Lifehack.org db clay Giveaway Grand Finale!

Barbara says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:08 am

A couple of tips I have to maintain your creative energy are:

1. “Hang out”, either in person or on the web, with other creative people to feed off their energy and vibe.

2. Look for the beauty in EVERYTHING. It’s there, you just have to look.

3. Change your perspective. Look at things from all different angles, up close and at distances.

4. Listen to a variety of music, read all different kinds of books and magazines. Go to art exhibits. In other words, expand your safe zone.

jeremy says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:18 am

floss regularly.

m_s says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:30 am

1. Do it every day.
2. Don’t be discouraged when life makes it hard for you to do your creative work – trust that time and fate always are kind and you WILL find a way back to it.
3. Do it every day.

As a writer, I’m dedicated to my three pages every morning, come what may, and wherever I find myself – they’re a precious lifeline to my writing however frantic everything else in my life becomes.

And, hey, wouldn’t a pretty wallet in my pocket remind me of my creative heart!

adorita says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:39 am

Many of the most creative people have morning rituals and well-planned schedule that might seem “boring” to others. e.g. Dilbert’s Scott Adams. Everyday, he wakes at 5:30am, eat a banana, pet the cat, walk to office, drink diet coke, read email, read news, post blog, start drawing.

In the GTD term, these people do not have to think about daily activities and thus free up the mind (RAM) for creativities. Therefore, it is important to choose what you do everyday. It is important to get into good habits that will benefit your life and work. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle.

Also, never stop learning!

Srećko says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:45 am

Someone said (and many people share this opinion) that a person cannot create anything new or “not already seen”. I agree with this, but you can copy from the things that hadn’t appeared in human world. Copy colours from insects, sounds from forest springs (meaning that you will have to get outside:). Anyhow, the best thin for being creative is being pleased with what you do, and to maintain this just read this blog :)

Mike Gillingham says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:46 am

1. Let the little guys be in charge for a change
2. Forget about money
3. Let your hair down
4. Stop for stretches
5. Don’t second guess; go with your gut
6. Eschew idea ownership
8. Add music
9. Cheer yourself on

Eric says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:47 am

I have plenty of mental blocks and find the best way to deal with them is using a couple exercises to empty my mind.

1.) fill up a page of stream of consciousness writing. I just jot down whatever floats into my head even if it doesn’t even mildly pertain to the project I got stuck on. You’d be surprised what you end up writing about by the end and kind of defrags your brain of all the weird half finished ideas you’ve got locked up in there. (Some of them might be useful for other projects your working on)

2.)Is a weird word association exercise I was taught in high school, which works along the same lines as previous suggestion. Simply write down the first word that pops in your mind then draw a dash and write another word that was a result of the first.

ie: computer-keyboard-piano-piano keys-locks-doors-porch-lamps-light bulbs-electricity-… and so on and so forth

push yourself to fill an entire page.

Erik says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:47 am

1) Devote time alone to do creative things you’d otherwise be embarrassed to do (listening to embarrassing music, pretending you’re Goethe, walking around at home with shorts on your head like a hat, being generally melodramatic about everything). Take notes. Feel free to do this at odd times, like 3am Saturday morning.

2) Drink too much coffee sometimes. (See #1)

Eric says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:47 am

I have plenty of mental blocks and find the best way to deal with them is using a couple exercises to empty my mind.

1.) fill up a page of stream of consciousness writing. I just jot down whatever floats into my head even if it doesn’t even mildly pertain to the project I got stuck on. You’d be surprised what you end up writing about by the end and kind of defrags your brain of all the weird half finished ideas you’ve got locked up in there. (Some of them might be useful for other projects your working on)

2.)Is a weird word association exercise I was taught in high school, which works along the same lines as previous suggestion. Simply write down the first word that pops in your mind then draw a dash and write another word that was a result of the first.

ie: computer-keyboard-piano-piano keys-locks-doors-porch-lamps-light bulbs-electricity-… and so on and so forth

push yourself to fill an entire page, and don’t be worried if you don’t think your association is good enough the point is to keep writing and keep the chain going to kind of jump start your creative juices again

David Williamson says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:55 am

Creative thinking can get rusty and it’s very important too keep in the habit of being creative. Here are my tricks to keep you in the habit of being creative, even when your job gets in your way:

A great way to keep you in a creative way is to develop new creative hobbies. Trying something you’ve never done will almost certainly get you thinking in new, more creative ways. Photography is a good example, and easily accessible. That’s kept the creative juices flowing very well and as I’m fairly new there is quite a bit there that could keep my interested for a long time to come.

Equally, working on creative routines is probably the most important part of developing, and keeping, a creative mind. Develop creative habits and then stick to them just as you would, say a work out.

Your day-to-day responsibilities often take the focus away from you being creative. Find the time to “play around” and make your creative outlets just as important as everything else you’ve got going on.

Force yourself to become involved, but don’t interrupt or override other’s creativity. It’s important to keep yourself educated and relevant. Get involved with the projects going on around you.

Getting out and meeting, talking with, etc. other creative professionals. Go to conferences, happy hours and other creative social events. Talk to your peers, brainstorm with them, share lessons learned, problems, solutions and your stories. Spending time in this way recharges creative batteries.

Justen says on January 31st, 2008 at 12:15 pm

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt about the creative process is not being afraid to let something go. If an idea truly does work or an inspiration is true to the art form, that truth will come back in your subsequent ideas, and usually it will become more clear and developed.

MikeR says on January 31st, 2008 at 12:19 pm

When you get stuck or frustrated, walk away for a little bit and don’t think about it. Do something mindless. Kind of CTRL-ALT-DELETE your brain.

RubenV says on January 31st, 2008 at 12:21 pm

Creativity: Force yourself to do it, and do it often. Do it a lot and don’t feel afraid to produce crap. Quantity turns into quality after a while.

