Creativityis all about finding new ways of solving problems and approaching situations.

If you’ve ever wanted toboost your creativity, these tips can help.

Do not put off your efforts.

Woman sitting on a bench in front of chalk mural

Robert Deutschman / Getty Images

Set goals, enlist the help of others, and put aside time each day to develop your skills.

For example, if you are interested in painting, schedule time regularly to learn and practice your skills.

One way to develop expertise is by reading about creative people and listening to them speak.

Reward Your Curiosity

One common roadblock to developing creativity is the sense that curiosity is an indulgence.

Rather than reprimanding yourself for following an internet rabbit hole, reward yourself when you are curious about something.

Give yourself the opportunity and the time to explore new topics.

Rewarding yourself is important, but developing intrinsicmotivationis also crucial.

Sometimes, the true reward of creativity is the process itself, not the product.

For example, sharing your work in a creative writing course might feel intimidating.

But the critique you receive from classmates and teachers can be invaluable.

Schedule some time each week to concentrate on some bang out of creative project.

Recognize these as roadblocks and work to overcome them.

Whenever you find yourself harboring such feelings, remind yourself that mistakes are simply part of the process.

While you may occasionally stumble on your path to creativity, you will eventually reach your goals.

Start by suspending your judgment and self-criticism.

Then start writing down related ideas and possible solutions.

The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible in a relatively short span of time.

Next, focus on clarifying and refining your ideas so you can arrive at the best possible choice.

Explore Multiple Solutions

The next time youapproach a problem, try looking for a variety of solutions.

This simple activity is a great way to build both problem-solving and creative thinking skills.

Keep a Creativity Journal

Startkeeping a journalto follow your creative process and track the ideas you produce.

Thisjournalcan be used to save ideas that can later serve as future inspiration.

Create a mind map by writing down a central topic or word.

Next, link related terms or ideas around the central word.

Look for various paths or sequences of events that might occur.

A flow chart can help you visualize the final product, eliminate potential problems, and create unique solutions.

In addition to challenging yourself, you also need to create your own opportunities for creativity.

This might involve tackling a new project or finding new tools to use in your current projects.

Find Inspiration to Boost Creativity

Never expect creativity to just happen.

Use whatever strategy or technique works best for you.

Do you enjoy video games?

Research indicates that playing video games can help increase your creativity.

If you take a specific approach, what will the outcome be?

By looking at these alternatives beforehand, you’ll be better able to develop creative solutions to problems.

Try the Snowball Technique

Have you ever noticed how one great idea often leads directly to another?

Give yourself time to be creative.

Engage in hobbies and pursue the things that spark your interests.

Allow yourself to daydream or imagine different scenarios.

Perhaps most important, allow yourself the freedom to pursue different ideas and take risks.

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