It can be difficult to fit self-expression into your schedule, but the benefits are huge. Here are some suggestions to get started
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have,” said the writer, poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. That being creative makes us feel good seems obvious, but many of us struggle to set time aside for a new or old hobbies or projects.
Read on for five suggestions of how to fit creativity into the every day.
Creativity is meant to be fun – but when we pile on the pressure it tends to get harder to tap into. “It isn’t about being perfect, but being curious and brave,” says UK-based personal potential coach Elaine Harrison.“Imperfection is interesting because it’s human, an indicator of passion and curiosity,” adds Erik Shuckers, manager of the Center for Creativity at the University of Pittsburgh, US.
Image: Nathan Duck
When thinking about creative activities we tend to stop at arts and crafts, but there are plenty of ways to get your imagination flowing. Cook a brand new dish, devise a fresh outfit from clothes you already own, or tweak your living space – shifting furniture around, even, or adding a vase of flowers. You could make up a song on your commute, or devise entertaining back stories about strangers you pass.
Image: Kawe Rodrigues
It can be tempting to reach for your phone when you’re craving something novel or inspiring, but swapping digital for doodling can help to unlock creativity. Josephine Grant, a printmaker from north Devon, always has a sketchbook on hand to capture fleeting bursts of inspiration. “There’s something so grounding about putting those ideas to paper before they’re lost in the rush of the day,” she says.
Image: Leohoho
“Our minds are always so busy,” says artist Isabella Strambio (pictured). She recommends activities that have a physical rhythm, such as knitting or crochet. “Once you know the knot, your mind flows,” she notes. Or, as neurologist Marcus Raichle puts it: “When we daydream, we’re at the centre of the universe.” Switching off our hyper alert thinking state allows thoughts – and unexpected connections – to surge.
Image: Isabella Strambio
Teaming up with others can make you more creative, reckons Nicole Rixon (pictured), founder of UK-based video production company Bridget Productions. “I used to think being creative was a very solitary pursuit, but creative work is a living, breathing, growing thing – it takes a village,” she says. Could you host a painting group or organise a photography walk? Contribute to a collaborative patchwork quilt or mural?
Image: Nicole Rixon
Main image: Viktor Gladkov
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