Victor H. says on January 31st, 2008 at 12:23 pm

I think the best tip is just to get out of the house and have new experiences. If you are having new experiences you will have inspiration for new creativity

Katie Jennings says on January 31st, 2008 at 12:24 pm

Sit there until something happens. Might sound slightly over the top, but it works for me!

Gretchen says on January 31st, 2008 at 12:25 pm

At least once a day, do something on a whim. It doesn’t need to be major – dance in the kitchen, sing in the shower. Letting yourself “go” for even a few minutes gets your creativity rolling and can lead to great things.

david sellers says on January 31st, 2008 at 12:35 pm

when in need of a solution/answer/creative idea I’ll disappear into something else. relax. realize that IT will come to you. then immerse yourself into something relaxing – sports/video game/novel/music – for a few hours then take a stroll before getting back to work mode. i’ve found that sometime either during the activity or at least during the final stroll connections are made and creativity begins to flow. when it does drop everything and zone in…

Jesse says on January 31st, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Drop everything go and do the following:
1. Watch episode of Arrested Development
2. Exercise enough to work up a sweat
3. Take a shower
4. Brew up your caffeinated beverage of choice
5. Profit (at least in my case) from a surge of creativity.

KevinA. says on January 31st, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Reading Lifehack.org regularly will spur not only creative thoughts but some life-altering ones as well ;^)

David says on January 31st, 2008 at 12:50 pm

Read a lot–the more knowledgeable about stuff you are, the more you can combine ideas into new and better ones.

billy baccam says on January 31st, 2008 at 12:57 pm

talk to as many people as possible to widen your perspective and gain new ideas that you, yourself, would have never thought of.

Melissa says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:00 pm

Change your routine, go for a walk or a public place that isn’t on your normal path and watch the world/people for a while.

Brenden says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:01 pm

Carry a beautiful wallet and take it out and look at it from time to time…

I kid.

Shut everything off and find some peace and quiet. There are too many distractions these days and that can sap the creativity from anyone. (especially me)

Aaron Cooke says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:03 pm

Sit in a comfy chair and relax to the amazing sounds of Trinity Roots, Fat Freddy’s Drop and The Black Seeds!

Tim says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:08 pm

1. Break some of your routines every now and then (drive a different way to work, brush your teeth with your other hand, etc.) – it doesn’t have to be big, but your brain will appreciate that little bit of variety.
2. Carry your camera with you one day, dedicate yourself to taking x number of shots (25? 50?), and try not to go out of your way to do so. It’ll force you to look at your surroundings from a number of different perspectives.
3. Caffeine is your friend.
4. Make time in your day for creative output, even just 15 minutes, and force yourself to do nothing else during that time. If you blank, then stare at that blank sheet of paper until something comes to you.
5. Take pride in your creativity, regardless of how much “improvement” you may gage it to need. If you worry too much on attaining perfection, you’ll miss out on the joy of the sweat and blood during the journey there. The ideal should be a destination, not a goal.

Josh says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:14 pm

The best way is to do two things at once: doodle on your notes, a lot. (and take a ton of notes) This makes sure you’re not focusing on the very small details of what is going on but hopefully the bigger picture.

Second…I like to do this little game where I will just draw an arrow between two random ideas (either from aforementioned notes or new random ideas) and do anything I can to logically connect the ideas in my mind. It often helps to come up with new concepts that haven’t been tried before.

Niranjan says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:16 pm

Be observant, learn, find new addition and then create!

James says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:24 pm

Those look really, really cool!

Rob says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:25 pm

Pay attention to the little things that go unnoticed for the most part – the most incredible inspiration can be found right under your nose. Music is also a tremendous motivator of creative though (Andrew Byrd or The Cat Empire! Bonobo’s great too), but then again, so is silence.

Jim says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:31 pm

Do something silly. Then the mind will flow with ideas.

Keith Chadwick says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:37 pm

I agree with the suggestion to walk away and take a breather when you hit a wall. I wouldn’t say do it right away but there is a point where it becomes counter productive. Step away, take a breath, and clear your mind. :)

I also like to look at what others have done just for a little inspiration. It can be samples of their work or just stories of obstacles they have overcome.

Erica says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:44 pm

use a pen or marker or paintbrush that is DIFFERENT from what you usually use. Work either really BIG or really SMALL — try adding borders to constrain your work & go all the way to the edges (shake it up)

mykoleary says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:45 pm

Creative tips:
1) Collect and parse through sourcebooks as often as possible.
2) Take at least one picture every day, even if it’s just with your crappy phone-cam.
3)Look for any pay attention to patterns in life and nature.

frogcat says on January 31st, 2008 at 1:46 pm

Creativity Tips?

Well, first it’s good to have a vision of what you want to create. As vivid a vision as you can make.

It’s also good to be honest with yourself. To be clear on what you truly want to create, rather than thinking that ” this is what I SHOULD be creating.” You can’t fool yourself. So be honest with yourself, even if it’s not socially acceptable.

I also think that there’s big creativity sappers in my life, and everyone’s life. For example, I find that unproductive meetings and arguments about irrelevant crap really put my brain in a blender. I also find that browsing the internet takes my brain out of “creative” mode for a very long time. Taking steps to either minimize them, or at least work around them boosts your creativity.

The flipside, as mentioned by many others, is there’s actions that boost productivity. People have mentioned exercise, doing thing they like, etc. I’d have to agree, saying that while the things that boost your feelings of creativity may vary from individual to individual, it’s good to keep track of what works for you. One item that I haven’t seen mentioned is “actively doing nothing” In other words, purposely doing nothing. No work, no reading, no music. Just sitting there. It’s neat how I can’t stand “nothing” for too long, and I feel compelled to do something. Take that energy and go!

