“You can’t use up creativity, the more you use, the more you have.”
Maya Angelou
Take a digital detox: Take time to unplug from technology and social media for a few hours, a day or a week. It is important to limit the amount of information you consume. Too much information can make it difficult to think clearly, critically and independently. When you are plug in all the time, you are bombarded by ads, video messages and text messages. This can block your creativity and make it hard spark new ideas. The information on social media feeds is often filled with chaos and negative content. Digital information can cause your mind to become overloaded, trigger negative emotions and manipulate how you think, especially if the content is negative. Try spending more time cultivating your own creativity and then explore diverse ways to share it with the world.
Connect with Nature: Connecting with nature is a great way to ignite creativity. Go for walks outdoors, observe natural landscapes, animals, birds and trees. Listen to the sounds of nature, inhale its refreshing scent or put your feet in the river or shallow lake on a warm day. Connecting with nature is a great way to unplug from the chaos of life. It will force you to slow down and smell the roses. Connecting with nature can boost your mood, foster optimism and spark creativity.
Refuel: Easy access to information and the internet has made it easier to work from home for hours longer than the standard 9 to 5pm. Constantly working leads to running on empty and burn out. You do not want to spend so much time working that you forget to refuel your mind and body. Take the time to refuel by getting 7 to 9 hours sleep.There are several health benefits of getting sufficient hours of sleep, such as maintaining a healthy weight, lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Exercise is another way to boost your creativity but it can also reduce stress, prevent cognitive decline and sharpen your memory. Eating foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals can recharge your body and improve your overall well being. When you are well rested and eating nutritious foods, you will build up the energy that is needed to find clarity and develop creative ideas.
Stacey Ann Berry, BA (Hons.), MPPAL,
President and Founder, Bstellar® Group Inc.