Boost Creativity and Productivity with Daily Exercises
Centuries ago, creativity was not something that human beings were capable of. The muse was given to us by the gods.
Times have changed. As romantic and divine as the previous notion was, if we make creativity a part of psychology, we’re still talking about a unique human gift.
We’re also talking about a unique human enigma.
What is creativity? How do we increase it? And, many times, how do we focus it?
Creativity is an intriguing paradox. It is not something that can be captured or brought up, but it can be encouraged to appear (which is why earlier civilizations thought it to be a god-given gift). Our job as writers is to create the environment and the work ethic needed to call those little voices up from our unconscious and then use what we find effectively.
Creativity bubbling up is loaded with chaos. There is no order. It’s almost like an emotional deluge. Bringing creativity to the surface is the first part of the task. The second is to take what comes uncensored and then organize it and streamline it into something useful (not just notes jotted willy-nilly around your desk, in multiple folders, and in notebooks where they will never again see the light of day).
Today, think about how you can increase your creativity while at the same time focusing it (the two-part system) so that you’re more productive and linear in your approach to your writing success.
For bringing it up, get yourself into the zone. Maybe that is a quiet room. Maybe it is a moment of centering or meditation. Maybe it is going for a walk. Maybe it is just typing (my go-to) and things will start pouring out from where-I-do-not-know. Different writers find their muse in different ways. There’s no right way and there is no one way. Try for a moment, get things quiet or turn on the music app (however you best work), and see what causes you to start thinking abstract and random thoughts. If something works, repeat it tomorrow. If something doesn’t work, try something different tomorrow.
But when these abstract thoughts come, write them down.
After a little bit of mining, look at what you’ve written down.
Not all ideas will be worth pursuing, but there will be some that may be applicable to a project you are working on, or even a new project that can be used for gain.
Organize these – don’t just look at them as good ideas – and make a plan for using them.
Do this little exercise today (and every day) and see if it doesn’t make a difference in your own creativity and productivity.
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