10 Ways to Spark Creativity
Being in a creative field, finding the inspiration to come up with ideas is the often times the hardest part. That’s why we’re always gravitating towards advice or ways to draw inspiration. Here’s a look inside our brand, who we are as creatives and how we spark our creativity.
1. Music
Ah yes, many of us can relate. We have an open office environment, so most days we have music playing. Of course, each day is a different genre because we all have our preferences. Music helps us to not only draw creativity, but to also relax and zone out. One of our favorite things to listen to are lofi beats. Sometimes, just having something playing in the background can help put the brain in a deep state of concentration. Then there are the days we listen to top 90s and everyone in the office is singing. If our Post Production Manager is particularly busy, its safe to assume she’s listening to marching bands very loudly. It’s always nice to mix it up and break up the monotony of the day to day, even if you love your job.
2. Limit Distractions
This one seems obvious, but distractions can come in different forms at very different times. Take the open office environment, we love it but there are times it can be distracting. When music is playing and people are talking, it can pull away from focusing on the task at hand and festering creative thoughts. Even the time of the day can be distracting. Some of us here at Arpcoint find that we are most creative between 3:00 and 4:00 am when the rest of the city is asleep. Talk about limiting distractions. And if you’re limited to just your office, a good set of headphones are always an easy way to create your own oasis.
3. Collaboration
When it comes to projects or creative discussion, more minds are better than one. We recommend tossing an idea around with some close friends or colleagues that you trust. With open dialogue, honesty and respect, collaboration can be the best form to spark creativity. Multiple minds on a project or idea means more possibilities and more room for creativity. And if you don’t believe us, three people worked on this blog. Boom. Teamwork.
4. Travel
This is possibly our favorite one. Traveling taps into places in the mind that are sometimes left dormant for years. Traveling to new places, especially places that speak a different language, is guaranteed to spark creativity. Anytime the mind is used in a way it isn’t typically used, it puts the mind in a place of stimulation and curiosity. Change is good. Getting out of your comfort zone is good. In case you needed another reason to go to the beach this summer, now you have one.
5. Events
When we say events, we don’t just mean a company holiday party or a friend’s birthday party, we mean the kind of events that are happening all year long in your community. There are so many events every day in the world and many can be found simply by looking at the Facebook events section. From art shows, to charity drives, to concerts and poetry readings, there’s bound to be an event for everyone. Going to events not only helps spark creativity, but it also builds confidence and enriches the mind, especially if it’s fun, engaging and introduces you to new things or people. We at Arcpoint just discovered Mansfield, TX is the pickle capital of the U.S., and you better believe you’ll be seeing us at the next annual pickle fest!
6. Nature
With this technology driven world and screens everywhere we look, being in nature is, literally, a breath of fresh air. Now, it doesn’t have to be a trip to the nearest mountain range with a daylong hike to get the full experience of nature (although that does sound incredible), here are plenty of small steps to take to incorporate more nature in a busy lifestyle.
- Have lunch or arrange a meeting at nearby park
- Work from a park or a patio (WIFI permitting)
- Throw a company field day by making a trip to a park or nearby botanic garden (can you tell we really like parks?)
- Open the windows in the office
- Bring the nature to you; invest in more office/desk plants
- Go outside, even if it means taking a walk around the parking lot
7. Podcasts or Audio Books
Sometimes the best place to draw creativity and inspiration is through other people. Whether you have a long commute or enjoy a nice long bath, a podcast or audio book is a great way to learn new things, get inspired or tap into the world around you. Below are some of our team member’s favorite podcasts for sparking creativity.
Abby’s picks: Lore Podcast | My favorite Murder | The Coen Brothers Brothers
Bridgette’s picks: The goop Podcast | This American Life | TED Podcasts
George’s picks: Studio Sherpas
Sean’s picks: The Ground Up Show | Gary Vaynerchuk | The Dave Ramsey Show
8. Take a Break
Let’s face it. We’re human, and sometimes we just need a break in order to utilize our full potential. When working on a project, taking a break (which means not thinking about it for 24 hrs++), will help you to gain a new perspective when returning to it at a later date. Take your favorite book for instance. The author probably didn’t write out the entire piece in one setting. It probably took months, or even years to complete. They probably took many breaks and scrapped a lot of their work. Creativity is a process and it will constantly evolve and grow with time. Take breaks when needed so you can recharge the mental batteries.
9. Find Balance
We are huge advocates of a positive work/life balance. We believe time is precious and finding value in how you spend your time is very important, especially when it comes to creative projects that can easily engulf your entire existence. Having a balance between where you put your energy will not only help your creative work, but it will also help your personal life which in return will support and give you more confidence in your work and creative endeavors. We also find that switching mediums, like jotting ideas down on a notepad or white board vs a laptop, helps to shift the perspective and formation of ideas. Even switching up where you work from time to time will ignite the creative juices. We recommend changing your surroundings constantly like ditching the desk for a few hours and working from the lobby couch or lounge area OR if you’re office or job allows, work from home or a coffee shop. The change in scenery will always be a good thing.
10. A Good Night’s Sleep
Nothing is more important than getting a good night’s sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep will not only help you to be more cognitive throughout the day, but it will also help with your emotional, mental and physical health. Getting enough sleep is crucial for everybody. Whether you’re already a creative being or simply trying to invoke the creativeness inside of you, a good night’s rest can help you to be more alert and responsive to ideas and “gut feelings”. According to HelpGuide, the average adult (26-64) should be getting 7-9 hrs of sleep. Getting to bed early will not only help you get those precious Z’s, but also give you enough time in the morning to ease into the day.
“The best way to figure out if you’re meeting your sleep needs is to evaluate how you feel as you go about your day. If you’re logging enough sleep hours, you’ll feel energetic and alert all day long, from the moment you wake up until your regular bedtime.” - HelpGuide
