Unleashing Superpowers: Discover the Hidden Benefits of a Creative Habit
Discover the surprising benefits of embracing a creative habit for personal and professional success. Unleash your inner superhero as we explore how a creative routine can skyrocket productivity and foster innovative thinking.
Spoiler alert - Even if you consider yourself the least ‘creative’ person in the universe you too can wear your undies over your pants and adorn the superpowers of a habit that just so happens to have the word ‘creative’ at the beginning.
By the end of this article, you'll have a newfound understanding of the incredible benefits that a creative habit can bring to your life.
You'll discover tips and insights on how to cultivate and maintain a creative habit, even if you've never considered yourself "creative" before.
But Before we go any further let's get one thing straight… the term ‘creative’.
I bet you read the words ‘creative habit’ and automatically assumed it is something for ‘talented’ artists, musicians, craftspeople, chefs, designers etc
Nope!
You’re wondering “Why should I bother with a creative habit if I'm not an artist?"
Well here's the secret: Creativity isn't just reserved for the Monet’s and Mozart's of the world.
Imagine if you could boost your productivity levels, enhance your problem-solving skills, become a master of innovative thinking and even reduce your stress—all through the simple act of embracing a creative habit!
Let’s get down to business, shall we?
Are you ready for some undies over tights action to unlock your hidden superpowers? Brace yourself, because we’re about to explore the surprising ways a creative habit can positively impact your life, both personally and professionally.
Get ready to unleash your inner superhero!
Clarity, focus, increased productivity and a huge dash of confidence
Indulge me for a second because I think this story is important to share. It is also the reason I’m so fascinated with the notion of practicing creativity and can’t stop raving about the positive impacts.
It was during covid in Melbourne that I completely crashed. I was doing all the things and none of them well. Juggling homeschool, working full time, trying to nurture relationships, finding hiding places where I could lose my s**t and struggle to hold onto the last bit of sanity I had left. This was not unusual or unlike everyone else.
Then came the straw that broke the camel's back… The highlights were… I piffed the pizza dough I was mixing onto the floor, had a big ugly cry and threw myself a pity party for a day or two.
(apparently making dough was a thing and FYI I really, really dislike cooking so no wonder I chose that moment to break HA)
I saw a friend's post pop up on instagram. It was a simple scribble, a quick sketch of some everyday object. It turns out she was using creativity on a daily basis as her way to avoid throwing dough on the floor and having a tantrum! Genius!!!
I was intrigued but the last thing I felt like doing was being creative… that mojo was long gone.
But I started anyway… if I could attempt pizza dough I could do this. Simple doodles, sometimes a scribble, if I felt like it I’d colour in the spaces. Really basic things you might do with a toddler.
The idea is to draw with zero pressure, no preconceived outcomes, just move a pencil around a page without too much thought. That’s it.
It wasn’t that long before I noticed my mind was clearer and I could articulate what I needed to do for the day ahead and prioritise my tasks.
I stopped going around in aimless circles, I managed to simplify and problem-solve my thoughts and tasks… no more pizza dough on the floor.
Long story short, I stuck at it and…I got to a place where I’ve been able to niche my business, completely book out with clients, work on some incredible projects that were on my bucket list, work with some amazing people and now design a course where I can teach was has helped me and support others to learn how to embrace their inner artist to elevate deeper and more creative thinking.
OK I’m interested… but HOW does it work and will it work for me?
Yep and yep!
Creative exercises encourage all of the following:
Prompt individuals to think outside the box break free from conventional patterns, and explore alternative perspectives.
Encourage imagination and divergent thinking stimulating the brain to make new connections, recognise patterns, and generate innovative ideas.
Development of problem-solving and analysis skills through the process of creative exploration.
Approach challenges with an open mind and experiment with different solutions, and evaluate outcomes critically.
Foster a mindset that embraces uncertainty, ambiguity, and complexity, enabling individuals to navigate unfamiliar situations and adapt to changing circumstances.
If that’s not enough, here’s one more for good luck,
Creative exercises also encourage reflective thinking assessing their own creative process, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and refining their approaches.
Just to be clear there is nothing new about the superpowers of a creative habit, people have been using this technique for years to enhance their thinking!
One of my favourite exercises was developed by a creative named Dolfi Trost in 1945, called Entopic Graphomania. Yes I agree the name automatically makes you want to put it in the too hard basket but I assure you it’s incredibly simple.
It was also a favourite activity of the Surrealist artists of the early 20th century. They used to do this as a way to encourage more open-ended thinking and make room for more innovative creation.
Basically, it’s an automated method of drawing that focuses on connecting dots or marks that are determined by things out of your control, like the imperfections of a piece of paper or the full stops on a written page.
An activity like this is used as a means of sparking creative thinking and breaking free from mental constraints, stimulating imagination and encouraging divergent thinking for exploration and ideation.
IMAGE OF TASK
If I’ve piqued your interest, you give it a go, CLICK HERE to view the activity and instructions
FYI - It’s straight from my Curved Lines & Creative Minds online program
Folks who want some cold hard science to support the idea of how drawing simple lines can boost your productivity levels, enhance your problem-solving skills and help you to become a master of innovative thinking…
Numerous studies have explored the cognitive processes involved in creativity and its impact on critical thinking skills. Here are a few key findings:
1. Neuroplasticity: Research in neuroscience has shown that engaging in creative activities can promote neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to reorganise what it knows and form new connections. This rewiring of the brain facilitates improved cognitive flexibility, problem-solving, and idea generation.
2. Cognitive Processes: Studies have demonstrated that creative exercises stimulate various cognitive processes. Such as divergent thinking, which involves generating multiple solutions or ideas, and convergent thinking, which involves evaluating and selecting the best options. These processes contribute to enhanced critical thinking abilities.
3. Metacognition: Engaging in creative exercises encourages metacognitive thinking, which involves self-awareness and reflection on one's own thinking processes. This metacognitive awareness allows individuals to monitor and regulate their thinking, identify strategies that work best for them, and make adjustments accordingly.
…Or as my 10 year old says… metacognition is “thinking about thinking”
4. Cognitive Flexibility: Creative exercises require individuals to shift between different modes of thinking, adapt to new ideas, and explore multiple possibilities. This cognitive flexibility is essential for critical thinking, as it enables individuals to approach problems from different angles and consider diverse perspectives.
Basically, science has helped us to acknowledge that we need to give our brains a huge round of applause and appreciate how they can utilise the creative activities that we undertake to strengthen critical thinking abilities and promote a more agile and innovative mindset.
Before you rush off for a pencil and a scrap of paper
Remember, creativity knows no bounds, and with a creative habit, you'll unlock a whole new world of possibilities.
Get ready to embrace your inner superhero and let your creative superpowers shine!
Trish x
PS If you want some guided practice of creative activities that will unleash your own superhero, I just happen to have my signature, online program Curved Lines & Creative Minds which has a whole lot of creative exercises that will do just that!
Oh, and I feel it is vital to note most activities coincidentally take no longer than your morning tea or coffee so I like to think we’ll have our morning cuppa together 🙂
