WE all know what it’s like to have a spontaneous brilliant idea come to mind. Whether it is a good shot of a scenery, a collage of artistic sketches or an experimental cake to bake, we all have these random bursts of creativity every now and then.
But most of the time, we all just go back to our routine—waking up, eating, going to school or work, getting home, and sleeping. And this goes on for days or weeks until a spark of creativity flows through us again and makes us productive for a couple of hours. But don’t you always wish to keep feeling the high you get when you are able to be productive and accomplish a personal project or something that you love doing? Here are a few tips on how you can improve your creative thinking.
Have an idea notebook
Sometimes, we think of an idea but fail to document or write it down, so we just forget about it due to our busy schedules. Always remember to bring a notebook with you so that you can write down all your creative ideas. By documenting your random thoughts, it will be easy for you to go back to it when you have the time. You can list down things you want to do or try, or your personal projects for the future.
Be curious
Do not be afraid to try things that you have never done before! Find time to explore places or experiment with activities that interest you. Being curious and trying out new things tend to open your mind, expand your perspectives, and help improve your creative thinking. So whenever you get the chance, break the routine and do something new.
Be in the right environment
Draw out your creativity by surrounding yourself with the things you love or those that interest you. Observe the environment, the people and their creative ideas and projects to get inspiration and motivation to do your own project. You can try surrounding yourself with nature or walking on the streets if you are into photography, or you can enroll in a video editing course so that you can get tips and tricks from professionals. Choose an environment where you can grow and pick up lessons or recommendations from those who share the same passion.
Practice your imagination
Visualize what you want to accomplish in your creative journey. Think of how you can perfect and improve your project. Read recipe books or watch baking videos online to improve your baking skills and give you new ideas. Get a notepad and just scribble away the things that you want to sketch.
Visualizing or imagining will trigger all your present and future creations, so the more you think about what you want to create, the more likely it will materialize.
Make it a reality
Finally, when all the exposure and planning is done, put your idea into practice. Go out and actually do it so that you can fully accomplish your project. When you have the result, do not be afraid to construct and reconstruct your project. Take note of what needs improvement. Also, do not forget to document the process since that will help you in your future endeavors. (Joelle Pilande, USC Intern)