7 Easy Tips to Boost Your Creativity

Posted October 6, 2016

Creativity is seemingly effortless and naturally occurring for artists and creative thinkers alike. But at some point, a person’s creative juices may not flow as well as expected. Even the best artists experience mental blocks. For whatever reason, you might just find your brain empty of brilliant ideas. When this happens, frustration builds up and all you want is to get back in the zone and get things done. There are many reasons why you might find yourself in this rut. It could be due to stress, mental fatigue, emotional issues, lack of sleep or unhealthy lifestyle habits.

For virtual assistants that have specialized jobs like content writing, web development, social media management and graphic design, creativity is a vital aspect that allows them to produce great work day in and day out. The fundamental question is, how can you sustain creativity? What are the activities that could revitalize your mind and make it work creatively once more? Here are some tips to boost your imagination:

Step back.

If you find yourself stressed, frustrated and literally uninspired, step back from your work and give yourself a break. You need to divert your attention and get the momentum back. Have a snack, make yourself a cup of coffee, or watch a music video. Pushing yourself too hard will not give you great results. The creative mind works best when you are well rested and calm.
Read books.

Reading books is a great way to train your imagination. For content writers, reading is a great way to develop one’s writing style. Other options such as magazines and blogs are great reading materials too. The point is to be a sponge and absorb learnings. The more you know, the more you can contribute and the better your chances of creating good content are.
Sleep well, exercise and eat healthy.

Having a healthy lifestyle seems trivial when it comes to being creative, but it sure does have an effect. If you are poorly nourished, if you lack sleep and if your body isn’t fit, chances are your brain won’t operate to its full potential. Sleep at least 7-8 hours at night, eat unprocessed, organic food when you can and exercise daily. You’ll be surprised to see how much of your brain fog will diminish when you start integrating these into your daily routine.
Watch great films.

Watching quality films is a great way to boost your creativity. Don’t settle for B-rated flicks. Look for movies that are all well made. Visually stunning movies can inspire a creative mind. Films by Wong Kar-Wai such as In the Mood for Love and 2046 are great examples.
Listen to music.

Be open-minded. Listen to all kinds of genres. You’ll never know what music you’ll discover. You might get pleasantly surprised to find yourself actually enjoying a genre that you aren’t used to. Spotify has a fantastic selection of playlists that you can explore.
Whip up a good meal.

Cooking a meal is a great way to train all your senses. Be adventurous and try out a dish that you have never made. Your taste buds will thank you for it, and you will be enhancing your creativity by doing so.
Expose yourself to nature.

You do not need to go on a crazy adventure, go to the beach, or go camping or hiking, but these certainly will help you freshen your mind. If these aren’t possible, then a quick walk in the park might do the trick. Nature has a therapeutic effect on the mind. It will help you relax, unwind and heal. A great tip is to place an indoor plant on your work desk too!

Mental blocks are normal. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Rest your mind and take a break.

The trick is to step back, train the mind to divert its attention to something else and let your brain explore other things until the creative process regains momentum once again.

Let us know which activity helps you the most when you experience mental blocks. We’d love to know which works best for you.