four ways to stay creative

Here at TLC, we fully embrace creativity in a myriad of ways! As multi-potentialites and creative souls, we understand the importance of creativity as an important tool for content creation, problem-solving, versatility, and even communication. Without creativity and a creative process, we wouldn’t be as efficient in helping our clients understand their needs, solving their branding and marketing dilemmas, and effectively understanding our clients’ visions. However, as much as we love being creative and embracing our creative process, we are also acutely aware that creative ideas don’t just happen. It takes a process and time to cultivate your creative juices, and sometimes it also requires a little help and some rest! Today we will be chatting about four ways to stay creative even in the most mundane of circumstances!

Artist Bruce Garrabrandt notes that, “creativity doesn’t wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones." We feel this really hard at TLC, especially because creativity is our main currency. However, to stay constantly inspired and creative can be exhausting and frustrating. This is why it’s good to have a creative plan or process when exhaustion hits. This process will look different for everyone, but we are here to give you some ideas on how to stay inspired and get those creative juices flowing. Oh and we should mention that this isn’t just for those of you in the creativity industry, these ideas work for anyone and everyone who is looking to infuse a little creative juice into thier work/ job/ task etc.

Visual Inspiration

Yes, this may seem obvious since most people equate creativity with art, but actually creativity can take many different shapes and forms. That being said, visual inspiration isn’t necessarily just good for those working in a visually creative field. In fact, sometimes a little bit of eye candy is great to stimulate different parts of your brain which, in turn, can get you out of any kind of “rut”. Our personal favourite visual inspiration sources include; Pinterest, art and fashion books, design books, movies (think beautiful cinematic masterpieces like Blow Up or anything by Wes Anderson), magazines, or scrapbooks. Walking through an ubran landscape or a beautifully designed space is also a great way to get a new perspective and look at things in a different way. A stroll through your local library is also a GREAT source of inspiration. Libraries are usually beautiful (quiet) spaces filled with oodles and oodles of books and ideas. Think about how a space is organized, how a space is used, and try to apply it to your own dilemma or a problem - we promise it works!

walking in Nature

It’s no secret that walking in nature, even as little as 20 minutes a day, has immediate mental health benefits. But did you know that walking in nature can also have a huge impact on our creative thinking?! A recent Stanford University study shows that there is a direct correlation between walking and creative thinking. The study notes that there is “empirical evidence to support the notion that walking stimulates the mind and enhances the thought process.” Researchers found that walking in nature “promotes free-flowing ideation, leading to a heightened level of creativity. This phenomenon, known as ‘divergent thinking,’ allows individuals to generate a multitude of ideas and explore various perspectives.”

In addition to visual stimulation, a walk in nature also helps stimulate our brains through sounds and smells. All of this combined helps our minds to process information in a different way than we would otherwise process. As the same Standford study notes, “walking (in nature) acts as a catalyst for creativity by encouraging the brain to think beyond conventional boundaries.” This is because, “nature's inherent beauty and tranquility provide a conducive setting for mental rejuvenation and inspiration.” So next time you’re stuck, try a walk in nature - if nothing else, it will improve your step count!

Talking it Out & Listening

At TLC we are lucky to be able to talk out most of our dilemmas together. Being equal partners and having a great team really helps in getting our thoughts going and our creative juices flowing. But even if you are flying solo, talking out a creative problem, idea, notion etc. is still great practice to help you along the way. Ask a friend or family member to help you out by listening; they may not be able to directly help, but just the act of talking something out can provide a different perspective on a given situation.

In the same vein, listening to other people’s ideas can spark great bouts of creativity. This may seem obvious, but sometimes we need a gentle reminder that listening to others is just as beneficial as talking things out ourselves. Listening and talking often also leads to collaborations, which is such an amazing way to stay creative! BONUS: if you’re an extrovert, there is nothing that fills your cup more than collaboration!

Doodling & Journaling

Aside from walking in nature, chatting with your friends or colleagues, or getting some visual inspiration, another great way to keep your creative process going is to doodle and journal. Doodling and journaling are both raw expressions of creativity. Also, according to Journaling Saves, “if you journal frequently, you'll get visibly better at expressing yourself, and expressing yourself in any medium is essential for creativity.” We agree–not only will you be able to flex and tone that creative muscle, journaling and doodling will help you get ideas onto paper in a more free-flowing, authentic, and organic way. As Unique Hideaways notes, “journaling gives you a space to write and create, raw and unedited, without too much concern for a perfect finished result. In fact, in this activity it's the process of writing or creating that's more important than the outcome.” BONUS: both journaling and doodling are great for sparking joy because both have been proven to improve your mood and help you feel more positive emotions! So grab a pen and a notebook and start that journal (doodle in it–we dare you!!!)

There you have it, four ways to stay creative! As an interdisciplinary skill, the importance of creativity is paramount as it can help you conquer problems, provide different perspectives, and bring you joy! So go flex that creative muscle and if you get stuck, get in touch -we have plenty of tricks up our sleeves to help you!