The Secret to Unlocking Creativity: Stop Trying So Hard (And Have More Fun!)
Want to Be More Creative? Stop Forcing It!
Have you ever sat down to "be creative" and immediately felt stuck? You’re staring at that blank page, and there’s nothing. No communication between your brain and that page whatsoever.
Or maybe your brain is doing the opposite and is in overdrive. You overthink every idea, overanalyze every mark, and feel utterly frustrated when nothing "good" comes out of your ‘creative time.'
Here’s the real reason creativity feels hard sometimes: you’re trying too hard.
The secret to unlocking creativity isn’t effort… it’s ease!
Creativity flourishes when there’s space to explore, play, and make mistakes. The more pressure you put on yourself to be creative, the harder it becomes.
In this post, I’ll show you why forcing creativity backfires and how embracing play, experimenting, and no-pressure creative moments will, in fact, make you more creative than ever.
Why Forcing Creativity Doesn’t Work
❌ Creativity Isn’t a “Try Harder” Skill
The more you force it, the harder it gets. When you pressure yourself to be creative, your brain switches into problem-solving mode, looking for the “right” answer instead of playing with possibilities.
This leads to overthinking, perfectionism, and the dreaded creative block.
Creativity isn’t about forcing ideas, it’s about allowing them to flow. And guess what? That only happens when you relax.
🧠 Why Your Best Ideas Come When You’re NOT Trying
Ever noticed how your best ideas seem to pop up when you’re in the shower, on a walk, or just about to fall asleep? (seemingly all the times when you don’t exactly have a pen and paper handy.)
That’s because when you stop trying so hard, and you’re doing your everyday stress-free tasks, your brain begins to make connections in the background.
I like to call this percolating. I give my brain time and space to ‘brew,’ and when it’s ready, the idea ‘plunges’ to the surface. ☕
Research backs this up!
A study from the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that engaging in simple, low-demand activities that allow the mind to wander can enhance creative problem-solving. Rather than forcing a solution, giving your brain space to drift can lead to unexpected insights and breakthroughs (source).
Creativity thrives in relaxed, open-ended thinking. When you take the pressure off, your brain gets to work in the background, leading to more creative insights.
The Power of Low-Stakes Creativity
What is Low-Stakes Creativity?
Low-stakes creativity is creativity without pressure, without expectations, and without expecting to be “good” at it.
It’s what kids do naturally—play, experiment, and explore—without worrying about the outcome.
How Low-Stakes Creativity Unlocks Your Best Ideas
✅ No Fear of Failure – When nothing is “wrong,” creativity flows freely.
✅ More Experimentation – Play leads to unexpected discoveries and connections.
✅ Less Perfectionism – You stop worrying about the final outcome and enjoy the process.
✅ Creative Confidence – You realise that creativity is about enjoying the act of trying, not how perfect the final result is.
Simple Ways to Invite More Creativity Into Your Day
1️⃣ The 5-Minute Creative Sprint ⏳
Doodle on your grocery list and add playful sketches alongside your items.
Set a 5-minute timer and create something ridiculous with zero expectations—like drawing a cat wearing roller skates or making up the plot of an imaginary TV show.
The goal? Quantity over quality—just let your brain play!
2️⃣ Let Your Mind Wander 🚶♀️
Some of your best ideas will come when you’re NOT trying to be creative.
Instead of forcing creativity, do something else:
✅ Take a walk
✅ Do a simple, repetitive task (washing dishes, folding laundry)
✅ Let your mind drift (no phone scrolling!)
Your brain will connect ideas in the background… and this is where the magic happens.
3️⃣ Embrace ‘Pointless’ Creativity 🎨
Creativity doesn’t always have to be useful—it can just be fun.
Try something silly like:
✅ Mixing and matching your clothes in a way you’ve never tried before.
✅ Write a creative sentence using only five random words you find in a magazine.
✅ Making up an invention idea that would never actually work (but would be hilarious).
The less serious you take it, the more creative you become.
Conclusion: Creativity Is Easy When You ‘Let It Be’ 🎶
You're singing the Beatles song in your head, aren’t you ;)
The harder you try, the harder being creative feels.
Low-stakes creativity is the secret to unlocking your best ideas.
Play, experiment, and stop putting pressure on yourself. That’s where real creativity happens!
💬 Try one of these exercises today
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