The Keys to Creativity

Post by Taylor Cashdan

On one of my recent Pinterest binges I happened to stumble upon (see what I did there?) an infographic by Islam Abudaoud on Behance.net that described 29 ways to stay creative.

Now, being that I’m a freelance graphic designer (little personal plug here), I’m always looking for new ideas, methods, brushes, fonts, etc. to help spice up my skills. But then I thought, well, there are plenty of other people out there who aren’t graphic designers that simply like to paint, doodle, write, create, or think! So I figured why not share it with the world!

Number 1. Make lists
Sounds trivial, but it helps to keep us on track—there’s also no better feeling when you’re bogged down with work to then look at your to do list and see it completely marked out.

Number 2. Carry a notebook everywhere
Write things down, doodle, sketch, create, kill bugs with it, whatever.

Number 3. Try free writing
Self explanatory.

Number 4. Get away from the computer.
Do it. I dare you…but read my blog first.

Number 5. Quit beating yourself up
$#!t happens, just let it be. Some tests suck, some quizzes or assignments will eat away at your soul. But, you haven’t gotten to where you are by giving up, right?

Number 6. Take breaks
Take a breather and come back to whatever you were working on later.

Number 7. Sing in the shower
Your parents/siblings/roommates will just have to get over it.

Number 8. Drink coffee
There’s a lot of positive ingredients in coffee. Plus, it’ll keep you awake.

Number 9. Listen to new music
Change genres, time periods, whatever. Mix it up! You never know what you might find.

Number 10. Be open
Try new things, hear new perspectives, just listen.

Number 11. Surround yourself with creative people
Our minds work via osmosis…not really, but new people means new ideas, new ways of thinking—especially if they’re creative.

Number 12. Get feedback
You may think you’re the cat’s meow, and maybe you are! But everyone needs some humbling sometimes. Get a critique from a friend/parent/teacher on whatever you’re working on.

Number 13. Collaborate
“Now this is the Law of the Jungle — as old and as true as the sky; And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back —
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”
-Rudyard Kipling

Number 14. DON’T GIVE UP
You can do it. I believe in you, whatever it is.

Number 15. Practice, practice, practice
If nothing else, you’ll be ridiculously good at something, so why not be better than your competition?

Number 16. Allow yourself to make mistakes
It happens, just look back at Number 5 and Number 14.

Number 17. Go somewhere new
A change of scenery has always helped to clear my head. Whether it’s a walk around the block or a trip around the world.

Number 18. Count your blessings
If you’re feeling down, just look at all of the good around you!

Number 19. Get lots of rest
Take naps. Whether you’re in college or soon-to-be, you’ll be missing that opportunity that we all hated in kindergarten.

Number 20. Take risks
Do something crazy, something out of character. I’m not saying go steal a car, but try new things!

Number 21. Break the rules
Like I said, don’t break any laws, but stretching your own limits every once and a while is healthy. Keeps you on your toes.

Number 22. Don’t force it
If something just is not working out how you wanted it to, relax. There’s probably another different, often better, way to go about it.

Number 23. Read a page of the dictionary
Your brain will appreciate it.

Number 24. Create a framework
Give yourself some guidelines: whether it’s an assignment, a workout plan, or your next four years, map it out!

Number 25. Stop trying to be someone else’s perfect
Its better to stand up and be YOU than it is to conform in every aspect. Trust me, I work in the admissions office.

Number 26. Got an idea? Write it down.
Ever been hanging out with your friends late one night just talking and you guys come up with a brilliant idea…but then tomorrow you cannot seem to remember what it was? Write it down.

Number 27. Clean your work place
Its proven that cleaning can be therapeutic. Also, less clutter and more open space provokes creative thought.

Number 28. Have fun
You have to enjoy yourself, no matter what you are doing. And if you reallllly hate doing something (like studying), then just remember how much fun you can have when you get done!

Number 29. Finish something
It’s such a great feeling when you hand in that essay, or that project, that you’ve been busting your tail on. Treat everything in your life that way. Give it your all, finish strong.

To see the full infographic click here.

And as promised, here is your bimonthly moment of zen.

I love this show.

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