Whether you’re an artist or a plumber, creativity is important. Sparks of inspiration allow us to innovate and find solutions to problems. Often, we get stuck in creative ruts where it seems like new ideas simply won’t flow. If you find yourself out of fresh ideas, try some of these creativity boosting activities.

Play
Think back to when you were a child. What gave you joy? Duplicating the feeling of effortless imagination you had as a child can open some new avenues. Play a strategy game, draw a picture or work on a puzzle. You might even consider working your problem into a game you play with a child. You’d be surprised by the insight they can provide!

Move
Get up and get moving. If you’ve been mulling over a problem for a long time, take a break. Go for a walk, get some exercise or simply run an errand. Anything that changes the scenery and gets your muscles involved will help.

Sleep
A lot of mental processing happens when we’re asleep. If you’re really stuck, get a good night’s rest or take a nap. You may have a new perspective when you awake.

Write
You can brainstorm with yourself by simply writing things down. Start jotting down thoughts without filtering them. Allow your mind to wander and simply write down anything that comes to mind. Don’t worry whether the thoughts are cohesive or make sense. They have a way of naturally coming together in the end.

Meditate
Sit quietly for a while and try to empty your mind. You’ll make room for the inspired thoughts trying to make their way in.

What are some of your tricks for awakening your creativity?

Photo credit: macca / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND