Boost Creativity
Boost Creativity
Boost Creativity
By
Kendra Cherry
Updated on March 16, 2023
Creativity is the ability to come up with or recognize ideas to solve problems, communicate with
others, or entertain.1
Creativity is all about finding new ways of solving problems and approaching situations. This
isn't a skill restricted to artists, musicians, writers, or "right-brained" thinkers; it is a useful skill
for people from all walks of life. If you've ever wanted to boost your creativity, these tips can
help.
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The first step to increasing creativity is to devote yourself to developing your creative abilities.
Do not put off your efforts. Set goals, enlist the help of others, and put aside time each day to
develop your skills. For example, if you are interested in painting, schedule time regularly to
learn and practice your skills.
For example, sharing your work in a creative writing course might feel intimidating. But the
critique you receive from classmates and teachers can be invaluable.
Making time for creativity might involve saying no to some things that are draining your
available time, or even choosing to let go of things in your schedule that are not bringing you
joy. Sometimes, it might even involve asking others to help with tasks or take care of childcare
and other household duties so you have some free time for your creative pursuits.
When you find yourself dwelling on negative thinking, make an active effort to challenge those
faulty ideas and replace them with more realistic or positive ones.
Start by suspending your judgment and self-criticism. Then start writing down related ideas and
possible solutions. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible in a relatively short span of
time. Next, focus on clarifying and refining your ideas in order to arrive at the best possible
choice.
Go Dark
As unlikely as this may seem, recent research points to dim light as a trigger for creativity.
Darkness may free you from perceived constraints and encourage you to take creative risks that
may seem intimidating in bright lighting.2
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As you start to develop a new project, create a flow chart to track the project from start to finish.
Look for various paths or sequences of events that might occur. A flow chart can help you
visualize the final product, eliminate potential problems, and create unique solutions.
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Black hat: Use a negative perspective. Which elements of the solution won’t work?
Blue hat: Think broadly. What is the best overall solution?
Green hat: Think creatively. What are some alternative ideas?
Red hat: Look at the situation emotionally. What do your feelings tell you?
White hat: Look at the situation objectively. What are the facts?
Yellow hat: Use a positive perspective. Which elements of the solution will work?
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Use whatever strategy or technique works best for you. Do you enjoy video games? Research
indicates that playing video games can help increase your creativity.5
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By looking at these alternatives beforehand, you'll be better able to develop creative solutions to
problems.
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