Creativity isn’t about producing world-shaking pieces of art. It’s simply changing the way you look at the world.
When we think of creativity we think of art: painting, acting, singing, writing, crafts, and such. If we’re being generous we might call science research or computer programming creative. And of course, management gurus talk about creative problem solving without anyone really quite sure what they mean.
But what about daily life? Where’s the creativity in getting up, getting the kids to school, going to work, trying to fit in some exercise, fighting the battle of the bulge, tuning out in front of the TV and falling into bed exhausted before starting it all over the next day?
According to Wikipedia, creativity is:
Creativity is a mental and social process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts, or new associations of the creative mind between existing ideas or concepts. Creativity is fueled by the process of either conscious or unconscious insight. An alternative conception of creativeness (based on its etymology) is that it is simply the act of making something new.
When we get stuck in routine and living on autopilot, nothing’s new. It’s all the same day after day after soul-sucking day. Turning off the autopilot isn’t easy, however. Habits and routines (especially unconscious ones) are hard to break. Fortunately conscious creativity will help and here are six ways to turn off the autopilot and to help you live more fully.
- Don’t always do things the same way
- Make yourself accountable for every minute
- Do things you wouldn’t normally do
- Live in someone else’s shoes
- Explore a new environment
- Learn to do absolutely nothing
Break Patterns
Take a different route to work. Make a sandwich with two slices of ham around a piece of bread. Eat dinner in reverse (dessert to maincourse to salad). When you start to break patterns in your life you force your brain out of its ruts and open yourself up to new ideas and new ways of thinking.
Be aware of why you do things in a certain way. If you answer “because I’ve always done it this way” then the next time you do it break the pattern and try doing it a new way.
Be Hyper-Scheduled
People think creativity and new ideas come from chaos, but think of people like da Vinci and Michelangelo – they weren’t chaotic artists. They were tradesmen who worked hard and worked to a schedule. Haydn and Bach had to come up with new pieces of art on a regular basis or risk getting fired by their patrons.
Become a taskmaster and schedule yourself and clear out the distractions that keep you from making creative leaps in whatever you do.
Be Spontaneous
Most of us have schedules – and we like our schedules and routines. Break out of routine periodically and do something that embarrasses you slightly like karaoke or a nudist beach or even holding hands with your spouse as you walk through the mall.
And if someone suggests something that you wouldn’t normally do, say “yes” right away not giving yourself a chance to think about it.
Trade Roles
How many movies are their along the lines of Freaky Friday or books like the Prince and the Pauper? By putting yourself in someone else’s shoes you’ll break yourself out of regular patterns of behaviour and thought opening yourself up to new experiences.
Of course you might not be able to do this work-wise, but at home, trade around what you do with family members. Kids become the parents for a day and the husband becomes the wife. Have fun with it!
Change locations
House swap with friends for a week and break even more patterns. Go big and do a house swap vacation or even a work exchange in some other part of the world. Or go small and rearrange your office, putting the desk in some spot in the room that you least expect it to be.
And in meetings or classes, don’t sit in the same seat. Make a conscious effort to sit in a different spot every time you enter the room.
Stare at the Wall
Most times we’re a go-go-go culture and when we do turn off we do so in front of the computer or TV. I’m not talking about meditation where you focus on your breathing and try to clear your mind. Staring at the wall is simply sitting on the couch or bed with nothing in your hands and nothing distracting your vision.
It will likely feel uncomfortable, but by pushing past the discomfort your mind will start filling with ideas, often coming up with solutions to problems that have been plaguing you and have been avoiding resolution.
This guest post was written by: Alex Fayle, as was previously posted on: Someday Syndrome (Blog).
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