How To Boost Creativity? #WomenOnTheMove Share Their Secrets

What fuels creativity? How to maximise the potential of a creative mind? #WomenOnTheMove share their secrets in our weekly twitter chat.

“To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination.” — Albert Einstein

The word ‘creativity’ is often related to writing a novel or painting a masterpiece. But the scope of creativity cannot be contained within these two areas only, it stretches beyond it. Whether it is trying out a new recipe in the kitchen or re-using old newspapers to create something useful; making a picture look appealing with the photo editing tools or just looking at a picture and creating a 6 word story around it; creativity is the process of bringing something new into being; something that’s ‘original not predictable’.

However, creativity and ideas don’t just flow in relentlessly. A mundane and routine life is a bane for inspiration and creativity. Ideas and creativity need a spark and that renewed spark can be found when we break away from the usual — learn a new language, listen to unfamiliar music, try unusual foods, travel or watch a TED talk video on an innovative idea. What is important is to break away from the usual and experience the world in a different way. As the perspective widens to fresh stimulus, so will the creativity.

Earlier this week, we had our weekly #WomenOnTheMove chat on Twitter, and this is what we discussed. And lots of secrets were shared too! Read on to find out.

(If you’re not yet following Women’s Web on Twitter, do now, and you can come over for the chat too, every Wednesday 6-7PM IST).

Factors that influence creativity

New ideas. New people. And mostly a clear head. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/2Eu13wRPqy

Never miss real stories from India's women.

Register Now

— Radhika (@rads) November 23, 2016

@womensweb Most importantly, a well-rested mind, a sense of collaboration and regular alone time 🙂#WomenOnTheMove

— Swarnima (@SwarnsB) November 23, 2016

Travel. Conversations. A break from routine. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/Vg1tQ51yMN

— Aparna V Singh (@editorsahiba) November 23, 2016

@womensweb silence of the night and break of the dawn. Ideal time to put on the creative hat.

— Anushree Gupta (@AnushreeGupta4) November 23, 2016

@womensweb Great books and great conversations #WomenOnTheMove

— Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) November 23, 2016

@womensweb sometimes it’s also about nailing a job or impressing a new audience. 🙂 #WomenOnTheMove

— Radhika (@rads) November 23, 2016

@womensweb yoga and creativity meditation helps me kick-start my creativity.

— Preeti Shenoy (@preetishenoy) November 23, 2016

@womensweb reading something real good kickstarts my creative juices

— Sia Mitra (@AngelsFearTO) November 23, 2016

A1: My always occupied mind. Keen observation. Random conversations. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/mTnk595F5n

— Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) November 23, 2016

@womensweb People inspire me… Their stories inspire me.

— Rashmi Balakrishnan (@rushkiran) November 23, 2016

@womensweb #WomenOnTheMove Mindfulness is a beautiful practice that helps us orient ourselves to the present moment. Boosts creativity.

— InnerSpaceCounseling (@_Inner_space_) November 23, 2016

@womensweb A1. My secret sauce is to experience new things- read, travel, watch, meet. & then cross pollinate everything 😂 #WomenOnTheMove

— Aditi Mahale (@timulgi) November 23, 2016

Change is important to get the creative juices flowing

@womensweb @editorsahiba True monotony is not good for creativity

— Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) November 23, 2016

.@sakshi2487 @womensweb yes i find that varying the routine occasionally helps (though I love structure!) #WomenOnTheMove

— Aparna V Singh (@editorsahiba) November 23, 2016

Writer’s block or just a dont-feel-like-writing phase?

Absolutely. Tried letting go and ploughing through. Both work but writing either comes freely or not. It’s hard forcing it. https://t.co/wLL8l0P0n9

— Radhika (@rads) November 23, 2016

A2: I don’t believe in writer’s block. It’s a phase when I don’t feel like writing. I read or watch good movies. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/5UVcQvusXu

— Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) November 23, 2016

How to overcome the writer’s block or I-dont-feel-like-writing-phase?

@womensweb Listening to https://t.co/5hbQpUFmid: I realized I always worked better when I heard the pitter patter of raindrops :).

— Asmita (@asmitaghosh18) November 23, 2016

@womensweb Q2. Went for a run with music!

— Gopika Kaul (@gopika_kaul) November 23, 2016

@womensweb A2. Oh yes! Almost every other day. 😂 I take a break, watch/ read something unconnected. Go for a walk/ errands. #WomenOnTheMove

— Aditi Mahale (@timulgi) November 23, 2016

@womensweb A2. Sleeping and music helps too. Sometimes i put the problem at the back of my mind & play Rubik’s cube with it. #WomenOnTheMove

— Aditi Mahale (@timulgi) November 23, 2016

@womensweb oh! Writer’s block is a recurring phenomenon. I just look for silence. No talk, no music. Only quiet. Works really well.

— Neha Joy Chauhan (@nehajoychauhan) November 23, 2016

@womensweb @timulgi yep. Exercising helps big time.