One last thing about being creative… Not sure what to create? MAKE IT UP! No, seriously. If you’re not sure what you want to create, just make it up.

Corey says on January 31st, 2008 at 2:05 pm

To be creative:
1.Think- the more I find myself just sitting, thinking, meditating the more creative I become, the more ideas pop into my head and then I write them down for later reference.
2.Start Young – if you don’t get into a habit of being creative, you will never be. Me being 17 see older people stuck in a rut because they are so use to their old habits to think of anything new or inivative.

aliencam says on January 31st, 2008 at 2:08 pm

really the best tip i have for creativity is to just not be embarrassed of anything. like the “list of 100″ that has been featured on here (or on lifehacker, i’m not sure) you just sometimes have to list/talk about/ think about the possibility of silly ideas before you come to a really great conclusion. try and think of how each idea can work, no matter how ridiculous, eventually that great idea will come, and you never know from what.

Nora says on January 31st, 2008 at 2:17 pm

Write three quick pages of hand-written journaling each morning.

SarahA says on January 31st, 2008 at 2:18 pm

The only tip I have is just to do it everyday. Set aside 1/2 an hour to write or paint or make music, whatever your art is, do it. This will filter into the rest of your life. The 1/2 hour will stretch to an hour and farther.

Margot says on January 31st, 2008 at 2:35 pm

The first step to doing anything creative is to stop and breathe. Whatever it is you do, sing, act, write, design, when the time comes to create something new, give yourself that little transition space. Deep breath in, leave behind what you’ve done before, deep breath out, welcoming a new opportunity.

D. Huber says on January 31st, 2008 at 2:42 pm

Read and write, in approximately equal measure.

Andrew says on January 31st, 2008 at 2:47 pm

Be creative by creating things. It’s as simple as that. Start something new.

David says on January 31st, 2008 at 2:51 pm

Drink heavily.

Jessica Ouvrard says on January 31st, 2008 at 2:52 pm

Tickle and get tickled on a regular basis.

Katie says on January 31st, 2008 at 2:54 pm

Stop telling yourself that you’re not creative. Keep your eyes open instead and constantly be on the look-out for new ideas.

Almin Surani says on January 31st, 2008 at 3:08 pm

Look at works of other creative people for inspiration (not imitation :-) )

Try an artistic hobby that you haven’t before

Most of all, enjoy what you do

Jamie says on January 31st, 2008 at 3:28 pm

Sometimes when I am having trouble solving a problem I need to unplug and take a break. Maybe I need to do that now since I am not being very creative.

Jeffrey says on January 31st, 2008 at 3:40 pm

Experiment. Being creative is a lot easier than most believe. Creativity is not about Inherent talent or experience with the tools; it’s about making peace with failure and growing. Most, I would believe, are afraid to experiment because they never truly know what the outcome will be. What’s funny is they don’t realize that random nature of experimenting was the key to unlocking their creativity.

Being creative is, in other words, being unique. How is anyone suppose to become unique if they exhibit that same childlike mindframe that freely lets them play; or experiment.

Consentrating on experimenting has an additional plus. It gives you an ability to recognize tool limitations. As you experiment, you begin to examine the tools in a new manner, opening your mind to new possibilities. These new ways of thinking just enhances your ability to conceive of new outcomes or methods of experimentation.

From experimenting you gain an infinite number of outcomes. Just remember, some are good, and some are bad, just note the good ones, smile, and move forward.

Jeffrey says on January 31st, 2008 at 3:47 pm

(EDITS, please remove last post)

Experiment. Being creative is a lot easier than most believe. Creativity is not about Inherent talent or experience with tools; it’s about making peace with failure and adapting. Most, I would believe, are afraid to experiment because they never truly know what the outcome of what they create will be. What’s sad is they don’t realize that the random nature of experimentation was the key they needed to unlock their creativity.

Being creative is, in other words, being unique. How is anyone suppose to become unique unless they exhibit a childlike mindframe that freely lets them play; or experiment? If you notice, a child will never fear to try new things, you should follow in their footsteps.

Concentrate on experimenting and there will be an additional plus. You enhance your ability to recognize tool limitations. As you experiment, you begin to examine the tools in a new manner, opening your mind to new possibilities. These new ways of thinking just further enhances your ability to conceive of new outcomes or methods of experimentation and creation.

From experimenting you gain an infinite number of outcomes. Just remember, some are good, and some are bad, just note the good ones, smile, and move forward.

Ben Overmyer says on January 31st, 2008 at 3:52 pm

There traditionally seems to be two lines of thought regarding creativity and creative energy: that it is either static and unchanging, or that it is like a reservoir that can be drained and filled. I challenge these notions by offering a third view: that creativity is a fluid substance that continually alters its form.

Based on that idea, here are my tips for maintaining that creative energy:

1) When you hit an obstacle (such as writer’s block), don’t just hammer away at it or do something uncreative like eating a snack. Instead, shift gears totally to a different creative endeavor; if you can’t write, draw. If you can’t draw, sing. If you can’t sing, build. If you can’t build…..and so on.

2) Creative energy can’t be “drained,” but specific activities can lose their attraction when you’ve hit a stumbling point. To re-energize that activity, besides doing something else that’s creative, try associating new things with that activity; adding a new plant to your home office can aid your creativity by providing a new emotional stimulus, for example.

3) Nothing comes out of nothing. Energy does not spontaneously appear any more than matter does. If you’re having a hard time thinking up a new idea, writing the next paragraph, or choosing the right color, try altering your perception. Draw with your off hand. Take your laptop outside. Invent a crazy five-step dance, then sit down to brainstorm again.

