Due to the monotony of everyday life and the frequent stress that comes with living in the modern world, many people often have trouble getting into a creative headspace or just thinking creatively in general. This comes as bad news for those in the business realm, as the ability to think creatively is essential to the problem solving and innovating necessary to succeed as an entrepreneur.
So what can be done to improve your ability to think creatively? The members of Young Entrepreneur Council have a few recommendations. Below, they share eight actions someone can take now to start improving their creative thinking skills over time and explain why taking these steps is so effective at achieving the intended results.
Members pictured from left to right.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. Journal By Hand
Journaling tends to work, but you should do it by hand. Numerous studies have proven that the motion of a hand moving over paper ignites your creativity. Write anything. Doodle. Be free. There are no mistakes in this space. Write questions to yourself about your problems, and then bullet out some answers. You will be amazed at what appears on the page when you are done. The more you do this, the better you will get at it. Have fun mixing it up with different colors if that helps you. It gives you a way to start moving forward, and this is really important when you feel like you’re in the swamp of inaction. What’s more, you will learn that this process is actually a lot of fun. Creativity in and of itself should be fun. Writing and doodling by hand can help you get there. – Tyler Bray, TK Trailer Parts
2. Immerse Yourself In New Experiences
One action someone can take now to start improving their creative thinking skills over time is to try new experiences. This exposes you to new perspectives, ways of thinking and ways of solving problems, which can all serve as inspiration for your creative thinking. I recommend traveling, reading a new genre or even exploring your neighborhood. This helps to broaden your perspective and expose you to new ways of thinking, which can inspire new ideas and approaches. Additionally, trying new things increases your knowledge and experience, which can also help you to think more creatively. I like to walk outside, so I change my walking routes often. By doing this, I get to see different landscapes, steeper hills and different trees. All of those elements stimulate my creative thinking. – Renato Agrella, Acerca Consulting
3. Read Books Outside Your Comfort Zone
One action someone can take now to start improving their creative thinking skills over time is to read books that are outside of their comfort zone. It’s important to read books that challenge your perspective and push you to think in new ways instead of just reinforcing what you already know. So, try to read items from different genres, whether it’s history, art, business or anything else. You’ll be surprised by how much you can learn. What’s more, you never know where your new knowledge ends up being useful. Creativity comes from combining different things, so let reading different things help you get into a more innovative mindspace. – Blair Williams, MemberPress
4. Engage In Brainstorming Sessions
One of the best ways to improve creative thinking skills over time is to engage in brainstorming sessions. When you participate in a brainstorming session, you don’t just interact with others or listen to their ideas—you also get to learn from their experiences. This refines your thought process as you learn that there are different ways to perceive things and diverse solutions to a problem. This is extremely effective because it enables you to think outside the box and consider different possibilities. Over time, it becomes easier for you to tap into the creative zone because your thoughts aren’t confined by linear thinking. – Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
5. Join A Mastermind Group
Start improving your creative thinking skills by joining a mastermind group. A mastermind group is a group of like-minded individuals who come together regularly to share ideas, provide support and hold each other accountable. Being part of a group like this can expose you to new perspectives and ideas, which can help to stimulate your own creativity. Personally, I have been part of a mastermind group for years and it has been a game-changer for my creative thinking skills. The group includes individuals from different backgrounds and industries, and it’s always interesting to hear their perspective on a specific problem or idea. It has helped me to think outside of the box and come up with new and innovative solutions for my business. – Abhijeet Kaldate, Astra WordPress Theme
6. Learn Something New
Learn something new each day, whether it’s technical or interpersonal. Creative minds are always seeking new knowledge and ways to improve their skills. They understand that to keep their creative juices flowing, they need to constantly challenge themselves and learn new things. This can come from taking a class, learning a new skill or even just reading about a new topic. By exposing themselves to new information and experiences, they can expand their perspectives and think in new ways. Acquiring new knowledge and skills can open up new perspectives and ways of thinking. Additionally, learning new things can also help to overcome mental blocks and limitations that may have been hindering their creativity. It can also open up new opportunities and possibilities. – Kelly Richardson, Infobrandz
7. Ask More Questions
One way you can dramatically improve your creative thinking skills is to frequently ask “why,” “what” and “how” questions. For example, when we create a new landing page, I go through a series of questions in my head. “Why are we creating this page?” “What do I want readers to take away?” “How can I make our message as clear as possible?” Asking questions will help you connect thoughts and ideas, which is essential for thinking creatively. You can reference and leverage these mental links and exercises with some practice when working on future projects, presentations and assignments. – Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
8. Seek Out New Perspectives
Actively seeking out fresh, diverse perspectives is one action someone can take to develop their capacity for creative thought. This can be accomplished by exposing oneself to various cultures, disciplines and industries through reading, traveling or even attending industry events or networking functions. By actively seeking out new perspectives and ideas, one can broaden their mental horizons, gain new insights and improve their ability to think creatively. This strategy works well because it helps escape preexisting thought patterns and enables the development of fresh, original ideas by encouraging one to view the world from new perspectives. – John Rampton, Calendar
