Being creative means coming up with new ideas and perspectives all the time. All of us would love to get a creativity boost, whether it’s at work or the secret project we’ve been working on for years.

In this article, you’ll learn 6 proven methods to boost your creativity.

6 Proven Ways to Be More Creative

1. Go for a Walk

Going for a walk can be a huge creativity booster.

Great minds such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Nicholas Tesla, Charles Darwin, Aristotle, Steve Jobs were all obsessive walkers.

There’s much scientific evidence linking walking with great ideas. New research indicates walking on a regular basis promotes new connections between brain cells, improves memory, and staves off usual withering of brain tissue due to aging.

So if you want to boost your creativity, go for a walk.

Also read: How to Practice Walking Meditation [Infographic]

2. Be Open to New Experiences

According to Scott Barry Kaufman, co-author of Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind, the #1 thing you can do to be more creative is to be open to new experiences.

Here’s an excerpt from Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind:

“My data so far suggests “openness to experience” is the number one thing to cultivate for both personal meaningful creativity and world changing creativity. What that means is constantly challenging yourself beyond your comfort zone, constantly questioning assumptions, being intellectually curious, and appreciating beauty. Personal growth is intimately tied to openness to experience.”

3. Take a Shower

There’s strong research suggesting that a relaxed state of mind is important for creative insights.

Taking a shower is one of the most relaxing things you can do.

In his research for the book, Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind, Scott found that 72% of people have new ideas in the shower.

So next time you really need to come up with new ideas, just take a hot shower.

4. Live in Solitude for a While

A little bit of solitude once in a while is a good thing for creativity.

Here’s another excerpt from Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind:

“Research has found that creative people frequently require solitude in order to generate interesting new ideas, and then turn to collaboration to spin those ideas into a coherent concept or product.”

So in order to be more creative, just take some time out for yourself.

5. Think Like an Outsider

There’s much speculation about the connection between mental illness and creativity.

Scott Barry Kaufman says you do not need to be mentally ill to be creative but there is some overlap between the relevant traits.

The key takeaway here is that you don’t need a mental disorder to be more creative. You just need to think like an outsider, like someone new to your field. This shift in perspective can play a key role in boosting your creativity levels.

6. Don’t Give Up

Creativity needs persistence. Research indicates more attempts leads to more creativity.

In an article published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Brian Lucas and Loran Nordgren from Northwestern University used a creativity test to show that “persistence is a critical determinant of creative performance and that people may undervalue and underutilize persistence in everyday creative problem solving.”

In other words, creativity may seem like it happens all of a sudden. But it doesn’t. Creativity is the result of trying hard and not giving up.

Over to You

Now that you know the secrets to unlock your creativity, it’s time to try these methods. Which is your favorite creativity hack? Let us know in the comments section.

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