Trick Yourself Into Creativity
Three ways to get your creative juices flowing.
Drastic changes in my schedule and a general sense of uncertainty about the world have made it difficult to find creative inspiration lately. On top of that, without my daily commute, shifting contexts between work and home becomes harder, and I often find myself plucking away at the keyboard late into the evening. As I struggle to sculpt that elusive work from home routine, I’m not always as productive as I want to be.
All of this translates into a unique feeling that I’m incapable of creating something for the sake of summoning joy. But over the last few months, I’ve discovered a few ways that make it easier to access creativity without feeling like I have to make my best work yet. The creative exercises below just sort of skip the daunting first step of coming up with a starting idea.
Here are three deceptively easy ways to build creative momentum.
1. Write down memories like you’re writing a story.
Now that I have more time to spend with my thoughts, I’m uncovering some memories that I haven’t thought about in a while. When they surface, sometimes I write them down as if I’m writing the best story no one will ever read. This often feels like an exploration into my creative self, and in some instances has helped me think about my life from new angles. Many times, these journal entries become the starting point for something I’m excited to create.
Secondly, while it’s no substitute for talking things out with someone, an added benefit of this practice is that it provides a way to process complicated memories. Instead of allowing anxiety to drag me to dark places, journaling brings me a sense of peace and deepens my understanding of the past. Even if work doesn’t flow from this, becoming more honest with myself is always valuable.
2. Create a visual as you watch a movie or listen to an album to express your experience with it.
I love getting lost in a good book or movie. But sometimes when I’ve already been glued to a screen all day, watching a movie makes me feel like I’m a passive observer rather than a person capable of imagination. If this is you, I recommend creating a visual as you watch or listen along. Doing so makes you a better audience and provides space to fully explore your thoughts about a favorite movie or album. Just save anything that grabs you, like your favorite shot, quotes from the cast or artist, personal reflections, and parallels to other art. This can take whatever form you want, allowing you to create a totem to your own experience with your favorite things.
For example, I recently made a zine while watching Paris, Texas for the first time. As I collected memorable scenes from the movie, I wrote down discoveries and reimagined the soundtrack, compiling songs I would’ve used if I were put in charge of music decisions. I felt free to indulge my senses, and I was surprised at how easily I started thinking of topics I want to explore later.
3. Organize a set of ideas that you’re learning about.
Before I had the confidence to start writing, I read and listened to loads and loads of interviews with my heroes. To help remember it all, I wrote down quotes along the way. I started grouping the quotes by author or topic, and after a while, I realized I’d developed a library of thoughts from my favorite writers, musicians, and athletes that I can call upon when I need to—a magical carton of inspiration I can crack open any time. In a way, it was the perfect first step to start exploring the things that I want to incorporate into work of my own.
Visually organizing your thoughts this way can really help you crystalize your observations. Not to mention it’s super fun. I was recently reminded of how easily this exercise can translate into visual forms. My partner and I have been watching a lot of music videos lately. We eventually made a mood board to represent our favorite Matty Healy hairstyles and how they connect to his style. (I never said these observations had to be profound.)
Bend these exercises to your own design.
While it can be hard to find creative motivation, I hope these ideas help you engage your interests in a way that inspires creative thinking. By providing a starting point, these ideas take the critical thinking element out of a project, which is so often the hardest element for me to resolve when I start something. These exercises are not quite like starting from scratch, nor are they prefabbed creative prompts—they’re somewhere in the middle, leaving room for you to mold them to your own direction.
Best of all, each of these exercises promotes finding new ways to connect with the things you love. If all you get out of them is a deeper understanding of yourself and what you love, it just might be worth it.