Use Your Creativity

When Life Gives You Lemons, Write a Book or a Song, or Film a Movie or Something!

 Creative types have not only battled with stalemates such as writer's block, they have also often gone to war with the likes of depression and anxiety--Hunter S. Thompson and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to name a couple. 

While on paper this sounds like a terrible thing, often a good wallop or depression--or even boredom--can be all the creative mind needs. Read 8 ways to make the most of your blues & creativity.

Lemons.

Sometimes things are going to seem gloomy. On the surface, that doesn't sound like a good time--and it probably isn't--but the good news it that it can inspire something  great. Many stories, even fictional, stem from real-life struggles, so keep in mind whenever life sours, that, you might be able to turn your woes in to gold. And where would aspiration be without a little disappointment? 

Goal Control.

While it's important to have goals and aspirations, it is also important to think realistically every so often.

A study out of Princeton revealed college students were stressed and often suffering from depression more than ever as they faced graduation. In question was the subject of the "actual" versus "ideal" self.  The concept is fairly simple: The actual self is one's portrayal of actual existing characteristics and qualifications, while the ideal self is one's portrayal of those they wish to possess. Basically, the ideal self is "a wish".  

There is a way, however, for the actual self to become the ideal self.  The actual self would have to take serious risks and jump to the ideal self, which could cause more and more anxiety. Then again, would it be worse not to jump? 

Don't Work Stressed.

I used to love the line "If you're bored then you're boring" in "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger--and perhaps I still do--but the fact is, they don't ring quite as true anymore.  At least not for me.

Dan Deacon makes an interesting argument that you have to let yourself become bored to feel inspired sometimes. If you try to always work stressed, or always work in between a crazy schedule, etc., you're not going to be at you're best. So let yourself be bored and let your mind wander.  Apparently, it's OK to relax sometimes.

OK, Maybe Work Fatigued but Not Stressed.

When you go to work, it is probably best to have a full night's rest so you can filter out terrible ideas and capitalize on every opportunity. If you want to come up with something creatively genius, though,you might try tuckering yourself out. 

Your brain isn't that great at filtering out ideas when you're sleepy. In fact, back in 2011, a study suggested people were much better at thinking creatively and solving riddles & puzzles when they were fatigued. So you might need to figure out which ideas were good or absolute junk when you have a clearer head, but let your creativity wander next time you're feeling a bit groggy. 

Create Your Environment.

If that creative spark just isn't coming to you, maybe it's time to create a new environment. All my life, I've always enjoyed a small nook. Interestingly enough, there is a theory as to why, and now I recommend trying a dim, cluttered area. 

New research shows that dim lighting reduces the number of distractions in a room and a reduced space zeroes you in on the task at hand. 

Big Think

ROBERT MONTENEGRO

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IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT THAT THESE IDEAS AREN'T UNIVERSAL. SOME FOLKS BUCK THE TRENDS AND DO BETTER WORK IN SILENT, STERILE ENVIRONMENTS. OTHERS, LIKE FITZGERALD, CAN CREATE MASTERPIECES WHILE BLASTED OUT OF THEIR MINDS.

(source)

A very valid point, indeed.

Write Drunk.

Similar to being fatigued, being drunk opens the flood gates to creative ideas. Getting a little tipsy can silence the inner editor and let the mind wander around more ingenious pastures. 

In fact, studies over time have suggested a little drop of the ole booze can help us solve more complex riddles. For example, solve the following. A bunch of drunk college kids did it with ease.

III = III + III
(or go to this link to cheat)

​I wrote two posts on this topic if you're interested, by the way . . . 

Read More on Writing Drunk.

PART I

PART II

Just Keep Doing It.

 This might seem easier said than done, but it's actually as easy as said as done. Or whatever.

In the first few seconds on the following Greer video, he makes a great point about simply forcing yourself to continue writing--or doing whatever it is you do.

​Whether you only jot down a few pages or crank out a hundred, the important part is that you make yourself write--or whatever--as often as possible. Waiting for inspiration to strike is . . . well, it's kind of stupid. You might as well only write when you win the lottery. 

Break Routine.

If it's not working, stop doing what you're doing. 

Go do something else. 

Breaking routine can get the creative juices moving once again. Consider this the recovery mechanism for creativity. You can come up with your own ways to break your routines (after all, they're you're routines), or you can do something as simple as walk backwards. No kidding, walking backwards will boost your creativity. 

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