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5 Ideas to Reignite Your Creativity in 2022

Today is June 1st, meaning that the year 2022 is nearly half over.  I don’t know about you, but the last few years have been a blur. Are you on track with your creative goals?  If not, try these 5 ideas to give yourself a creative boost.

1. Give Yourself a Break

Allow yourself time off.  Take a nap, get some rest, meditate, listen to music.  I still am a big fan of Insight Timer for meditation and inspiration.  It’s the #1 free app for sleep and relaxation. 

https://insighttimer.com/ight

insighttimer.com

2. Use Your Non-Dominant Hand

man holding ice cream cone under cloud
Photo by Rakicevic Nenad on Pexels.com

Try using your non-dominant hand for simple things like brushing your teeth combing your hair, or opening jars.  Using your non-dominant, or opposite hand confuses your brain, stimulating the side of your brain that doesn’t get activated frequently. The activation can stimulate creativity.  Studies that show that when you use your dominant hand, one hemisphere of the brain is active. Using the non-dominant hand activates both hemispheres prompting creativity. 

If you really want to push the envelope, try writing, drawing or painting with your non-dominant hand.

Sources:

3. Get Outside

In the Northern Hemisphere, Spring has finally arrived creating opportunities to commune with nature.  Author Julia Cameron recommends taking two 20-minute “Artist’s Walks” each week.  She further recommends doing this solo without even your pet.  I don’t know if I’d go that far but being in nature and taking in the sights and sounds is rejuvenating.  Whenever I’m out on an Artist’s Walk, I look for signs, typically fallen feathers or neighborhood cats. I also keep my eyes and ears open to see or hear the elusive Pileated Woodpecker. 

woodpecker sitting on surface in nature
Photo by Skyler Ewing on Pexels.com

4. Dance

brown haired kid on grass field
Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com

Put on some music and let it move your body.  Dance like no one is watching.  Jump up and down.  Jumping is a Qigong technique that stimulates and activates your nervous system.  Beat on your chest like King Kong!  Hum or sing or sing or yell to the music.  Do this for 10-15 minutes and you will feel reenergized with life force flowing through your body.  Go longer if you want.  Personally, I like to play Santana’s “Soul Sacrifice” and jump around like a drunken monkey. 

5. Find Something to Laugh About

According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter has many benefits.

Short-term benefits

A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it creates physical changes in your body, as listed below:

  • Stimulates many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
  • Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
  • Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Find a good comedy to watch or ready funny material. Better yet, find some jokes to share with friends and laugh together.  Reminisce about old times until you laugh ‘til you cry.

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456

Takeaways

The year is still young

There’s plenty to be happy about

Life is precious

The weather invites outdoor activity

As Jimmy Buffett sings, “If we weren’t all crazy, we’d just go insane.” Enjoy life my dear creatives. 

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