Creativity helps inspire us, gives us a purpose, a direction, and shows us a way to pursue goals. However, not all of us are gifted with an ON/OFF creativity switch as it might not always come naturally to most of us. In moments of stress and anxiety, even the most creative minds need a little push to get their spark back.
So, it’s better to take a step back and understand how you can boost your creativity. In this blog, we are sharing Young Entrepreneur Council members’ go-to hacks when they need to get back their mojo.
1. Learn a new skill
“When you need a boost of creativity, usually your unconscious is having difficulty surfacing to your conscious. To circumvent this, learn a new skill. For example, if you’re struggling with writer’s block and you normally write technical pieces, take a quick course on how to write comedy. It frees up your ability to think and changes your perspective enough that you can tap into creativity.”
-Klyn Elsbury, Shark School
2. Go on social media
“If I need a boost of creativity, I like to go on social media and take my mind off of anything technical. Immersing myself in something completely different gets the wheels in my head turning and encourages me to think differently, which is where my creativity boost stems from. It’s important not to focus on one thing for too long, and social media helps me do just that.”
– Jared Atchison, WPForms
3. Write things down
“When I need a boost of creativity, I like to brainstorm by writing things down. I write down anything that comes to mind—thoughts, feelings, ideas, concepts, and so on without giving it much thought. Afterward, I read my list. I always find that at least one of my random thoughts can inspire some creativity.”
-Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
4. Research what other brands are doing
“One of the best ways to find inspiration and trigger creativity is by researching other brands. Avoid competitors and, instead, look at what companies in similar industries are doing with their customer service, marketing, and design. Browse their websites, social media profiles, and customer reviews to see what they’re doing differently to help you ideate new ways to improve your business, too.”
–Firas Kittaneh, Amerisleep
5. Go on a walk
“It’s incredibly simple but don’t let that put you off. Studies have shown that walking increases creativity rapidly. Every time I catch myself in a slump, I take a 20-30 minute walk near the office without trying to force anything to happen. You’ll slowly ponder on whatever problem you’re trying to solve and are likely to come up with a unique angle. Worst case, you come back to work refreshed.”
-Karl Kangur, Above House
6. Listen to a podcast
“There are thousands of podcasts to choose from that cover all different topics and use different approaches to connect with listeners. I like to listen to storytelling podcasts that have nothing to do with work when I need to unwind. It refreshes my mind, activating other parts of my brain, and sparks my creativity when I listen to something completely different from what I’m working on.”
-Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
7. Write a top 10 list
“When I need a boost of creativity, I develop a top 10 list on the topic. The first seven ideas are usually fairly easy to come by. It’s ideas 8-10 where I slow down and really have to think. That’s where the boost of creativity kicks in after all the easy ideas are out of the way, and we’re stacking on good ideas or something completely outside the box.”
-Richard Fong, Bliss Drive