Tuesday, January 13, 2015

How to Increase Your Creativity and Productivity

What to do when you need to spark your life force, rev up your engine? I’m not just talking about the creative arts. Every human being needs revitalization at some point. If you’ve become discouraged,  overwrought, and suffered a loss of productivity in your field of endeavor, there are ways to deal with it.

Get started by making some life changes. Get out of your normal rut or routine. Consider doing things you’ve never tried before or haven’t done lately. They don’t have to be dangerous or extreme either.

Here’s one suggestion:

The lead story in the January 11, 2015 edition of PARADE Magazine is entitled:
 “The #1 Health-Booster in 2015.” What is it? Meditation. Not something new but certainly beneficial. It’s referred to as “mindfulness.” Apparently, it creates “body-building for the brain.” It is both “anxiety-busting” and “attention-boosting”. I would refer to it as awareness and focus. By its very nature, meditation encourages creativity.

Here are some of the suggested activities that increase mindfulness according to this article (which I would urge you to read in its entirety):

·        Breathe deeply concentrating on the act itself
·        Hug someone, focusing on the interaction
·        Eat slowly while paying attention to what you are eating
·        Take a walk somewhere each day—engaging in awareness of your surroundings

The key is to keep focus on the activity and not let your mind wander or worry.

This is just one positive method of increasing your creativity which can lead to increased productivity. 

Have you tried meditation? Would you like to do so if you haven't? What suggestions do you have for boosting creativity and productivity?

32 comments:

  1. An insightful post - meditation is a wonderful way to focus your mind. Unfortunately my mind is most unruly and, if given the chance, runs off in a dozen directions at once. And, believe it or not, that's when I seem to get my best ideas!

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  2. Look through magazines and news articles. You might find something that sparks your interest and sends your story brain in a new direction.

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    1. Hi, Nancy,

      I get a lot of good ideas for short stories from reading nonfiction as well.

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  3. I've found meditation helpful, too, though I'm not regular enough about it. I've also found just sitting quietly with a pen and paper, scribbling down whatever crazy ideas come to mind will sometimes spark interesting ideas.

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    1. Stream of consciousness is a great way of sparking new ideas as well!

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  4. I have found the walking to be a great help when stuck. I'll walk a long way through my neighborhood. About two miles in -- while thinking of nothing but how lovely the day is -- I'll suddenly have an idea. Out of nowhere. Of course, I also use walking to practice dialog, so, yes, I'm the woman talking to herself in different voices.

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    1. Hi, Sheila,

      Walking works well for me too. I prefer walking outdoors but with the bad weather, I find the treadmill is good as well.

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  5. I haven't tried meditation but have often thought about giving it a try. I just need to make myself slow down enough to stop and do it.

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    1. Hi, Calisa,

      Meditation both relaxes the mind and simultaneously energizes it by improving the ability to focus.

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  6. Meditation is good for many reasons and may help spark ideas. My preference is to go for a walk. Not a walk with a specific goal, but what Thoreau called sauntering. Just wandering, with no specific goal in mind save to notice your surroundings and stimulate the senses. You'd be surprised how it opens you up to fresh ideas.

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  7. I meditate almost every day. If I come to a point in a story where I don't know what should come next, I set the story aside and let my mind wander. I let details and plot twists show up while I'm editing or revising something else. I get ideas from reading other people's work, reading the paper, or listening to people talk.

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  8. You have no idea how much I needed this today!

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  9. Besides the ones mentioned, I find any mindless activity such as washing dishes, folding clothes, riding in a car, just sitting by the water will spark ideas for me.

    I sent Parade to with the Sunday paper to Hubby in the hospital without reading it. I'm going to see if I can find the whole article online. Thanks for a great post in my time of need. LOL

    Pat Marinell

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    1. Hi, Pat,

      Those are all great activities for sparking creative ideas. I hope your husband feels better soon!

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  10. When you're stuck on a manuscript, nothing beats a change of scenery. Thanks for posting!

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    1. Hi, Mike,

      It pays to take a break and do something different. Stirs the imagination.

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  11. Every time I try to meditate, my mind wanders, so I've given that up, but I do believe the breathing (3-part yoga breathing) helps, and walking my dog is very helpful. Good ideas, Jacqueline.

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  12. I know a number of people who insist on the benefits of yoga. As to dog walking, a great excuse to get out and exercise. Thanks for stopping by Maris.

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  13. Great blog, Jacquie. I do yoga, but the best thing I've done to boost my creativity was to go on vacation! Amazing how getting away from the rut can inspire a person!

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    1. You're right, Alice, a change of scene makes a big difference.

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  14. Informative post, as always, Jacqui. Both quiet meditation and vigorous activity work for me, so I knit and/or snowshoe. My conscious mind is engaged just enough to quiet the monkey-brain, and ideas can bubble up.
    Now, if I could just remember them long enough to write them down!

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  15. Hi, Nikki,

    Thanks for stopping by. I can see where both knitting and snowshoe would encourage ideas to take shape.

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  16. I agree. Mindfulness and meditation are soothing. I always feel energized afterward. I also think that mindfulness enriches the experience, whether its eating or writing or whatever.

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  17. J: As a long-time yogi, I know how difficult it is to meditate. Years of practice enable me to focus on the moment--at least some of the time--rather than spinning plot or refining character in my mind.

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    1. Yoga is something I would definitely like to practice. I know that it encourages focus.

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  18. Always helpful, Jacquie, and I agree with the need. I'm just back after a long day at our state capital trying to get legislation through for gun background checks. Exhausting, but yes, as you said, it's great to get out and do something wholly different. My brain is a bit dead from sleep deprivation, but will be more creative after a rest.

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    1. Hi, Nancy,

      It sounds like you were trying to do something very worthwhile and useful.

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