I was reading an article the other day that states that with all the technology of our time, it is very easy to rely on these gadgets for every waking minute of our life. Because of this, we do not give enough time for our brains and minds to relax, be at peace and be creative. And this is when new ideas are formed. The good news is that creativity is not purely an inborn trait – we all have the potential to be more creative. Our challenge is tapping into this!
“For something to be creative, it can’t just be novel…”
– Shelly Carson
According to Harvard psychology professor Shelley Carson, author of Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximize Imagination, Productivity, and Innovation in Your Life, “…it has to be useful as well.”
Here are some ideas to keep our brains alert:
- If you want to excel at something, learn about it as much as possible. Immerse yourself in it. In order to come up with ideas, you need to have information from which to draw.
- Try some brain games and work out both sides of the brain.
- Listen to 30 minutes of instrumental music a day as studies have shown it helps your mind wander.
- And problem solve. I never thought problem solving was very creative but “problem solving is showing ingenuity by looking at things in fresh ways” and we can all do this daily!
So enjoy a month of creativity and if you would like to borrow some brain games, you are welcome to come and see me for a visit as I would love to share some!
Have a wonderful March!
With love,
CC DeGraff, Executive Director