Is there something more depression than having zero creativity? You know you want to create something but don’t know what. Or perhaps you have a problem, but can’t find the proper solution. Sometimes your brain is just not in full power. You see all those people on the internets creating amazing things. Why can’t you create stuff like that?
I know the feeling!
I’ve had some very creative times in my life, but I’ve also had some very depressing times where I felt like the dumbest person on earth. Throughout the years, I’ve studied famous creative people and tried various ways to stimulate my creativity.
Here are the three techniques that worked best. Each one worked very well but at different times, often in combination.
1. Break a habit
The best way to have no creativity is to turn your brain off. When your whole day or week is a routine you don’t even have to think to complete, you’re basically living on autopilot. Changing small things in a routine can have a huge impact on your creativity.
Take a different path to work. Change haircut. Change your lunch menu. Anything small or big will stimulate your brain. I’ve used this technique numerous times.
Also, changing a habit will stimulate you to change other ones. So if you want to change something important, change some small things first, which will give you motivation (doing something new is always exciting isn’t it?). Then, use that motivation and confidence to change something bigger.
The point is to get momentum. This also work for anything you want to accomplish, not only having more creativity.
2. Be alone
Be alone, that is the secret of invention: be alone, that is when ideas are born. - Nikola Tesla
Solitude is greatly underrated. I believe no serious work, deep thinking or innovation is possible with people around you.
This has nothing to do with being introvert or not. Creating requires a high level of concentration which can’t be reached when there are people around. You can’t still get with people before of after that process to get feedback or re-energize.
Without great solitude no serious work is possible. - Pablo Picasso
And by alone, I also mean no IM, Twitter, Facebook or such.
3. Get bored
Here’s an easy way to get bored: consume less. Not because I believe consuming is bad, but because I think it forces us to the other side: producing.
Necessity is the mother of invention. - Unknown
Get bored long enough and I assure you getting unbored by creating will become a necessity.
I remember having no internet when I was younger on my parents computer. That’s why I first learn to program, there was nothing else to do on that damn thing!
Drop a comment below and let me know if you have any tip of your own to stimulate your creativity!