Three ways to become more creative

We’re told we need brainstorming sessions and daylong staff retreats to tap into our innovative spirit. The problem is that so much of what we’re told about nurturing creativity doesn’t really translate into tangible results. So what does get creative juices flowing?

It may help to take a look back to the 1960s, when Frank X. Barron studied a group of uber-creative professionals — writers, architects, scientists, entrepreneurs, and mathematicians — to see if he could identify key behavioral themes among these groups. The common denominators? Openness to one’s inner life, a preference for ambiguity and complexity, an unusually high tolerance for disorder and disarray, and the ability to extract order from chaos. In our hectic world, how can we adopt some of these traits and train our minds to be more creative? Here are three practical and easy ways to integrate some changes into your daily life.

1. Practice mindfulness. No longer a high-level concept, mindfulness is something everyone can integrate into their lifestyle in a meaningful way. Increased creative thinking is a side effect of calming the inner mind. Major corporations, such as Google and Goldman Sachs, have integrated meditation and other mindfulness practices into their company culture to foster creative thinking at all levels.

2. Schedule disruptions. Working several hours consecutively isn’t good for our brains or productivity. So get up a take that coffee break. Take a walk. Get up and dance! Whatever you do, break up your work so you don’t become stagnant. Several studies show that walking and other forms of exercise foster creativity, which is the reason a number of companies have opted for walking meetings instead of sit-down meetings and have encouraged their employees to make time for physical activity. Studies also show that productivity and creativity drops off sharply the more hours worked each day beyond 8 hours.

3. Let go. You’re probably familiar with the creative benefits of daydreaming, but one of the points often glossed over is the importance of uninhibited daydreaming. That means not letting your brain filter the thoughts coming into your head, which can stifle creativity. When we quiet our minds, we become more open to exploring things outside of the here and now.

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