20 easy tips to spark creativity

Becoming one with nature does wonders for creativity. Going for a walk can clear your mind, allow your thoughts to wander, and bring about inspiration, all of which leads to creativity. If you’re stuck, get outside and take a walk. 

Meditating is another great way to clear your mind. You can meditate for a variety of reasons, including sparking creativity. Meditation is a great route whether you want to focus on one idea or see what comes to mind. 

Engaging in another creative outlet can inspire creativity, too. Even if your goal has nothing to do with music, listening to it can spark ideas and jumpstart your imagination. Classical music is especially helpful for this. 

Sometimes, our physical spaces create as many major blocks as our mental spaces. If it’s feasible, try rearranging your space. It could be a total overhaul with a completely new furniture layout, or it could simply entail swapping a few decorative items so they’re in new places. 

If you have a mental block of any sort, read. One of the primary purposes of reading is to bring about new ideas, so find a magazine, book, article, tweet, listicle, caption, comic book, or anything else with words to spark creativity. 

If you’re in need of some new ideas, write. You don’t need to go through the entire writing process and have a fully formed narrative when it’s all said and done, but writing down a few ideas and seeing them on paper can help you process your thoughts and spark creativity. 

Some of the world’s best ideas have come from the shower. Taking a shower isn’t always feasible, but if you can manage it, a quick (or not so quick) rinse can get your brain going. 

Sleeping is the ultimate reset for your mind. Whether you need to calm your thoughts or energize yourself to think some more, get some sleep. A full night of rest or even a power nap can yield some great ideas. 

Sometimes, your mind needs to wander a bit while your hands are moving. Doodling is a great way to do both of those things, and you may start to see your ideas come to life through your doodles. 

People are great inspirations. If you need some ideas, get to a place where other people do various things. Have coffee at a cafe, walk in the mall, or sit in a park for a while — just don’t stare at one person for too long. 

Cooking can spark creativity, too. Make a recipe that you’ve made dozens of times and don’t have to think too hard on and let your mind wander while your hands follow muscle memory to make a recipe. It’s a great time to think, and you end up with something delicious to eat. 

Striking a conversation with another creative person is a great way to get new ideas. It can be as simple a conversation as asking them what projects they’ve been working on lately, or it can be completely unrelated to their work. Picking the brain of another creative person will spark your own creative juices. 

Museums are full of information and ideas. If you want some inspiration as to how another person created art, innovated an idea, or made a change in their community, visit a museum. It’ll be a source of encouragement and potentially a template for your next steps. 

If you need discipline to be creative, try out a new class. Whether it’s a weeks-long course on an area you’re new to or an hour-long program expanding your knowledge on something you already know a lot about, a new class can give you lots of ideas. 

Mood boards are a great way to organize your thoughts, and sometimes, that’s all it takes to spark an idea and start your next project. Whether you want to create a physical mood board or put one together digitally, the act will flare lots of creativity. 

Many of us have been discouraged against daydreaming in the past, but it’s a great tool for sparking creativity. If you have the time, let your mind wander and see where it leads. You may just land on a great idea. 

A mind map isn't that different from writing down ideas or doodling; it just organizes thoughts as they emerge. Drawing a mind map is a good idea if you want to inspire creativity in a more methodical way. 

This tip can also involve watching a motivational speaker online, listening to an inspirational audiobook, or consuming someone’s encouraging words through another medium. Listening to someone successful or inspiring talk about their journey can spark your creativity and provide a much-needed boost. 

Part of remaining creative is keeping your mind engaged; exercise is a great way to engage your mind. While completely focused on moving your body, a good idea might pop into your brain. 

Sometimes, we hit capacity, and that’s okay. What’s important is recognizing it and walking away when necessary. If you need a break, take one. It will give your mind the rest it needs to come back with more creative energy.