Norris Krueger says on January 31st, 2008 at 4:00 pm

I’m amazed by people who think “creative” is limited to big things (write a sonata!) but we are creative on a small scale constantly. Be mindful of what you are doing even a wee bit differently -you might be surprised at the patterns (and the patterns you might want to change).

Cheers!

Richard says on January 31st, 2008 at 5:01 pm

I’m left handed. I pushed myself, growing up, to learn to write with my other hand. It really gets you to use both sides of your brain. If writing is too hard try brushing your teeth with your other hand.
Now I challenge myself to write backwards (mirror writing) with my left hand.

I also carry around a little notebook. There are thoughts constantly flowing through my head and most of these ideas and inspirations end up becoming nothing… I find that getting into the habit of regularly writing them down not only organizes them but clears my mind and allows me to think greater thoughts.

Noah Greenstein says on January 31st, 2008 at 5:10 pm

Creativity comes from ruthlessness.

Being thoroughly ruthless with what you have and what has been done will allow you to create something new. If there is something that is equal to your abilities, i.e. you do not have command of it, then that thing is something new, at least for you.

If you are unwilling to be ruthless then you will know that the work you are doing does not require your full attention and you will be selling yourself and your creativity short.

Darris says on January 31st, 2008 at 5:17 pm

Write, write, write. Eventually something will happen.

D. Chung says on January 31st, 2008 at 5:18 pm

Sometimes you have to set limits, conditions. Your brain works best when it has boundaries. If you give yourself too much free room, you’re liable to wander around aimlessly.

Josh Neiman says on January 31st, 2008 at 5:20 pm

This may sound a little counter-intuitive, but I keep my creativity flowing by forcing myself to do something creative for at least 30 minutes every day.

I have an hour lunch at work but I generally finish eating after 20 minutes or so; I use the rest of the time to write, draw, or do something else that spurs my mind to think outside the box. Normally there is little of actual use that comes out of these sessions besides a few doodles or ramblings, but I find that my afternoons are much more enjoyable when I stick to this routine and I’ll often be struck by a great idea for a story or drawing later in the day that I work on when I get home or have some free time at work.

It’s odd how adding that little bit of structure helps spark the mind to head outside normal boundaries.

Kevin Xu says on January 31st, 2008 at 5:42 pm

I just got my Moleskine and I am putting it to great use!

dc says on January 31st, 2008 at 5:52 pm

Not every moment will be your most creative, but just keep at it. Frustration is often the best muse.

Ram says on January 31st, 2008 at 5:59 pm

Well these wallets look great I could really put one to a very good use.

Send one my way Please.

Thanks

Hamish M says on January 31st, 2008 at 6:48 pm

Take a break. Read a book. Fiction or non-fiction, whatever you enjoy most. Creativity is a fickle thing; but be patient and it will come.

Jon says on January 31st, 2008 at 6:57 pm

rock rock rock rock rock n roll high school!

John S says on January 31st, 2008 at 6:57 pm

I LOVE DB Clay Wallets!

Joe L says on January 31st, 2008 at 7:01 pm

Go for a walk in a patch of forest small enough that you can get out simply by walking in a straight line. Wander, looking for things you might otherwise miss. Stay off of human made paths. Look under rocks and logs. Climb a tree. Set aside several hours for this, and take off your watch.

Peter says on January 31st, 2008 at 7:03 pm

Creativity isn’t magic. It’s hard work. The best way to be creative is to be disciplined about it. You’ll find that yourself doing some of your best creative work on days when you’re convinced that the well is dry.

vuzman says on January 31st, 2008 at 7:07 pm

Keep your eyes open.

Even if we might think differently, most of the time our brain is on auto-pilot. Especially when we’re out walking, our brain focuses on what’s needed to get by; traffic, other people, women ;) etc.

Next time you’re out, stop every 20 paces, turn off the auto-pilot, and really look around.

holli jo says on January 31st, 2008 at 7:17 pm

My only tip works well for me – Try something new.

Drive a different route, hang out with a new person, do something totally unusual on a Friday night. These things stir creativity.

Sadg says on January 31st, 2008 at 7:18 pm

Spend time with your children, or just with children.

coopster says on January 31st, 2008 at 7:29 pm

I find myself extremely creative when I just sit quietly at a table with a notebook and a pencil. Exclude yourself from outside distractions ans stimuli and you can always be creative.

Jessica says on January 31st, 2008 at 7:33 pm

Don’t reject any idea that comes to mind; when you’re starting a project, brainstorm freely, without restriction. Don’t restrict yourself with perfectionism.

Brian says on January 31st, 2008 at 8:16 pm

Listen to music.

Bounce ideas off of another person.

Think of something that seems to have no relevance, and then try to link your way back to what you were thinking of.

Glenn says on January 31st, 2008 at 8:32 pm

Stand on the other side of the road.

Steven says on January 31st, 2008 at 9:37 pm

3 steps:
1. Down a double shot espresso.
2. Take a 20-minute nap.
3. Read a book OR Listen to some uplifting music OR do light exercise OR converse with a friend.

Karen Farhart says on January 31st, 2008 at 10:03 pm

I have gotten to the age where I like things that are unique, everything from my clothes to my kid’s bedrooms. I often, since I’m a scrapbooker, use some of the most unique paper designs to get ideas to decorate bedrooms. I also use them as a guide to color combination.

Another is one that has been mentioned many times. Just sit and be quiet and watch. We had a pond with ducks years ago and one day I just sat out back and watched and before I knew it I saw the ducks interacting in such a way that I could have written dialog between them. We notice so many things when we just sit and be still and look intently at things whether in nature, in the mall as people walk by, or just at home while our kids interact with each other.

James Zhao says on January 31st, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Breathe in, breathe out. Step outside. Look around you, appreciate the scene, and realize that everything is going to be okay. Destress (no matter how you do it), and get back to creativity.

