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Creativity isn't just for artists—it's a vital skill in all areas of life, from problem-solving at work to tackling everyday challenges. It’s the ability to think outside the box and approach problems from new angles.

While many think creativity is a natural talent, anyone can develop it! So, if this is your goal, we have the answer! In this article, we'll share 13 proven tips on how to be more creative (with real-life examples to inspire you!).

Key Takeaways

• Creativity is a skill that can be cultivated. We are all born with creative potential, and it’s only a matter of learning how to refine and grow that skill.

• Let your mind wander, try new things, listen to music, and take advantage of semi-conscious states to access your creative potential and find brilliant ideas. Activities like walking, journaling, and brainstorming independently also help spark new ideas.

• Train your brain to be more creative with Mendi neurofeedback. It allows you to enhance the function of your brain and strengthen the areas associated with creativity and problem-solving.

• Seek out inspiration from nature, creative people, and innovative environments. Attend workshops, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and expose yourself to fresh perspectives that can push your creative boundaries.

13 Tips on How to Be More Creative

Below, you'll find 13 effective methods you can start using today to become a more creative person! Whether you're looking to overcome mental blocks, spark new ideas, or simply nurture your imagination, these techniques will help you tap into the boundless creativity that already exists within you!

1. Change Your Perspective

We often think creativity is a gift that some are born with, but the truth is we all have it. It's just that not everyone uses their creativity to actually create pieces of art, for example. Creativity is part of everything we do, except that we rarely notice how creative we actually are. We use our creativity to prepare dinner, choose outfits, decorate our houses, pick gifts for our family, and brainstorm ideas for new projects.

We often admire creative geniuses, thinking they see something we don't—Mozart effortlessly composing symphonies or Picasso casually painting masterpieces. But the truth is that although these people may be naturally more creative, they also spent countless hours refining and experimenting with their craft. They fail, adjust, and try again, over and over.

Take Claude Monet, the father of Impressionism, as an example. Although already incredibly talented and creative, he reworked his paintings over and over to truly open his mind to seeing and capturing the perfect light and impression—famously creating a series of 250 oil paintings of water lilies! And he did this while struggling with cataracts! His perseverance in refining his vision, despite personal challenges, shows that creativity is a process of trial, error, and relentless improvement.

So, start your journey towards creativity with a fresh perspective. You already are creative—all you have to do is refine and grow this skill!

2. Let Your Mind Wander

Ever wondered why your best ideas come in the shower or during a long drive? Neuroscientists have found that when we engage in low-focus activities like washing dishes, walking, or driving, our default mode network (DMN) takes over, helping our subconscious mind connect the dots and generate new ideas. Therefore, you'll take the first step towards your best creative work when you stop forcing your creative process!

Historians believe that even Albert Einstein himself planted the seeds for his incredible ideas during the year he took off from high school. He spent the year "loafing aimlessly," as Carlo Rovelli puts it. "You don't get anywhere by not 'wasting' time," he says.

But letting our minds wander is becoming increasingly difficult. We are, after all, living in a digital era that takes distractions to a whole new level. So, if you really want to be more creative and do this by allowing your mind to roam freely, it's time to start using the Do Not Disturb mode!

3. Train Your Brain with Neurofeedback

You may have already heard the term neurofeedback—it's a cutting-edge technique that helps train your brain to perform better. It can be a powerful tool in unlocking your creative potential.

Mendi neurofeedback takes the lead in this regard because it targets the prefrontal cortex. This brain region is located right behind your forehead and plays a crucial role in higher-order functions like problem-solving, decision-making, and, yes, creativity. The prefrontal cortex is also responsible for regulating emotions and self-reflection, and both can boost creative processes!

Therefore, if you use the Mendi headband to leverage the benefits of neurofeedback, you can strengthen your prefrontal cortex, thus fostering a mind that is more open to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of thinking. This brain training method can also help you enter the flow state, allowing you to see behind the curtain and find those ideas that have been hiding all these years at the back of your mind!

4. Try Something New

Your brain thrives on novelty. When you break out of your daily routine and try something new, you stimulate neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form new connections.

Remember Leonardo da Vinci? He loved trying new things! His interests were so broad that he designed weapons, buildings, and machinery. He produced studies on nature, geometry, flying machines, mechanics, and architecture, designing various buildings.

Now, there's no need to follow in da Vinci's steps—after all, his profound curiosity often caused him to abandon many projects! So start with small steps. Try new foods, start reading a random book, listen to some classical music, or explore a new hobby outside your comfort zone. These experiences not only add to your repertoire of creative things but also inspire creativity by showing you a few ways to approach problems.

5. Take Advantage of Semi-Conscious States

You know those fleeting seconds between wakefulness and sleep when our minds are free from the constraints of logic and reason? This state is labeled as a hypnagogic sleep state, when our minds are fluid and able to form creative connections that we may not be able to form while awake.

One famous example of this phenomenon comes from the artist Salvador Dalí, who found inspiration in those very moments between wakefulness and sleep. Dalí would often sit in a chair with a spoon in his hand and a plate placed underneath it. As he began to doze off, the spoon would slip from his grip, clinking against the plate and waking him up just as his mind was slipping into a dreamlike state. In that brief moment of drowsiness, Dalí would catch glimpses of surreal imagery, ideas that he later used in his paintings. He referred to this technique as "the slumber with a key."

You don't have to be an artist to experiment with semi-conscious states, though! You can just take power naps and then immediately after waking up, write down in a journal the dreams and the thoughts that crossed your mind while you were in that hypnagogic sleep state.

