This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read the full disclosure here.
Do you consider yourself a creative person? If you answered “sadly, no,” you need not worry!
This article will shift your perspective on creativity and teach you how to be creative in everyday life. You are invited to join this creativity masterclass. No prior experience or special abilities are required!
What Is Everyday Creativity?
Breaking Myths Around Creativity
If we want to learn how to be creative in everyday life, we should first debunk some myths that make us feel excluded from the creative “elite.”
Myth #1: Creativity Is An Inborn Trait
It’s true that some people have more creative tendencies than others. However, psychologist and university professor Robert J. Sternberg suggests creativity is a habit rather than an inborn trait!
Creative people share some common characteristics. They are open-minded, flexible, willing to venture out of their comfort zones, curious, persistent, and collaborative. These qualities arm them to navigate challenges and lead a life with novelty and adaptability.
And guess what? You can develop and nurture these characteristics, building them by practicing just like you do with a muscle.
Myth #2 Creativity Is Just Arts
There is a general idea that creativity is associated with the arts. According to this thought pattern, you cannot be creative without producing artistic work. While painters, musicians, and actors are most likely creative, creativity is much more than that.
Creativity is intertwined with everyday activities and decisions and influences the way we live, work, and communicate in our relationships.
Myth #3 Creatives Are Lone Geniuses
Austin Kleon (best-selling author of Show Your Work) defies the idea of the Lone Genius: a great personality who seemingly comes up with a ground-breaking idea after a long period of secluded work.
Creatives are not lone geniuses. They collaborate with others, trade ideas, and keep their eyes and ears open for inspiration.
What Is The Everyday Creativity Theory?
The everyday creativity theory was originally proposed by psychologist Ruth Richards and colleagues at Harvard Medical School. It challenges the idea that creativity is limited to extraordinary achievements or exceptional talents (see Mozart).
Instead, everyone has the capacity for creativity (even your granny), which can be cultivated and expressed in numerous ways in our daily lives, making it an integral part of everyday human experience.
Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, has deep-dived into the concept of everyday creativity. According to her research, everyday creativity is common and often motivated by the need or desire to enrich daily experiences and solve problems of daily living.
Everyday creativity focuses more on personal expression than developing a certain skill. Here are some examples she came upon:
- Telling a joke and making people laugh.
- Coming up with a funny nickname for someone.
- Taking photographs just for fun.
- Talking passionately about personal goals.
- Going to a concert.
- Listening to a great variety of music styles.
- Making a card for someone.
What Are The Benefits of Everyday Creativity?
So, what’s in it for you in learning how to be creative in everyday life? According to Ruth Richards, everyday creativity is necessary for physical and psychological well-being. But how are health and everyday creativity related, you ask? Let’s see:
- Catharsis and Emotional Expression: When you engage in everyday creative activities like writing, painting, or crafting, you give yourself a chance to express and process your emotions constructively. This can lead to catharsis and emotional release, reducing stress and promoting emotional well-being, as supported by research by Stuckey and Nobel (2010).
- Sense of Purpose and Fulfillment: Participating in activities such as cooking, gardening, or DIY projects can give you a sense of purpose and accomplishment, which can contribute to your overall psychological well-being.
- Stress Reduction and Relaxation: When you engage in creative activities like drawing, playing music, or hobbies, you often feel more relaxed and less stressed. Studies such as those by Fancourt and Finn (2019) support that engaging in creative pursuits leads to greater calm and relaxation.
- Social Connection and Support: When you participate in creative activities, you often collaborate and interact socially, fostering a sense of belonging and support.
- Physical Health Benefits: Activities such as writing, making music, and participating in play-acting stimulate cognitive functioning and positively affect physical health. For example, expressive writing has been linked to improvements in various measures of physical health, such as better immune system functioning. Similarly, music therapy has been found to boost the immune system response, with listening to music stimulating brain regions involved in mood regulation and the body’s inflammatory response.
How To Be Creative In Everyday Life By Cultivating The Right Mindset
Don’t Judge Yourself
Self-criticism can be a huge creativity block. Everyday creativity is about free self-expression and does not have to be anything close to perfect. Allow yourself to explore your ideas and interests without micromanaging and criticizing.
