Have you heard that creativity is the number one skill for the 21st century? Forbes magazine called it ‘the skill of the future’ in April this year.
Traveling
Remember the last time you went on a trip? I’m sure it stirred myriads of emotions whether positive or negative and created bright memories for you. In fact, there’s more that traveling can do to your brain. Every time you arrive at a new place, meet new people, or try new food, there’s a tiny little spark in your brain. It’s a process of one neuron connecting with another one to create a synapse.
Simply put, the more such connections we have, the more creative we become. Therefore, traveling is undeniably one of the best ways to boost our creativity. Just think about all new experiences you have while visiting far away countries that you’ve never been before. Especially it works with those parts of the world which have the culture radically different from yours.
A few months ago I came back from China. No doubt, this is an amazing country with rich culture and history. There were a lot of moments during my trip that impressed me and will stay with me forever. It’s even hard to single out one of them which was the biggest highlight. The whole month which I spent there turned out to be like nothing I’ve ever experienced in my life before.
At the very end of my trip I remember sitting in one of Starbucks cafes and thinking: “What is happening to my brain?” It felt like it was going to explode because of all the new information, emotions and impressions. It was like getting out of the table after a huge celebration with loads of food. However, this feast was for my brain and my creativity!
Reading
Do I need to convince you that reading is important for your intellectual development? I doubt it. We all know how much it effects our communication skills, vernacular, the level of intelligence, and the ability to be a fascinating person. I know you love reading, but probably struggle with finding enough time for that. If that’s the case, here’s my post “How to Read More Books When You’re So Busy”.
What I’d like to emphasize here is the importance of reading for developing your creativity. Not only does it expand the horizons of our worldview, it also improves our ability to create and come up with new ideas. The trick is not to read one type of books, but always try something new. If you’re a big fan of fiction and only enjoy devouring romantic stories, put them aside for a while and try historical novels or science fiction. Seek variety. Have fun with diversity!
Are you one of those voracious readers of educational non-fiction and think that novels are a waste of your time? You can’t be more wrong. Let me remind you that a big number of modern inventions was inspired by science fiction writers. Here’s just a small list of them: submarines, cell-phones, robots, a 3D printer, self-driving cars, earbuds, atomic power, a helicopter, virtual communities, credit cards, earbuds, Bluetooth, etc. Check out link1 and link2 for more information.
So, when next time you look down at nerdy science fiction readers, better take a look at the cover of their book. Maybe, you could grab it at the nearest shop and treat yourself to a new world of unchained imagination. Remember, new genres, new kinds of books and new authors will inspire you for more unconventional ideas and solutions.
Networking
One more incredible way to grow personally and boost creativity is to attend networking events. Our ‘brave new world’ is becoming busier and busier every day. Almost every day I hear from my colleagues and students that they have less time every month, every day. “What is going on with our world? Why is time flying so fast?” People complain that 24 hours are not enough because we desperately attempt to cram work, family, friends, sport and some personal hobbies into our small 168-hour week.
That’s why, when somebody says to you: “Hey, I’m going to a really cool club where smart successful people meet, share ideas and help each other grow. Would you like to come?” You can only respond with a sad ‘no’ because apparently you have to finish your work at the office and then rush home or to pick up your kid. And you may never find time to visit that networking event you’ve planned to attend several years ago even though you know it’s necessary for your career and personal growth.
One of the best places to develop courage, creativity, public speaking, leadership, and communication skills is a Toastmasters club. There’re more than 16,000 of them all over the world. Toastmasters International was established in 1924 and is now present in more than 140 countries.
Last month I became a member of such club and already feel like this is my family. These people challenge me, inspire me and constantly feed me new ideas. You can attend such clubs for free, although if you want to become a member, there’s a small fee. I decided to be a member because it’s important for me to constantly grow as a speaker. In this club you prepare speeches, projects and have other members evaluate your presentation.
Find a club in your city and absorb all the creative ideas, solutions, recommendations and advice. Pay attention to how other people give their speeches, write down the most outstanding thoughts and ways of presenting a project. Make notes of everything that attracts your attention and use it in your own work. Creativity should never be dormant. We need to develop it, work on it, unleash it and reap the harvest!
I love the quote by Maya Angelou: “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Use it, develop it, find ways to boost it! And for that you need new experiences.
What about you? How do YOU boost your creativity? What new experiences help you to find fascinating ideas?
If you’d like to learn 7 proven steps to developing creativity, download my Creativity Quick Guide for FREE!
