Do you ever have trouble coming up with ways to keep your creative juices flowing? If you like to make art, write, or perform you know how important it is to keep your creative energy up. Unfortunately, sometimes our creativity takes a hit. Luckily, I have come up with 9 ways to keep your creative juices flowing so you can keep creating.
One of the best ways to keep your creative juices flowing is to keep an on-going list of new ideas. As soon as an idea comes to mind write it down or record it somehow. It never fails. I will have a random great idea and I think to myself, “That’s the best idea ever! I don’t need to write it down, how could I forget something so awesome.” What happens? I forget. Keep a notebook or a pad in your purse or a file on your smartphone to record all your great ideas as they happen.
For some of us the computer is crucial part of our creating. I use my computer for most of my writing. It is also the place I find a lot of my inspiration. But on the other hand, it is also the place that becomes a huge distraction. The Internet has a way of sucking you into its dark abyss and never letting you resurface. If you start to notice your computer derailing your creativity, it is time to step away.
Music is good. We all have our favorites. If you are like me you can sing along to your favorite jams without even thinking about it. That is why it is good to mix it up a little. Play some different beats. Listen to a new artist. It’s like looking at the world through a different set of eyes.
If your ideas have run dry, it is time to team up with a partner. I recently had a friend help me come up with some fresh ideas for new topics. I, in turn helped her out, by re-writing her “About Me” section on her website. We were both stumped on how to move forward beforehand.
When my mind doesn’t want to write another word I change my scenery. I usually write at home, but when I need to freshen things up I head to my favorite coffee house or the local library. Working in public is fun because I can take breaks to people watch.
Maybe you aren’t one to work with others. That is fine. You don’t have to be a team player, but maybe you can help get the gears moving by opening yourself up to a little feedback. Let someone you trust and respect evaluate your work. Listen with an open mind and heart as they tell you what they think and offer suggestions.
Sometimes we just need a good rest. Take a break. Take a nap. Let yourself sleep on it for a while. Rest is an important part of the creative process and if you are suffering from lack of sleep you aren’t living up to your full potential.
Maybe you have a great idea for a work of art or a piece of writing that you haven’t started yet because you are afraid to offend others. Screw that! This is your work! Your genius! Don’t hold back because of what others may think or fear of offending others.
People that don’t have a creative knack can be skeptical of those of us who have an active imagination. You aren’t going to be able to feed off of their energy and if you do you are likely to feel drained and washed out. Instead, surround yourself with people that share your same mindset. They can help build your ideas and encourage you better than those that aren’t on the same level.
How do you keep your creative juices going? What inspires you to be creative and imaginative? We all have our own ways of doing things, but it’s good to share our ideas. Maybe something you do will help someone else.