Dare To Experience New Things
Openness to new experiences is a key characteristic of creative people. That’s because creativity and exploration happily go hand in hand. Nestling inside your comfort zone will derive you from the stimuli and experiences that will get the creative juices flowing.
Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
You may seem clumsy or goofy at the beginning of your creative efforts. That’s great! Stay playful and enjoy the process. Your skills will develop with time and practice.
Collaborate With Creative Individuals
There is no such thing as parthenogenesis in creative ideas. Why? We are constantly influenced by the net of existing ideas and innovations to which we are exposed. Collaboration with creative people boosts the flow of creative information and challenges you to improve.
Stay Curious And Observe Your Surroundings
You can find inspiration anywhere as long as you keep your sensors open to receiving it. Even the most ordinary daily scenes can give you amazing material to work on.
Set Aside Time For Creativity
As we said above, creativity is a habit, and habits are reinforced by repetition and practice. Therefore, it’s useful to allocate specific time every day for a creative project, no matter how small.
How To Be Creative In Everyday Life: 10 Ways To Be Creative
In today’s fast-paced world, creativity is not just reserved for artists and inventors; it’s a skill that can enrich every aspect of our lives. Whether you’re cooking dinner, solving a problem at work, or simply navigating daily tasks, infusing creativity can bring joy and innovation. Here are 10 simple ways to cultivate creativity in your everyday life.
1. Play With Your Outfit And Hair
A great way to be creative daily is to use your face and body as your canvas. Take to your Pinterest board for inspiration, mimic the style of your favorite celebrity, or stick to a certain color palette. You can use your personal style to express your mood or make a statement.
2. Choreograph A Favorite Song
I love dancing to my favorite music, and I bet you do, too. However, even when completely alone, we are often clenched and shy about taking up space and moving freely. Try to shake this off (literally) by performing your boldest moves, even if they look completely ridiculous in your head. So, wear your headphones and put on a spectacular show in your living room.
3. Choose A Word As Inspo For A Poem Or A Small Story
Pick a random word from a random conversation and use it as a writing prompt. You can make this as silly and funny as it goes: write an expressive poem about cows or a small story about a yellow couch.
4. Draw Something Interesting
Did something catch your attention today? Why not draw it out? You can doodle, sketch scenes from your daily life, make caricatures of people you know, or just color inside pre-existing patterns.
5. Take Pictures Of Things That Inspire You On A Walk
Take to the streets and document your surroundings through your lens. Snap pictures of objects or scenes that awe, move, or interest you. Tell stories of people and places while also practicing with different settings and lighting.
6. Allow Yourself To Daydream
Daydreaming is the easiest way to be creative on a daily. I am a pro at it: I can do it while walking, being a passenger princess, lying on my couch, taking a bath, etc. Let your mind run wild to visualize the future or carve imaginative scenarios.
7. Make Something With Your Hands
Getting crafty with your hands is an excellent way for self-expression and anxiety release. Indeed, when you focus on a hands-on process, your mind is less likely to wander to stressful thoughts. Take up knitting, pottery, or anything you fancy. Ultimately, you will have beautiful handmade presents for yourself and your loved ones.
8. Decorate A Card For A Loved One
If your love language is gift-giving, you will definitely appreciate this one. Show your appreciation for someone special by creating a personalized card. Use your creativity to adorn the card with drawings, stickers, or other decorations and complete it with a sweet and meaningful message.
9. Keep A Creativity Journal
Creative thoughts can sometimes pop up unexpectedly when you are least prepared to explore them. Don’t let any of your mind’s gems fall into oblivion. Keep a small journal at hand to jot down spontaneous ideas, observations, and inspirations. Use it as a space to brainstorm, reflect, and explore your creative thoughts.
10. Immerse Yourself In Art And Nature
Visit museums, galleries, or natural landscapes to immerse yourself in beauty and inspiration. Allow the sights, sounds, and textures to ignite your creativity and fuel your imagination.
Conclusion
I hope this article has convinced you that creativity is not a privilege for artists. In fact, you can be creative even if you have two left feet or cannot hold a pen. Everyday creativity is part of the human experience and can include things you already do.
Learning how to be creative in everyday life can make us more resilient, help us navigate challenges more effectively, and view life from different perspectives. So, pick your favorite creative practice and make time for it today. I hope you have an amazing, creative time!