Tens says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:04 pm

Look at everyday items and situations, think how could they be improved functionally or aesthetically. Soon you will find new ideas on everything.

Russell says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:13 pm

Take in more, read more, listen more, watch more, all of these things will provide more material to draw on in whatever creative endeavor.

Danielle K says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:16 pm

Do. Be. Do.

Robin says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:27 pm

1. Sleep well on it.
2. Walk, ride, exercise on it.
3. Meditate–>focus.
4. Work a little on ideas every day–Make a schedule and stick to it.
5. Take in nature–the sky, birds, trees, sun, stars, waterl, grass. The sight, smell, sound, texture. Feel it! It’s very grounding, clears and refreshes the senses, allowing for new ideas.
6. Regress-play with a child or pet–”Face life with your natural mind, not your conditioned mind”…..Open up, see things through the eyes of a child. Anything goes.
7. Take a regular technology break–turn off the phone, the PC, the TV,iPod, all technology, for a set time each day. As if the electricity went out. And breathe deeply. Allows your mind time to be open, refreshed.
8. Wind down at night before bed time, let your mind drift, pay attention to random “flashes” of new ideas and possibilities. Have a journal nearby, write down key words, not the whole idea–keep it very simple so you will make it a good habit, not a chore.
9. When you awaken and remember a dream, grab that journal, jot down key words, don’t write a novel. Many great ideas come to the mind during sleep!
10. Acknowledge and honor new ideas, no matter how silly or trivial. Again, like a child–no censorship!
11. Have fun, just plain, simple fun!

Leeza says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:37 pm

The horses are awesome!

Will says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:40 pm

1. watch cartoons
2. play with a child
3. go shoot hoops/exercise

kyle o'bannon says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:54 pm

play the superfunkycalifragisexy song “reckoner” by the radiohead gods in your car and sing as loud as you can in your very best thom yorke-esque falsetto. sure, passerbys will think your insane. that just might be the best part!

Kyle O'Bannon says on January 31st, 2008 at 11:56 pm

*you’re

Pearl Alexander says on February 1st, 2008 at 1:58 am

Do something different a little bit everyday.

Nate Berkopec says on February 1st, 2008 at 2:28 am

Listen to some Mozart and kick your chair out, forcing yourself to stand. Gets the blood flowing.

Nicole says on February 1st, 2008 at 2:31 am

Make time for creativity every day and make friends who also value it.

Richard says on February 1st, 2008 at 3:11 am

2 and only two rules:

1.Have courage.
2.Keep an open mind.

:)
-RichardKim

Nicholai says on February 1st, 2008 at 3:52 am

Being creative, is just about puting dots together, seeing how things work and then applying that knowledge to new things, that sentence is probably rather bleak as said, but take it to mean what you want, and you will find some creativity, go ahead read it again

Lars says on February 1st, 2008 at 3:57 am

Drink lots of wine

Ty says on February 1st, 2008 at 4:14 am

Never…ever… sleeping.

Alice Fraser says on February 1st, 2008 at 4:54 am

Keep your notebook open on your lap and a pen in your hand. Meetings, movies, conversations. Whenever something flits across, butterflying past your brain grab it in the book.

Take ten minutes at the end of the day to gauge what’s worth following up.

James Marwood says on February 1st, 2008 at 7:11 am

I have 2 things I do to try and maintain creativity. The first is to keep well rested and well hydrated. Nothing slows my brain down like tiredness or dehydration.

Second is to list out the word assocuated with what I am doing and then picking 2 or more at random and making associations between them. This works well when stuck for solutions to problems

Adam Ferla says on February 1st, 2008 at 7:15 am

In my opinion you cant force creativity. Just wait for it to happen ant act then and there.

Sarvesh says on February 1st, 2008 at 7:34 am

Be Spontaneous and have fun!

Mike says on February 1st, 2008 at 8:50 am

MEN: Sleep all day; sneak into the market and buy the Star or National Enquirer AND read it cover to cover; Watch a foreign language soap opera and make up dialog as you eat bon bons in your fuzzy slippers. What? Don’t have fuzzy slippers? Get some and be eccentric for a change.

pacheco says on February 1st, 2008 at 9:10 am

As other people have mentioned, spend your time with other people who are constantly creative. It’ll inspire you and make you look bad at the same time.

Stella Commute says on February 1st, 2008 at 9:55 am

Don’t be afraid of the blank page. If you have to write something and you’re not sure how to start, just start anywhere. Many times I’ll just write down in the most basic words what I want to say, just to get a structure down. I can always go back and get more creative to make the words better but I’ll never get anything done if I don’t start somewhere.

Robert says on February 1st, 2008 at 10:34 am

1. Don’t try to be creative
2. Realy don’t try to be creative
3. Empty your Head
4. Start thinking about what you want …

Sounds easy.. but the first 3 steps are very hard ;-)

MontrealPaul says on February 1st, 2008 at 10:35 am

My personal motto: Everything in moderation, nothing in excess.

One of my favourites: Don’t sweat the petty stuff, and don’t pet the sweaty stuff!

Wm says on February 1st, 2008 at 11:55 am

Similar to some of the other comments, I suggest using food and music.

Both can help set a mood where the creative juices can kick in.

And music with lyrics can also be helpful — a word or image or phrase might be just the random trigger you need to enter the flow.

Gingembre says on February 1st, 2008 at 12:20 pm

My advice, in no particular order:

Structure, routine, help a lot. As mentioned above, if you set a specific time each day to do something creative, you will find creative ideas coming to you more and more frequently. Also, by establishing good routines (a la Flylady, GTM etc.) for your “non-creative” things in life, you will free up your mind to think of all the *good* stuff instead. Plus, who can craft something if the can’t find the materials you need at the time due to mess?

Best thing ever for me: Getting rid of the TV.