6. Move Your Body

Exercise isn’t just for physical health—it’s a powerful tool for creativity! In his book Daily Rituals, Mason Currey states that at 2 p.m. every day, Charles Dickens left his desk to take a three-hour-long walk through the countryside or London. As Dickens himself described it, he was "searching for some pictures I wanted to build upon."

Scientific evidence seems to confirm Dickens' method. A study has shown that "walking outside produced the most novel and highest quality analogies" in participants. Scientists concluded that "w]alking opens up the free flow of ideas, and it is a simple and robust solution to the goals of increasing creativity."

7. Create Art Without Judgement

Perfectionism is the enemy of creativity. Many people avoid making art because they fear their work won’t be good enough. But creativity flourishes when you focus on the process rather than the outcome.

Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” The key? Give yourself permission to create without judgment!

Paint, draw, write, or sculpt without worrying about the result. When you remove the pressure of perfection, you get those creative juices flowing more freely!

8. Spend Time in Nature

In 1873, Walt Whitman, the author of the famous collection of poems Leaves of Grass, suffered a paralytic stroke. After this, he found his solace in Nature, and the years he spent at his brother's home after his stroke were incredibly creative and productive! He regarded Nature as something that can "bring out from their torpid recesses, the affinities of a man or woman with the open air, the trees, the fields, the changes of seasons—the sun by day and the stars of heaven by night."

The scientific universe seems to agree with Whitman. Research shows that only four days of immersion in nature can increase performance on a creative task by 50%! There's even a concept called soft fascination, implying that entering a green space with natural light and shadows prompts us to enter a reflective state that calms the mind and reduces stress. So take a break from screens and immerse yourself in the natural world!

9. Ask "What If?" Questions

Asking “what if?” questions is a powerful tool for stimulating creativity. These prompts encourage unconventional thinking by exploring imaginative scenarios and possibilities. So don't hesitate to challenge the status quo and think outside the box to unlock innovative ideas and solutions!

This technique can be particularly useful in brainstorming sessions, where it helps teams connect hypothetical situations to real challenges. For example:

• What if money wasn’t an obstacle—how would I solve this problem?

• What if I had to start from scratch—how would I approach this differently?

• What if I combined two unrelated ideas—what could I create?

This type of thinking led to some of the world’s greatest inventions. So, start questioning everything—you never know where it might lead!

10. Keep a Creativity Journal

Journaling isn’t just for recording thoughts—it’s a powerful creativity tool. Many great thinkers, including Leonardo da Vinci and Thomas Edison, kept detailed notebooks to capture their ideas. In fact, Thomas Edison wrote 3,500 journals comprising more than 5 million words. Pretty fascinating, right?

By writing down thoughts, observations, and even doodles, you train your brain to think more creatively. Try setting aside 10 minutes a day to free-write or sketch ideas. Or, if you don't like this method, just make sure you have your journal at hand at all times and write down cool ideas that unexpectedly cross your mind throughout the day.

11. Brainstorm Independently

When it comes to cultivating creative thinking, one of the most effective methods is to brainstorm independently. This means taking time for yourself to think through ideas without external influence or judgment.

Often, when we brainstorm in groups, we’re subconsciously influenced by others’ ideas or thoughts. This can unintentionally limit the flow of creativity. When you brainstorm alone, you're in control of the direction your ideas take. There's no pressure to conform to anyone else's opinions or suggestions—just pure, unfiltered thinking.

Brainstorming on your own for just a few minutes before your next conference call, for example, can be really helpful. It can also involve using techniques like mind mapping, free writing, or jotting down your thoughts without any pressure to immediately “solve” a problem. It’s important to suspend judgment during this phase and avoid overthinking. The key is to let ideas flow naturally!

12. Embrace Constraints

It might sound counterintuitive, but limitations can actually help you become more creative. When you have fewer resources, you’re forced to think outside the box.

Take Dr. Seuss, for example. His publisher challenged him to write a children’s book using only 50 distinct words, so he wrote Green Eggs and Ham, one of the most beloved children’s books of all time!

Instead of seeing constraints as roadblocks, view them as creative challenges. You’ll be surprised at what you come up with!

13. Surround Yourself with Creative People

Creativity, much like enthusiasm or energy, is contagious – it spreads naturally when you're around people who think differently, challenge norms, and approach problems in innovative ways.

So spend time with creative, open-minded people who can inspire you and expose you to new perspectives. You can attend creative workshops, TEDx conferences, and exhibitions or simply have a coffee with a creative friend. Building a network of innovative thinkers and collecting on your mind shelves as many ideas as possible will train your creative muscles and push you towards your creative success!

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes a lack of creativity?

A lack of creativity may be caused by various factors, including fear of failure and imperfection, burnout, stress, anxiety, and a lack of creative outlets.

How do I train myself to be creative?

You can train yourself to be more creative by letting your mind wander, spending time in nature, trying new things, training your brain with neurofeedback, taking advantage of semi-conscious states, keeping a creativity journal, and surrounding yourself with innovative thinkers!

Are creative people born or made?

Research shows that some people can be born with the right genetic makeup that makes their brains more inclined towards creative thinking. This means that while we all can learn to be creative, some are more creative than others.

Can creativity be taught?

Yes, creativity can definitely be taught and learned through different practices that can be incorporated into day-to-day routines. Even experimenting with a new meal every day is a way to boost your creativity!

What are some easy ways to try something new every day?

You can easily try something new every day by making small changes, like taking a different route to work, sampling a new dish, or picking up a new hobby such as photography or cooking. Embrace these little shifts and watch your world expand!

Why is physical activity important for creativity?

Engaging in physical activity boosts blood flow to your brain, sharpening your mental clarity and sparking creativity. So get moving and unleash your innovative potential!