11 Ways to Awaken Your Creativity (and to Stop Procrastinating)
The Simple Things
Take something that’s awfully familiar to you, whether if that’s your blanket, the pencil case that you had since kindergarten, or the bathroom tap -- anything that has a nostalgic spark. Now, look at it, really look. Notice something you hadn’t before. Examine its texture, its material. Where did it come from? How did it land in your hands? Now, look around you. What do you see differently? Sometimes, we take these little things for granted. There is a story behind everything. We can find something new -- an inspiration -- in anything and everything.
THOUGHTS TO PAPER
I find that by just putting pen to paper and writing my thoughts down first thing upon waking up helps clear the messiness of my brain. Sit down each morning to give an intentional 5 minutes to let your busy mind lay itself out in front of you. It doesn’t have to make any sense. The more mess, the better. Empty your mind of all the noise and nonsense. Let it make you feel lighter.
FREE DRAW
On any piece of paper, draw something in your line of vision or imagination. You don’t have to be a gifted artist to do so, nor does it have to be perfect -- don’t be intimidated by the blank page. Just take a quick minute to sketch out the object that you have chosen. Attacking a piece of blank paper is a great way of loosening up and, as some people say, “starting.”
Mapping Out
What’s stopping you from getting things done? Take a sheet of A4 paper and start mapping out your day. Whether you illustrate the 24 hours by using bullet-points or drawings, try depicting it as realistically as possible. Include blocks of time for taking showers, eating meals, and checking Instagram. What do you think you can do to make your day more efficient? Are there any activities that are distracting you from getting things done? Can you rearrange your day in a better, more serving way? Now, take a fresh piece of paper and try orchestrating a newly improved map of your day. How can you make tomorrow more rewarding?
Identifying Resistance
Maybe it’s not just your time management that’s stopping you from getting things done. Draw a straight line through the center of a piece of blank paper. On the top of the left-hand side write “Internal Resistance,” and on the right, write “External Resistance.” What is resistance to you? Is there a difference between internal and external resistance? Resistance is everywhere and there are a million reasons not to act on our ideas: No time. No money. No drive. No inspiration. Everything’s already been done before. Who cares if I do it anyway? Our resistance is sometimes quiet, sometimes loud, but when we listen closely, it’s coming from 2 different avenues. Start listing down your forms of resistance, separating them into internal and external. What causes one person to procrastinate may be entirely different to the next. It’s important to be aware of what’s resisting our creativity. To learn, and to overcome.
Take the Leap
Sometimes, we don’t have to worry too much. Perhaps, we just have to leap over our resistance and start. Don’t be intimidated by the blank page. We have to know that everything starts with nothing. Don’t be afraid to stumble and fall and get up and try again, because we can’t reach perfection in one go. One concept can lead to another, and that to another. Who knows? You can end up with a beautiful string of ideas to weave into your project.
Create
There’s something about physically creating an object that refreshes me. Needless to be a master of the art, take a block of clay, or something of that sort, and start creating. You don’t need a sketch or a plan. Let your mind wander. Let its imperfections shine through.
THE INVENTORY
We all use social media in one way or another. It can keep you entertained, connect you with old friends. It can also be used as a source of inspiration. Scroll through Instagram or Pinterest and use the save tool to keep anything that catches your eye. Does it spark an aesthetic connection? Does it inspire you? At the end of each week look through your saved posts. What reoccurring theme do your images revolve around?
Looking Glass
Sit in a mall, by the pool, or in a cafe -- anywhere you like -- with a notebook and a pen. Simply watch and reflect. Write down anything that crosses your mind. For example, you see birds chirping on a branch. You may write down birds, or maybe communication. Or are you just simply inspired about how hands can reflect a person’s life? Sketch some hands! Sometimes, we’re so caught up in producing outcomes. We’re not focussed, or perhaps just forget, to spend time on simply looking for inspiration. Time isn’t given -- it’s made. Make time. Sit, look, and reflect.
Ask Yourself
Afternoon light flowing through the windows. Sunset by the beach. The echoes of a museum. Where are you creative? When are you creative? How are you creative? Why are you creative? Reflect on these questions. Scribble them down on a notebook. Do you find more ideas come when you’re in a certain environment? Creativity does not exist without our ability to reflect; upon ourselves, upon our lives, upon our potential. Creativity does not exist without questioning.
Letting Go
Let go of perfectionism. Let go of the pressure of having it all figured out. Try to follow where your curiosity takes you, instead of following a systematic road. Let go of the thought of being judged. Let go of following the rules. Let your mind wander. Let your mind create.