Jeremy says on February 1st, 2008 at 12:25 pm

Pay attention to the world around you.

Brian says on February 1st, 2008 at 1:15 pm

Read Thinker Toys and Cracking Creativity, two great books by Michalko.

Jahed says on February 1st, 2008 at 5:10 pm

My tip is for writers -

Write. Everyday. The creativity will come.

Jon says on February 1st, 2008 at 6:12 pm

Be half asleep. That’s when I usually am able to my best writing musically. For things that are more academic in nature, just go somewhere quiet.

Galen says on February 1st, 2008 at 7:21 pm

Creativity is generally sapped by excuses. If you want to make something, make it. You’re already using up a lot of creative energy coming up with reasons explaining to yourself why you can’t. And you’re wasting a lot of useful physical, emotional, and spiritual energy fighting with yourself about it, so as everyone else has basically said… (How not to infringe on Nike here…) um, SIMPLY MAKE IT HAPPEN. There.

Luis Marcelo says on February 1st, 2008 at 7:51 pm

For me creativity comes when I manage not to stand between a creative thought and its birth into the world. Could be in words, in actions, in choices. I just have to let the universe work, and I’m part of it. Most of the time we are not creative because we stuck and want to do things our way.
It just makes it more difficult.

James says on February 1st, 2008 at 7:53 pm

Sleep – it’s the theater of dreams – don’t worry about being creative, it’ll come. just relax and have a calm think about what you want to achieve…

Eat – don’t have all of this junk rubbish, cook decent meals, get your five-a-day and more. Healthy body, healthy mind. I know i always feel better inside and genereally have a better mentality when i’ve had a good, healthy meal – tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, spinach.. you get the idea…

Exercise – don’t be a slob, get outside and feel the wind in your hair – it doesn’t matter what you do, whether it be running, rugby or just a bit of squash – get your heart pumping…

Relax – don’t get stressed or you’ll just get in a fluster. Relax. There’s a little phrase i like – “slow down to speed up” – variations are promiscuous but they all boil down to the fact that when you’re calm, that’s when things flow…

If you can’t think of anything, try to inspire yourself – look at past examples of what you’re trying to accomplish or just doodle in what you’re trying to achieve (write random short stories if you’re a writer, doodle if you’re an artist, write a simple website if you’re a web designer), just keep your mnind ticking over until that one bit of inspiration hits you.

Cylithria says on February 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 am

My creativity tip is this: when feeling a bit sapped for energy and creative ideas, insert your favorite CD or plug in your MP3 player to a dokcing station stereo and invite a child you know to dance with you. Within one or two moments of the child realizing you mean it, they will become immersed in the creative motion of their dance – watch and see how that creativity infects you.

Rosano says on February 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 am

Staying creative is about working at your talent everyday, rain or shine, and surrounding yourself with inspiration, be it people, good art or anything you find motivating.

Lisa says on February 2nd, 2008 at 7:02 am

Pretend to be a super hero! For example – what would Creative Girl do in this situation? If the situation calls for it, she changes into her Creative Girl costume – whether it is her best suit or a literal or metaphorical cape. Then she scans her surroundings for creative input. After that, she gets up and moves around, all the while thinking about what she wants to create and how. She removes physical distractions by loading the dishwasher or doing laundry or cleaning off her work space. She may do something apparently mindless, such as knitting, or taking a walk, or staring mindlessly into space. If necessary, she calls for reinforcement – Super Babysitter to get those goshdarned kids out of her hair for a couple of hours or Super Creative/Wacky Friend for a different angle on the thing that needs creativity. She may even consult the internet or cool semi-related book or magazine. After summoning all of her resources, she then attacks her problem with all of the creativity she needs.

Seriously – you would be surprised at how effective you can be while pretending to be a superhero. For example, I scrapbooked 40 pages in 4 hours while pretending to be Scrapbooking Girl a couple of weeks ago. This does not translate very well to housework for me, though. I am very reluctant to morph into Litterbox Girl or Clean the Bathtub Girl.

Rahul Iyer says on February 2nd, 2008 at 9:56 am

I make a synopsis of every informational/self-improvement/self-help book or valuable blogs as I read them. Thus I have a complete database of such abstracts on my laptop.
This accomplishes two things

– I believe to remain creative, you need a reinforcement of the good advice. These abstracts help me revise my important ideas. This saves time (no need to read the book again) and money (can borrow from the library and return the book).

- I can write my interpretation of the ideas presented in the blogs/books. This gives me the freedom to be creative with the advice, yet follow the principles presented in the book.

Hope this helps!

– Rahul

Eden says on February 2nd, 2008 at 11:53 am

My creativity tip:
To not judge a work in progress. SO many times I’ll be working on something and I become so hard on myself that I just don’t want to keep going, and it’s awful! Create now, judge later.

curt says on February 2nd, 2008 at 3:44 pm

Getting something done right now doesn’t mean that its getting done better.

KevinA. says on February 3rd, 2008 at 1:36 am

My most creative inspirations for writing occur during the weekend when I don’t have to work.

Sean says on February 3rd, 2008 at 1:47 am

Pay attention to young people.

Watch what they wear, listen to, talk about, what they buy, what they don’t buy.

Children have no filter for creativity. Studying them will help you be and stay more creative in your particular context.

Alex says on February 3rd, 2008 at 6:28 am

One suggestion I’ve seen mentioned only once really, is getting outside into nature. I like the local botanic gardens, especially the woodlands walk, because it’s like being in the wild without actually being in the middle of nowhere. And it’s much closer to the home.

I also have a favorite spot where I like to lean back and just look up at the sky and observe, I’ve seen a number of birds that way – hawks, vultures, cardinals – even an owl once.

Do something completely unrelated to what you’re trying to be creative about., something where you can just let your thoughts go and don’t have to think.

