How can i improve creativity

Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Sometimes it seems that certain people are simply gifted with the knack for creativity. If you feel like you were not one of those lucky few who draws from a seemingly endless creative wellspring, this does not mean that you are doomed to a life of the mundane and expected.

Much like a muscle, creativity is something that you can cultivate and develop with a little practice and hard work. One important thing to remember is that creativity is not a passive process.

Simply sitting back and waiting for inspiration to find you is a recipe for losing your motivation and becoming discouraged. Instead, focus on looking for ways to boost your own creativity.

Seek out the things that inspire you and that helps you focus your attention and mental energy on the task at hand. Check out some of these fascinating and often unusual tricks that might help spark your creativity. One study found that people tend to be more creative when they are walking rather than when they are sitting down. So if you are tied to a desk and struggling to come up with a good idea, try going for a quick walk to see if inspiration might strike.

Research has found that rewarding things that are already intrinsically rewarding can backfire and actually reduce motivation, a phenomenon known as the overjustification effect.

So it might seem like offering some sort of reward for creative thinking might have the opposite effect, stifling creativity and motivation.

Yet research has found that when rewards are offered explicitly for producing creative works, creativity actually increases. So if you are trying to find inspiration, try promising yourself some type of desirable treat as a reward for coming up with a creative solution.

Studies have found that placing some psychological distance between yourself and the problem might also do the trick. Researchers found that when participants imagined that a problem originated from a far location versus a close one, they solved more problems and came up with more creative solutions. The next time you face a difficult problem, try imagining that the issue is distant and disconnected from your current location. Positive psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi suggests that surroundings also play a role in the creative process.

Stimulating environments can facilitate creativity, so surrounding yourself with things that you find inspiring and motivating can help. Research shows that when people try to think more creatively, they almost always can -- and those effects are both significant and repeatable. But the key to this is dedicating more time in your day to actively thinking, which usually means unplugging from email, social media and more.

Try implementing this idea in your everyday routine by avoiding bringing your phone to bed or to the bathroom. It's also a good idea to turn off notification settings for social media apps and email. Consider dedicating specific time in your day to thinking creatively -- and remind yourself to do so before any brainstorming session. Try switching out some of the items on your desk, orienting yourself differently or doing an overhaul of the bulletin board you sit facing.

Take advantage of opportunities to periodically work in different areas of the office, sit with new colleagues or invite people from different departments to lunch. Although you might not have much control over your work environment, making any possible adjustments could translate to a significant creativity boost.

When was the last time you learned something about medieval architecture? Ancient Egyptian history? Edible herbs in the wild? Now might be the time to take an in-person course or dive down an internet rabbit hole. Research suggests that broadening your knowledge by way of unfamiliar topics fosters new ideas and divergent thinking.

In business, make sure you include people with different life experiences and worldviews in your brainstorming sessions, and always include people who have different opinions than you.

This concept from Jay applies to both your business and the wider world. Use a wider perspective instead: funnel vision. Learning about other trades and professions or changing your daily routine — for example, practicing gratitude or building better habits — helps your brain make new connections.

Rather than punishing failure, celebrate the process. Change your self-talk to appreciate every idea that comes your way, creative or not. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that creativity was a divine spirit who spoke to them. Today that idea may seem ridiculous, but consider this: Similar myths about creativity persist. The truth is that creativity happens in situations from mathematics to inventing to putting together your outfit for the day.

It taps into past experiences, trial-and-error and hundreds of different parts of you brain. Studies have found creative people actually share a set of traits and problem-solving skills — and the good news is that anyone can master them to increase creativity. One study found that companies that actively cultivate creativity have faster revenue growth and are more likely to be market leaders. But why? Constant strategic innovation is one of the Seven Forces of Business Mastery — and creativity is vital.

The second eBook, Living Well, Living Ethically, considers how you can live your best life all the time. It helps you to answer the question: how can I avoid having too many regrets about my life? As you can see from the list above, there are many different ways to boost your creativity.

Remember, creativity is like a muscle that needs to be trained with consistency and intensity, you just need to find what really helps you get those creative juices flowing! Sam Summers is the communication assistant at unscramblex.

Sam has a considerable experience in maintaining web content, executing social media strategies, preparing presentations and reports, and is responsible for content writing and proofreading. Search SkillsYouNeed:. We'll never share your email address and you can unsubscribe at any time.