11 Ways To Be More Creative In Your Daily Life

Routines create a positive structure in our daily lives, but every now and then, these habits can subconsciously dull us down and prevent us from challenging ourselves. So, why is creativity important in your day-to-day life?

Creativity can kick us out of our rigid, everyday routines by expanding our perceptions, encouraging problem-solving, calming down our nervous system, and even strengthening our personal relationships. Not only does it motivate us to be more mindfully in tune with ourselves, but also with the life that we are living. Like any other skill, creativity is to be learned, practised, and developed, and the more you incorporate it into your daily life, the more it will flourish.

Let’s look at ways to bring more creativity to your habitual life.

Pimp out your creative workspace

You want to be inspired by the place where you do your creative work, so pimp it out! Spend at least two to three times a year enhancing and revamping your creative space.

The goal is to create an environment to jolt you out of your complacency. It should make you feel open to vocalising creative, wacky ideas.

Personally, I prefer to make my ‘creative workspace’ as eccentric as possible. Mine is decked out with a world map, a myriad of plants, lots of abstract artwork, photos from previous trips, and of course, a funky-ass disco ball. Other ideas to spice up your space include magazine pages, pictures, colour combinations, etc. Try to experiment with colours, textures, decor, etc.

Listen to music

Listening to music stimulates divergent thinking, and has been scientifically proven to enhance your learning experience by improving cognitive function and memory.

Not only does music connect humans from all around the world, it’s a powerful tool that can fuel your motivation and be the source of your inspiration.

The key note here is that, ideally speaking, you should put on positive, upbeat music. Think light techno or house music, and say hasta luego to N.W.A’s ‘Straight Outta Compton’.

Write a journal in the morning

Writing down your thoughts in the morning can help get things off your mind, inspire creativity and help you to combat your inner critic.

Set aside 20 minutes every morning when you wake up, and write down everything that comes to mind, from key words and phrases, to doubts, issues, etc.

At first, it may seem challenging, but eventually, you will notice a massive difference in how it impacts your day and the perspective it provides you. Personally, I began to observe the positive impacts after the first week of journaling every day. After a few years of doing it daily, I’ve noticed significant changes in my problem-solving and the perspective I’ve gained.

Take pictures (not selfies)

Take quick snaps of random things that inspire you, whether it’s a photo of some luscious plants, your new socks, an oat milk latte, a new graffiti piece near your apartment, your next-door neighbour’s lil’ sausage dog, etc.

Collect and edit the good ones, and eliminate the rest. Doing this regularly makes you feel more grateful for the little things in life. You become more aware of the sheer beauty we are surrounded by, something that our mundane routines otherwise dull down…

Make a To-Do List

Personally, I can’t entirely bury myself in my work if I know that there’s a pile of dirty dishes calling my name from the sink or an ever-growing pile of mysterious mould in the shower that needs to be tackled.

One of my biggest game-changers has been the simple splendour that is the to-do list. Every morning, along with journaling and reading, I write down 3-4 things on my to-do list.

This frees me up creatively and provides a sense of accomplishment once those small tasks have been achieved. Because your brain isn’t trying to store all that information or having to constantly remind yourself of what there is to do, you have more room for creative freedom.

If a daily to-do list seems too farfetched, start by making a weekly goal or target, and aim to finish it.

Get jiggy with it in the kitchen

You’d be surprised at how cooking something new can get your creative juices flowing.

Dive into a recipe book, an online food blog, or something that inspires you.

Experiment with new ingredients, herbs and spices.

When I lived in Australia, I hated cooking and lived off a strict diet of the ever-so-nourishing fast-food giants, known as McDonalds and KFC. When I moved to Barcelona, I couldn’t afford to keep eating this way, so I began to cook basic dishes, and now, over two years later, I’ve switched to a plant-based diet.

The effects I’ve seen have not just benefited me physically, but also emotionally and mentally. For more information on how you can use food to nourish and heal your body, check out my latest post on the Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet here.

Lacking ideas?

Check out my Coconut Chickpea Curry recipe here, or my easy-as-all-hell 5-Ingredient Banana Bread recipe here.

Slow the truck down

Practice mindfulness and awareness. This involves slowing down your perceptions and being mindful of the small things; take your time to taste and savour your food, observe how the light glistens on the flowers in your garden, how the birds chirp in the mornings, etc.

Write down or sketch what you see. Meditation and mindfulness can release negative thought patterns, encourage you to create, and help you enjoy the moment. Check out the Benefits of Gratitude Meditation.

Live in the moment

When thinking about the past or the future, you’re not tuned into the present moment. When you fully engage and centre yourself, your creativity multiplies and magnifies. When you find your mind wandering, focus your attention on your breathing and your current surroundings.

I struggle with this a lot; I constantly find my mind off in the clouds, either relapsing memories from the past or battling uncertainties about the future. Recently I’ve been reading a very insightful book called ‘Soul Lessons and Soul Purpose, and one of the parts that resonated with me the most was a section that states,

‘‘Only when you shift your awareness can you truly be free in your spirit. The Universe and all people and events are in constant motion and evolution. Nothing is fixed... at any given moment, all can change, and it does.’’

Wiggle yo’ ass

Wiggle your ass? Did she really just say that. Yeah. She did. What I’m trying to get at is the importance of physical movement. It doesn’t have to be strenuous exercise, and it most certainly doesn’t have to be 129 squats and 78 jumping jacks.

Just a simple walk, a quick boogie in the shower… anything to get your body moving and your blood pumping. Physical movement has been scientifically proven to positively affect your creative thinking, so why not bust a move?

Start a creativity folder

In attempt to keep myself motivated in spite of the constant stressors of the outside world, I have a handful of folders where I collate creative images, quotes, stories, and videos.

I also find Pinterest very helpful too. Whenever I’m writing a piece for a specific destination, I create a Pinterest folder with all of the inspirational images of places I have on my bucket list.

This is a great way to stimulate a bit of motivation when your creative juices are running in the deep end. Ultimately, add in anything that sparks your creative fire. Release the hounds! Bow wow wow.

Clear out an area of your home

Even if it’s just a bedside table, that corner in the back of your wardrobe, a dangerously curated sock collection (are 76 pairs of socks considered a ridiculous amount?)… Basically, anything and everything has been sitting in the same place for a long time.

By clearing out a considerable area of your home, you feel replete with a sense of accomplishment. Plus, you’ll have newfound energy to create space for something new.

Immerse yourself in nature

This one goes without saying, and there’s nothing like a dose of nature to cure your creative blues. Head outside for fresh air, a powerwalk with pumping 80’s tunes, a food-fuelled picnic in a park, or anything.

Head out to the beach, your city’s botanical gardens, a rainforest, a waterfall, or even a national park! Take your shoes off and breathe!