13 Easy Ways To Be More Creative Every Day
By Indeed Editorial Team
January 29, 2025
Whether or not your job requires you to be creative every day, fostering your creativity can have a positive impact on your work. It can help you think in different ways, which can benefit you when solving problems and performing tasks in the workplace. Learning ways to enhance your creative thinking skills can also help you find an activity that you enjoy both in and outside the workplace.
In this article, we explore the benefits of developing your creativity and provide 14 ways to learn how to be more creative in your everyday life.
Benefits of being creative
Creativity comes with several benefits that can impact both your professional and personal life. Some of these benefits include:
. Improved confidence, as sharing creativity requires vulnerability and doing so helps to release fears around perfectionism and failure
. Decreased stress levels and reduced anxiety, as it can help individuals express and process their emotions productively
. Increased engagement in life and your environment, as creativity often requires looking outside of yourself for inspiration
. Enhanced skills that are for your professional life, such as problem-solving skills
13 ways to learn how to be more creative
If you’d like to learn how to be more creative, consider trying these 13 ways of incorporating creativity into your life:
1. Watch a funny movie or show
Laughing is a great way to enhance your creative abilities as well as reduce stress and negative emotions. Humor may bring inspiration for creativity and encourage you to act on that inspiration. It can also help improve your overall mood, enabling you to think more clearly.
2. Get curious
Curiosity is a primary component of creativity. To be creative, it’s necessary to be interested in what you’re working on as well as the world around you. Try to get curious about even the mundane things in your life.
For example, learning exactly how your car or TV works are great ways to expand your knowledge. Learning new things is an excellent way to foster creativity and can also improve your overall quality of life by helping you become more appreciative of the little things.
3. Doodle
While doodling may seem like a simple act, this art form is actually a great way to spark creativity. Doodling helps you stay present and engaged during meetings and other events you might otherwise find hard to stay focused on. It may also help you better recall information and can get new pathways in your brain working, meaning you’re more likely to experience new insights with regular doodling.
4. Try a new class
Consider signing up for a new class that explores something you’ve never done before and gets you out of your comfort zone. For example, you could sign up for a weekly sketch class where you spend an hour each week learning how to sketch drawings. Other creative class ideas include woodworking, pottery, painting and cooking.
5. Move your body
When people are having trouble solving a problem, they often think that hunkering down and continuing to brainstorm until a solution arises is the answer. This solution may actually result in the opposite effect. Instead of pushing your brain to its limits by forcing brainstorming sessions, consider getting some physical movement first, like:
. Going for a walk
. Participating in a quick fitness class
. Playing with your dog outside
. Taking a dance break with your favorite playlist
. Following along with a stretching video
Physical movement is great for activating creativity and gives your brain a much-needed break so you’re able to go back to the task at hand refreshed.
6. Put toys on your desk
Keeping toys on your desk is a great way to give yourself a creative jolt throughout the day. In fact, some creative design companies even encourage employees to decorate their desks with toys.
Using your hands to play with or build something encourages creativity in a way that typing on a keyboard might not. Fun and creative toys to consider adding to your desk include puzzles, stuffed animals and handheld games like a travel-size chessboard or a fidget spinner.
7. Engage in role-playing
Role-playing is a great way to learn how to think from a different perspective. Consider asking coworkers to engage in role-playing with you when you’re working on a tough problem. Have each person play a role that differs from the one they have in their job position and try to generate as many ideas as possible to come up with a solution to the issue.
When role-playing, let yourself really get into the role and think about how you believe the other person would view the situation. Don’t worry about looking silly or being embarrassed. The more you can get into the role, the more creativity you can get out of it.
8. Create a creative environment
Creating an environment that promotes creativity can boost your overall ability to think in new ways. Consider adding some color to your work area or including candles or essential oils to stimulate your sense of smell. You can also add different items that have varying surfaces to ignite your sense of touch.
Keep a sketchbook on your desk that you can pull out and doodle on when needed. Keep distractions at bay by silencing your phone and keeping it in your bag. Fill your office space with inspiration, whether that be through pictures, quotes or even a small shelf of books.
9. Start a journal
Journaling is an effective way to set and monitor goals. There are many styles of journaling. For example, some people write down their daily activities, while others make a list of things they’re grateful for each day. Consider journaling at the same time every day to build the habit.
10. Listen to a podcast
Choose a few podcasts that interest you and listen to them regularly. If you think you have a great idea for a podcast of your own, create one and share it online for others to hear. This can help to develop your writing, editing and audio production skills.
11. Read a book
Reading is the quintessential way to learn and engage your brain. Set a reading goal for yourself and make a book list that includes different genres. Challenge yourself to learn a new skill or gain knowledge about a person you admire.
Find the type of book that fits well into your lifestyle, whether a physically printed book, an e-book or an audiobook. Download a library app for easy and free access to audiobooks from your local library.
12. Meditate
Meditation is a practice that uses techniques like mindfulness to learn self-awareness. It has a calming effect that can give you a break from your thoughts, enhance creativity, improve your sleep, be more productive and improve your focus. Some methods of meditation take less than a minute to complete, while others last over an hour, allowing you to choose meditations based on your need and level of practice.
13. Listen to music at work
Listening to music while you work can help you stay focused on your tasks. It can also help you feel calmer and enhance your mood. Music also works to encourage creativity and may provide inspiration for a creative endeavor.
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