Or ask one of Neil Gaiman’s favorite questions – What if…? A few of those provided the material for the book Stardust.

Exercise is good too, or anything that is repetitive and mindless, because it free the mind to process thoughts.

karen says on February 3rd, 2008 at 11:38 am

I think the best I can do on this is to say to write down your ideas. I have a chaotic mind. I often forget things – and when I come up with an idea, I try to flesh it out immediately – even when I am supposed to be doing something else. I find that the idea itself then gets in the way. (especially when I am trying to sleep)

I keep a very tiny notebook by the bed, and on the rare occasion that I have a creative thought, or even a to-do that must be remembered, I jot it in the notebook, take the notebook to the bathroom counter, and leave it there. It works to jog my morning memory.

In the car, I grab the phone, and tell it to call Jott. I jott myself with the idea or task that I do not wish to forget, the service sends me an email – some of which end up sounding pretty funny – and I can do with the email whatever I wish when I later go on line.

How this has worked for me: Last fall on an early morning, I was racing along to work. Off to the left in a wetland I saw the large dead tree usually occupied by one or two hawks. This morning it was leafed-out in hundreds of grackles getting ready for their fall migration. The tree was alive with life. I called Jott with my little poetic thought. When I got to work, I picked up my email, wrote down the thought and later on emptying my pockets, pulled out the note with the comment and set it on the kitchen counter.

My husband found the note, took it to my mother, who painted a watercolor of the scene. Unfortunately for her, this triggered a depression as she painted a tree of death (what can I say? we all see things differently) She painted a gloomy day with a tree occupied by crows. She has not been the same since. OTOH, it is an interesting picture.

Poor mom.

Now…send me a wallet!!!!!!!!!
Please.

Sean Kelly says on February 3rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm

If I’m having a creativity block, I just have to turn off all internet and distractions. Yes, turn OFF your internet so you will not be tempted, and literally sit down and write write write…set aside 30 minutes to write nonstop and you’ll be back on your creative streak. Thats what works for me :)

Troy says on February 3rd, 2008 at 1:17 pm

Get an egg timer and take breaks every fourty minutes just long enough to relax for five minutes, refocus and stay ahead on what your working on.
Going for a walk or a run just for a mile or two helps you breathe properly, reduce stress and focus on your goals.

Zak Strassberg says on February 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm

Don’t get overwhelmed!

Rahat says on February 3rd, 2008 at 5:33 pm

fall in love

Jason says on February 3rd, 2008 at 8:13 pm

Always plan for the worst things that can happen to your project, hope for the best things!

Rebecca says on February 4th, 2008 at 2:57 am

Sit on the toilet. Do what you gotta do and write down all your ideas. The quietest, most relaxing environment.

Victor Stoupakis says on February 4th, 2008 at 3:25 am

just clear your mind, do something you enjoy and it will come to you

Jerry says on February 4th, 2008 at 8:00 am

I usually have one or two small projects going as well as my main project. I find, if I’m blocked on my main project, that changing my focus to one of the other projects can help unblock me.

Rebecca says on February 4th, 2008 at 8:21 am

Spend time with children. Nothing boosts my creativity like going to the park with my two little ones, and looking at the world through their eyes.

Froglet says on February 4th, 2008 at 8:47 am

go shopping!

no, seriously … you can sit quietly and observe, people-watch, for inspiration; you can be sparked off by new tools and materials in art shops.

another thing I do is to reenergise is going to gigs, I can just soak up the atmosphere and energy there and feel more vitalised and ready to face those blocks in the days that follow!

Brandon says on February 4th, 2008 at 8:53 am

Unplug and take a walk. It’s not secret that exercise is good for you in more than just building or maintaing physical strength. Going for a walk, either alone or with a friend, gives you the opportunity to seperate yourself from the rapid-refocusing of daily life.

Leave the mp3 player at home, turn off your phone (ignoring a ringing call doesn’t count), and get moving. Even if you are pondering things that are in your inbox, people you need to contact, software you need to install, and all of the other things you stress about, thinking about them in an unplugged environment while getting a little exercise lets you think more clearly.

Most problems are not solved in one thought session, which is why pondering over an issue in an easy chair isn’t as effective. Once you get up from the chair you may be rested, but you really haven’t accomplished anything. After a walk, you have just benefited your health while solving a chunk of a problem.

Veronica says on February 4th, 2008 at 9:20 am

Sing. Loudly. Everyday.

Tristan says on February 4th, 2008 at 10:56 am

If you get stuck with whatever you’re doing, close your eyes tight for a few seconds. When you re-open them everything will look different, and you’re almost guaranteed to spot a point to carry on from.

Emanuel Misa says on February 4th, 2008 at 10:57 am

Identify your most productive time of the day.Use this as your secret weapon to brainstorm the tough stuff.For example early morning,before the masses stir is my best time

Eric says on February 4th, 2008 at 2:03 pm

The best creativity comes from redirected negativity. Instead of complaining about things, ask how you can make them right: If you’re tempted to grump about the draft under the door, instead make the world better by inventing that nifty thing that slides underneath the door to block the draft. If you abhor the fact that a new American Pie movie comes out every year, then write a better movie of your own.

Noah Brunn says on February 4th, 2008 at 2:21 pm

Step 1:
Your mind is your brain. Your brain is part of your body. Take care of your body.

Your brain can only form new, strong, connections when it’s nourished through diet, circulation, and rest.

New connections are new ideas.

You’ll be shocked to find how much more creative and inspired you are after forcing clean healthy blood through that noggin of yours.

Maria says on February 5th, 2008 at 2:45 am

Just one tip: think outside the frame. Don’t get framed.:)

NickB says on February 5th, 2008 at 5:32 am

Try to have at least one project which you aren’t doing for anyone else, and which has no fixed goal or purpose. Freeing yourself from as many constraints as you can by doing something completely different from your usual pattern will help you truly be original.

