If you think that you’re born with all the creativity you’ll ever have and that you can’t develop it further, think again—and in a different way. That’s the essence of creativity as defined by renowned developmental psychologist Howard Gardner, who wrote that creativity is “the ability to create new things or do old things in new ways.” And psychologists say you can cultivate and develop this superpower with a little practice and hard work.
Creativity is not passive, however. Begin by actively seeking out ideas, people, and things that inspire you. Then, try these 10 ideas that can help you toward your full creative potential.
1. Go for a Walk
Although psychologists have long known that regular physical activity can help enhance and protect cognitive abilities, walking might be of particular benefit when it comes to creativity.
2. Reward Yourself
Rewarding things that are already intrinsically rewarding can backfire and instead reduce motivation, a phenomenon known as the overjustification effect. However, research has also found that creativity increases when rewards are offered explicitly for producing creative works.
So if you’re looking for inspiration, promise yourself a desirable treat as a reward for coming up with a creative solution. Just don’t overdo it, or you risk decreasing your motivation.
3. Create Some Psychological Distance
People often suggest taking a break from a task when you’ve hit a creative block. Studies have found that placing some psychological distance between yourself and the problem might also do the trick.5 Researchers found that participants solved more problems and came up with more creative solutions when they imagined that a problem originated far away rather than close by.
4. Surround Yourself With Inspiration
Positive psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi suggests that surroundings play an important role in the creative process. Stimulating environments can facilitate creativity, so surrounding yourself with things that you find inspiring and motivating can help.
5. Create Restrictions
When trying to solve a problem, people often resort to tried-and-true solutions rather than innovation. Using old ideas often leads to good outcomes, nonetheless—but sometimes, mental sets and functional fixedness develop that make creative efforts challenging.
One way to overcome this: Challenge yourself by putting restrictions on your thinking that force you to look beyond the easy and familiar.
6. Daydream
In today’s high-tech, connected world, distraction is just an arm’s length away. Instead of filling idle moments with apps, games, etc., try letting yourself be bored for a spell.
In one study, bored participants performed better on creativity tests than those who were elated, relaxed , or distressed.8 In another study, researchers found that boredom gives people time to daydream, which in turn heightens creativity.
7. Reconceptualize the Problem
Creative people typically re-conceptualize problems more often than less creative people do. This means taking a step back to see it from a different angle. Revisit the problem from the very beginning. Is there a different way to think about it?
8. Channel Your Emotions
Researchers linked positive emotions to creativity long ago, but further research has found that both strong positive and negative emotional states were associated with creative thinking.
You don’t need a bad mood to gain inspiration—but the next time you lapse into a negative state, try applying some of that energy toward solving a problem or accomplishing a task instead.
9. Surround Yourself With Blue
Color psychology suggests that colors affect moods, emotions, and behaviors. According to a study, blue’s association with nature, peace, and tranquility helps people feel safe enough to explore and be creative.
10. Meditate
Some types of meditation are linked to an increase in creative thinking. Meditation has long been used as a relaxation technique, but recent research has demonstrated health benefits that extend far beyond relaxation.
In particular, open-monitoring meditation, in which you’re receptive to all thoughts and sensations without focusing on any particular object or idea, can encourage divergent thinking and the generation of new ideas.
