Did you know that creativity is a skill? People think it is a gift but with practice anyone can improve their creative skills. Let’s explore 3 ways to improve your creativity.
Practice Skills
Creativity is a skill and over time of practice anyone can improve on that skill. Let’s look at how the brain works in order to understand this a bit more. It’s not just as simple as the left brain in the logical and analytical side and the right brain in the creative artistic side. It seems your brain has 3 networks responsible for creativity.
With advanced science Neuroscientists have been able to look deeper at brain activity. Studies have found there are three networks key to creativity. These networks are; 1. default network (related to brainstorming and daydreaming), 2. executive control network (which activates when a person needs to focus) and 3. salience network (known for detecting environmental stimuli and switching between executive and default brain networks). When these 3 systems are working together a person is able to have more creative thinking. So the question is what activities can we do to produce more creative thinking?
Put Creativity on your Calendar
.There are ways to improve your creativity. We have all been told we need to write down our plan and goals for them to happen. In this case it’s planning our time to practice being creative. Make room in your schedule for creating just as you would any other appointment. Block off time and be specific when this is going to happen–“9:00am Tuesday for an hour”, When that time comes work on a creative project. It may just be brain storming, searching a new idea, or trying a new craft. It doesn’t matter as long as it is creative! Doing this will trigger the Executive portion of your brain which is where we focus and attend. This is the first step in being creative.
Let yourself be bored
We tend to pride ourselves on being busy and getting a lot done. In today’s society everything is face paced with so much instant gratification. We have our phones on 24/7 giving up access to unlimited information. When we have a down moment our first impulse is to reach for our phone…check email, Facebook, Instagram. It’s like we just can’t sit and do nothing. But….that’s exactly what we need. We need and MUST let our brains rest in order for new ideas to come forward. We have filled our brain with so many ideas from others that it doesn’t have a chance to think on it’s own.
So take time to just be….maybe listen to music, doodle, watch a sunrise/sunset, meditate. In essence DAYDREAM! This is a must if we want to be more creative. I remember in study hall when I was bored I would just draw random lines on a piece of paper. Then color them in. No rhyme or reason 🙂
Exercise for cognitive ability
Yep! You heard me right…lol. Just 30 minutes of any type of exercise can improve cognitive ability for up to two hours. If you aren’t in shape, start easy….just a walk around the block. Put on some music and just dance in your living room. When was the last time you did that? Read more here to know more about exercise and creativity.
Even if you are not in a slump I think these are excellent ideas for keeping your creativity skills sharp!
Happy Creating!
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