7 Ways to Release Your Creativity

Keeping up your creative side can be difficult at time when you run your own business. We all hit that slump sometimes where the ideas, of whatever sort we need, just don’t come as nicely. There are ways, however, that you can try to release your creativity when you’re feeling stuck, or just when you need a little boost.

1. Take a walk.

If you’re feeling stuck, taking a walk can be a big help. Get yourself away from working directly on your project and get some fresh air. Around the block, or a hike in nature if you can afford that much time away.

2. Play with play dough.

Fiddle around with play dough for a while. Don’t worry about what you’re making or if it relates to what you need to get done. Just have a little fun and get your mind off your work for a little.

3. Draw.

Draw anything. It doesn’t have to make sense or look good. Scribble if that helps you. Wendy Piersall has been doing one 15 minute art project a day, and has learned a lot about how she works and what she’d like to improve.

4. Write anything.

It doesn’t matter what you write, just write whatever comes to mind, even if it’s one word over and over.

4. Daydream.

Let your mind wander for a while. Trying to focus too long on your work can really kill your creativity. Take that mental break for a little while, even when you can’t get away.

5. Know what you want to do.

It’s easier to be creative if you know more or less what you want to end up with. It’s really hard to get anywhere when you haven’t defined an end point.

6. Look at problems a new way.

If you’re facing a problem, and a solution just isn’t coming to you, find a new way to look at it. This can be as simple as writing on paper something you’ve been working with on the computer, or solving a simpler version of the same problem and seeing if the simpler solution can help you reach the more difficult one.

7. Bounce ideas off someone else.

Talk out your challenges with someone. Even if they don’t really understand what you’re trying to do, it can help, and sometimes they’ll even have ideas that will get you moving in the right direction.