Whether your art of choice involves putting pen to paper, gracefully spreading paint across canvas or squishing clay between your fingers, there are numerous ways to unleash the artist in you.
Not only will releasing this inner Whitman, Picasso or Michelangelo be gratifying, it may also improve your health.
Research has shown a strong connection between creativity and improved mental and physical health, reminds Tony Wagner, author of “Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World.” If you have long been delaying realizing your creative dreams, cut it out.
Step up to the plate and get those creative juices flowing with just a few simple steps.
Look
Don’t focus so closely on creating your masterwork that you lose sight of what’s going on in the world. Keep your eyes and ears open and take in as much as possible.
Inspiration doesn’t usually come from within, but instead from the outside world. Stop and smell the roses. Who knew, that simple and oh-so-fragrant rosebush could trigger a creative epiphany.
Walk
If you hit a wall when trying to create, get up and move. Not only will going out into the fresh air give you a potentially much needed break from the confining walls of your workspace, the physical activity may actually be creativity inducing, suggests an April 2014 Stanford study.
In this study, co-authored by Marily Oppezzo and Daniel Schwartz, researchers found that creative thinking improved both during and immediately after a short walk.
So, whether you hit the city streets or stroll down a rustic park path, your paces will positively influence your creativity.
Play
Harvard educated musician and educator Stephen Nachmanovitch once said, “The most potent muse of all is our own inner child.”
Don’t feel bad about lifting your nose from the grindstone and doing something fun. Instead, embrace your eagerness to frolic and play. Hang out with your child if you have one and babysit one if you don’t. Let go of your inhibitions and engage in a period of play.
You will likely find that your newly inhibition-free self is more capable of producing something magical when you return your focus to your creative task.
Share
Creating doesn’t have to be a solitary effort. Share your works with other local artists or find a public showcase at which to feature your finished creative products.
By sharing your work, you receive valuable feedback, reminds Micky Cokely, MeD of Northeastern University. As an additional bonus, you may receive some encouraging praise that will help motivate you to continue toiling away.
List
Get the ideas that clutter your head out of your brain and onto paper. Fill a notebook or sketchpad with your thoughts, pausing as you write down each one to explore the concept thoroughly.
Once you drain your head of ideas and deposit them on paper, you will have an unburdened brain with which to think.
Hang on to your list and reference it the next time you find yourself ready to create.
Talk
If you can convince a loved one to let you bend their ear, take advantage of the opportunity. Vocalizing your thoughts can fuel your creative process, allowing you to sift through the concepts that fill your head and better select the ones that are worth your pursuit.
Getting feedback from the person to whom you are speaking, while potentially useful, isn’t necessarily a requisite part of this process; just speaking your idea to a friend who is happy to listen without interrupting may be tremendously beneficial.
Create
If you are waiting for the perfect moment of inspiration before you put yourself out there creatively, stop. Doing creative things leads to creative thoughts. Complete some writing prompts, paint a landscape, or prepare a portrait.
Not every creative product needs to be your life-defining masterpiece. Engaging in these creative efforts serves as valuable practice, allowing you to open your mind and hone your skills.
Ultimately, this regular practice will make it easier for finally producing your chef-d’oeuvre.
