daily journalling
- Visual journalling
- Free writing journalling
- Gratitude journalling
- Bullet journalling
When you start writing, it’s important to figure out the method that works best for you. If you make it a habit, journalling can be like opening up a whole new world of ideas and inspiration inside you.
3. Explore a new language
Whether it’s French, German, or High Variyan — diving into the realm of learning a new language can unleash your creativity and take it to new heights.
“Language learning is a lot like putting together the pieces of a new puzzle,” LifeHack explains in its article on the benefits of learning a new language. “You understand several, but not all of the words that are thrown at you, so you have to force yourself to be creative and fill the missing gaps on your own.” Simply learning a few strings of Spanish might not instantly skyrocket your creativity, but it’s interesting to discover that numerous studies have actually revealed a remarkable link between bilingualism and enhanced creativity.
These findings show that learning another language can make your brain better at two important things: focusing and being flexible. When you switch between languages, your brain gets used to ignoring distractions and paying attention to what you need to do. This skill can give you the power and mental capacity to be more creative. Moreover, the flexibility required from learning a new language requires you to come up with new ideas and solve problems in different ways.