— Radhika (@rads) November 23, 2016

@womensweb Take a break, go for a walk , listen to music and my favourite read an interesting book #WomenOnTheMove

— Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) November 23, 2016

@womensweb Hahahaha every time i have to write! Taking a break and forgetting about it for a while, helps refresh the mind#WomenOnTheMove

— Swarnima (@SwarnsB) November 23, 2016

@womensweb I read poetry. And watch a great film. #WomenOnTheMove

— crabbymommy (@crabmommy) November 23, 2016

@womensweb A2. Quite often. I usually read, watch a movie or go on a short trip to get over my writer’s block. #WomenOnTheMove

— Archana (@TravelSeeWrite) November 23, 2016

@womensweb Visited a sleepy quiet village. Full of abandoned havelis. Roaming thru them gave me the plot for a novel

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) November 23, 2016

@sakshi2487 @womensweb @editorsahiba Sometimes getting bored is a good thing. Ideas come when you have nothing to do. Mind wanders

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) November 23, 2016

Does domesticity kill creativity?

@womensweb Depends actually, what is required is some free time if you can manage that then no issues #WomenOnTheMove

— Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) November 23, 2016

@womensweb A3. If u get caught in a routine & allow the dampening. Not if u find time 4 yourself & whatever makes your creative spirit grow

— Aditi Mahale (@timulgi) November 23, 2016

No. Domesticity includes cooking, housekeeping etc which can b creative & relaxing at times. Bt it’s abt privilege https://t.co/HviDdJSFHd

— Swarnima (@SwarnsB) November 23, 2016

@womensweb 4 many, domesticity is physically & mentally exhausting
They don’t hav d luxury of “choosing” domestic chores. So creativity dips

— Swarnima (@SwarnsB) November 23, 2016

@womensweb I don’t think so. I’ve had some of my best ideas when I was at home.That I didn’t execute them is another matter!#WomenOnTheMove

— crabbymommy (@crabmommy) November 23, 2016

@womensweb No it doesn’t for. I’m writing even when I’m not writing. I think best when surrounded by the domestic circus

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) November 23, 2016

@womensweb not at all. I often found it gave me time to think – which I don’t have now that I am working. #WomenOnTheMove

— Gopika Kaul (@gopika_kaul) November 23, 2016

@womensweb A.3. It is often while doing domestic chores that #creative ideas flow in. #WomenOnTheMove

— Vaishali Gandhi (@vaishali178) November 23, 2016

A3: No. Because when I am not writing, I think about #writing/ideas (framing pitches, blog posts, scenes etc.) #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/6TpqBwuAhH

— Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) November 23, 2016

In search of inspiration – where do we get it from?

Travel to unknown places. Chat with the locals. Visit thrift shops, old book shops, shops that hoard antiques. Stories galore https://t.co/Jyxda6NRKg

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) November 23, 2016

@vaishali178 @womensweb some of the best #creative ideas occur in washroom. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/k4x4C1ad4l #Mumbai #Mentalhealth

— InnerSpaceCounseling (@_Inner_space_) November 23, 2016

@womensweb Open your mind to ppl and experiences that are different from you. Be open. Experience and ideas will flow in

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) November 23, 2016

.@justkanchana @sakshi2487 @womensweb some of my best ideas occur in the ‘lazy’ zone just before falling asleep #womenonthemove

— Aparna V Singh (@editorsahiba) November 23, 2016

@womensweb A4. My inspiration comes from keen observation of ppl. Often great stories are always in sight but often ignored #WomenOnTheMove

— Archana (@TravelSeeWrite) November 23, 2016

I maintain a note diary on my phone – inspiration can strike anywhere – don’t evaluate, first note it down – assess later #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/u6EZXZdUno

— Aparna V Singh (@editorsahiba) November 23, 2016

I’m not above eavesdropping but most of my inspiration comes from conversations I have with people I meet. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/FisiKkdhNN

— Aditi Mathur (@adicrazy) November 23, 2016

@womensweb All of that and more. I shamelessly eavesdrop.

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) November 23, 2016

@womensweb A4. From film and music. And reading, of course. #WomenOnTheMove

— Gopika Kaul (@gopika_kaul) November 23, 2016

@womensweb Lot of my #inspiration comes in during my #meditations and my still moments. #WomenOnTheMove

— Vaishali Gandhi (@vaishali178) November 23, 2016

The idea is just a spark of inspiration. Rest is loads of structured thinking, writing, re-writing. Enormous hard work. https://t.co/XoAptKoBFQ

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) November 23, 2016

@womensweb observing people,life,situations always inspires creativity,basically being mindful all the time.

— Pooja Sharma Rao (@IAmSufiZen) November 23, 2016

Mundane everyday things around me – people, conversations, objects https://t.co/lt9lehYR1w

— Shuchi Singh Kalra (@shuchikalra) November 23, 2016

Liked this post?

Become a premium user on Women’s Web and get access to exclusive content for women, plus useful Women’s Web events and resources in your city.

Image: Pixabay

Comments