10 Tips to Increase Creativity

Are you in need of a boost of creativity? On a Monday afternoon, would’nt you rather be taking a nap than sit in a long-winded meeting, tired, and ready to go home?

Well, I did some research on what we can do to boost creativity – easy things we can do. Here’s what I found.

Try these tips on how we can get  better in small ways, everyday:

1. Drink Water: Brain researchers have found that within 5 minutes of drinking water, we experience a marked decline in elevated stress. Our brain is 85% water, which means that even the slightest dehydration drains mental energy, which can cause headaches, stress, and lack of creativity.
2. Go To Sleep: When the brain is in sleep mode (theta and delta), it is also active in immune regeneration and storage of the learning obtained that day. It takes 8-10 hours to complete all cycles. If not completed, the brain compensates by shutting down during the day to “catch-up”.
3. Look at the Sky: Look at the blue sky for 20 minutes. Looking at the blue end of the spectrum stimulates the brain stem and thalmus, giving us a natural shot of mental alertness.
4. Sleep in a Totally Dark Room: The pineal gland in your brain must have total darkness in order to produce malatonin, the sleep hormone and potent antioxidant.
5. Don’t Try too Hard: To achieve more breakthrough moments, we need to relax and play. Too much effort produces gamma brainwaves, which drives anxiety. “Mental Block” is a sign that you need to take a break because you are becoming unhealthily anxious.
6. Break Routine: On your way to work, try a different route; rather than parking in “your” spot, try parking somewhere else. Changing things up stimulates your mind and can help you be more creative.
7. Draw with your Opposite Hand: If you’re right handed, try writing and using your left hand for daily activities. By doing this, you’ll be waking up the parts of your brain that have grown accustomed to routine. Now, you actually have to think and try.
8. Learn a New Language: Go ahead and try it; learning a new language forces you to think differently. In fact, try speaking the new language for hours at a time – you’ll soon move beyond frustration and you’ll eventually be waking up the innovation portions of your brain.
9. Eat Essential Fatty Acids: Your brain needs Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). This is Omega 3, which comes from fish oil, olive oil and Omega 6, which comes from corn, soy, and canola oil. These essential fatty acids promote growth of the cerebral cortex – our bodies cannot produce essential fatty acids, so we must get it from a different source.
10. Breathe: When you have oxygen shortage, the first brain cells that die are the ones responsible for recording your most recent experience or what you read most recently. So, breathe – deeply, expanding your stomach, not your chest – don’t try to be macho.

Give these a shot – don’t ignore your skepticism, but test these and see if these ten suggestions will help you become more creative.