This blog entry is a follow up to the last one: Losing Your Creativity
I am sure that Google could serve up a zillion ideas about how to nurture your creativity; I searched my self and found a pretty decent article about creativity in the workplace (you can read it by clicking here). But instead of serving up what you can already find, I decided to just take a simple approach and give you my take on what I see regular folks doing to tap into their creative side, find their mojo, or what ever you want to call it. Most of these are probably fairly basic, and you may already do some of these. If you have some that should be added feel free to add yours in by commenting! The bottom line is to find one or more that works for you and just do it!!!
Listen to music
Read a book (for enjoyment – not work)
Go for a walk
Go for a boat ride
Go for a drive and look at the scenery (but remember to watch the road too) and long enough that you stop thinking about all that work or all those problems at the office
Fish and actually look at the fish you catch
Visit an art gallery or museum and really look at the exhibits/painting – imagine how they were created
Swim (but only in deep water if you know how to swim – otherwise wading in shallow water is good too)
Garden
Do yoga or other stretching exercises/movements
Dance
Paint/Draw (even if it is with your kids with chalk on the sidewalk or with fingerpaints in the kitchen)
Stroll through a downtown and really look at the architecture and the form and colors of the buildings
Take photos of common, everyday objects – take some at unusual angles
Write a story, letter, blog, diary entry, article – even if no one else will ever see it
Relax in a hot tub or whirlpool or sauna
In addition to these ideas, I have to add that my time spent in Second Life has definitely enhanced my creative side. Trying to build objects in a virtual world requires you to look at objects in the “real world” in a whole new way because you have to try to figure out how to make them using the tools and constraints of that software. I end up seeing shapes and colors and textures that I never really noticed before.
I realize that most users of Second Life have already discovered this, but I add it for those who have yet to venture in. Not only is there the opportunity for you to create, but you can gain a new perspective by visiting and viewing the creations of others. I always think of it as being allowed to look into the creative side of someone else’s mind. And looking at what others have created is always a great way to stimulate your own creativity.