Ion Diaconu says on February 5th, 2008 at 8:25 am

1. Meditate every day
2. Be grateful
3. Smile
4. Work

You will get to:

5. Be inspired

Phoebe says on February 5th, 2008 at 10:04 am

People watch.
Nature watch.
Pet watch.
Give yourself time to let all your senses be stimulated.
Enjoy just being.

Laura says on February 5th, 2008 at 11:32 am

- don’t overfocus (trying too hard to be creative never works).
- jott down interesting ideas that come up (be curious, don’t worry if you have wacky ideas, try to encourage your wild streak!). Review your notes from time to time, see what dots you can connect ! but no hurry, ideas grow even when you don’t focus on them constantly.
- enjoy what you are doing… but get out of your routine!

Lynn says on February 5th, 2008 at 11:48 am

Don’t always listen to your elders when you’re young, and this creates a bigger range of possibilities and imagination that would otherwise have been stifled by rules and laws.

Second

Don’t bound your children by rules and laws. Guide them, don’t tie them down only to kill their creativity.

Chris says on February 5th, 2008 at 11:54 am

Doodle, do something else rather than staring at the blank page, go for a walk – fresh air and exercise will unblock that log jam!

mark s says on February 5th, 2008 at 4:59 pm

My 5 ways of keeping creative

1) Play: if you’ve forgotten how to – watch a child. they play for no purpose at all, there is no goal to playing other than amusement.

2) Learn a new skill (related to playing, but really quite different) – we play to amuse, but in fact as children we learn simultaneously. as adults, tasks and goals overcome the play factor in learning so we must separate those activities. I choose to learn a new skill every 2-3 months. The skill is completely different from anything i have ever done. Using facebook, changing a light switch, programming java, knitting, air traffic control procedures are all examples of things i’ve learned over the past year.

3) Ask why (also related to learning but different). When something is routine or expected, I always get curious why it works, how it works, etc… We all accept purell works to kill germs, but do you know how the germ actually dies? did you know that alcohol breaks down the outer lipid barrier of a cell which is what kill it? Asking Why will help you discover what new thing you should learn

4) Break your social network. I make it a point to talk to many interesting people outside of my network. Create a “creative network” of people, those who you have no professional / familial dealings with. if you’re a banker, then make friends with an architect. If you’re a musician, find a real estate agent.

5) Turn off the self consciousness to eliminate fear. do something that embarrasses you at least once month. Dont worry – your friends will still be your friends and your family still loves you. as long as its not a career suicide move – go for it. especially if its in front of children. you’ll all get a good laugh – but most importantly, you’ll learn that theres nothing to fear.

Thats my path. this has been interesting reading though…

Andi says on February 5th, 2008 at 5:44 pm

1. carry a notebook at all times
2. mercilessly quiet your inner censor
3. nothing you come up with is wrong
4. imagineer a lot!
5. create 1 new thing every day!
6. be pleased with yourself but always push for ‘better’

Aija Adamovska says on February 6th, 2008 at 3:43 am

Do it different! Not only “it” but everything!

Aaron says on February 6th, 2008 at 6:32 am

1. Smile and say hello to everyone you meet. You would be surprised as to the impact this makes on another person’s life
2. Always be grateful for what you DO have
3. Never stop learning!

Walter says on February 6th, 2008 at 9:53 am

Just make yourself ask WHAT and WHY many times a day. Pick random objects and ask start a question with what or why. It’ll prompt your curiosity which will prompt creativity.

Max says on February 6th, 2008 at 2:30 pm

Keep your inbox empty.

Monica says on February 6th, 2008 at 6:55 pm

I work as a nanny and often find that a child’s perspective can open up a whole new way of seeing things.

Ask the opinion of a four or five year-old about anything and you can be sure they will have very different answer than you expect.

Get down on their level and see the world through their innocence.

Remember back to when you were little. Ask your “nine-year-old self” what to do. See what happens.

Oriona says on February 7th, 2008 at 3:43 am

Always keep your target in mind. However inspired you feel, it’s not a good idea to work your hands to the bone for twenty hours, then dropping your exhausted self on the bed and sleep a couple of hours til it’s time to get up and work again – that would get you through a major deadline or some tiny project alright, but won’t do you good on a big thing. Don’t drain yourself and always keep a small to-do list for tomorrow, so you can be productive and confident in what you’re doing throughout the whole project.
If you are doing something creative (some art or craft) you should always be sure about what you want to achieve. Creative persons tend to have too many ideas and are sometimes unable to focus on something particular (I’m like that myself). However exciting the process of making things might be, it’s the result that’s important. You should be your own boss in a way and know exactly what you are doing, why you’re doing this and what the result will be.
Value your time. Decide which task is most important and concentrate on it. If you work on your pc, don’t be distracted – e-mails, lj-comments and youtube links can wait. If you can choose what to work on – don’t choose too many challenging, complicated projects; but don’t pick up only simple boring ones, either. You need to find your own harmony, and there are many ways to do that – Lifehack offered hundreds of those. Remember that you’re unique, so only you can decide if you are more creative in silence or with powerful music on, working in an office or at home, taking small bites of big things or poring into them til you’re done. Find something that would suit you and stick to it – even if it’s something that looks a bit weird in the beginning, it can to great favors for you later.

Rachelle Omenson says on March 14th, 2008 at 10:26 pm

Listen to the kids. better yet the teenagers. in between all the uber-speed texting and ringtone downloads, they have the next generation’s ideas. sure, they’re a little loud, a little skewed, and a little mutated, but they’re teenagers and that’s their job. but they will tell you when it’s all BS and also when it’s not.