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Do you ever find yourself browsing Pinterest with a certain envy for others’ creative crafts? Have you ever seen a new invention or app and thought, “Now why didn’t I think of that?” Well, you don’t have to think of yourself as any less creative than anyone else — you have the power within you, too! Although it may seem like some people are born without a creative bone in their body, creativity is something that can be practiced and improved upon. Don’t fret!

Hone your powers of observation.

There’s a lot to be said for the power of observation. Jerry Seinfeld and his fellow observational comedians would probably agree that when you really pay attention to the world around you, there’s a lot of material to work with. Start to zero in on the people around you and how they interact with the world and each other — exploring those connections could spark a new idea to improve upon something or create something new. Afterall, you can’t add to the world around you if you don’t already have an idea of what’s out there.

Throw a wrench into your routine.

As the great actor Peter O’Toole once said: “I will not be a common man. I will stir the smooth sands of monotony. I do not crave security. I wish to hazard my soul to opportunity.” It’s easy (and comforting) to get into a regular routine, but it can also be detrimental to new ways of thinking. If we get too comfortable with our daily scheduled activities, we can miss out on entirely new experiences that could spark any number of creative endeavors.

Begin your own “everyday” exercise.

A lot of artists like to push themselves to create something new every day. The point isn’t to pump out a masterpiece on the daily but rather get yourself accustomed to daily creativity. It could be anything from cooking to graphic design. Start with a set number of days (like 30) and take it from there. As the days go on, you’ll probably find yourself taking new approaches to your creative challenge, and it will help you explore new levels of creativity! For instance, if you choose to draw a new word out of the dictionary every day, you might try switching up the medium from pen to paper to paint. The options are endless.

Ask a lot of different questions. We mean a lot.

Whether you’re presented with a fresh problem or simply curious about something, never be afraid to ask a lot of questions. Ask friends, your family and strangers how they’d approach the issue, and then ask yourself how you can apply your past experience to find a solution. If you don’t have anything in your history that relates to the topic at hand, then ask yourself a whole new set of questions: “How can I find an answer to this? Is it possible that someone else has already approached this issue? What technology is out there that could support my approach?” Finding answers to your questions is the first step to a creative solution. 

Cultivate an environment that inspires creativity.

Surroundings play a big part in the way we think. If you don’t believe us, just try to focus in a cluttered room versus a clean space. Distractions aside, a messy home can also harbor a messy stream of consciousness when you’re trying to get the creative juices flowing. Feng shui expert Denise Linn says: “Our homes have an enormous impact on our state of mind. They can make us feel as though we are plunging into the depths of despair, or they can be uplifting havens of beauty and rejuvenation.” 

How do you boost your creativity? Do you have other ways to spark that new idea? Let us know in the comments below!