We all know someone in our lives who we would consider to be fairly creative. They always have a solution for some problem, or an idea on how to make the world a better place. Maybe you aspire to be creative, but don’t seem to be making much progress towards that goal. Below are the seven most effective habits of creatives that you should emulate to bring out in your daily life.
1. They Believe.
Self-confidence is an invaluable tool and a concept that can be lacking in so many people. Creative people don’t just think they can accomplish something, they believe it. They know that it is possible to make their vision a reality, even if that vision is seemingly out of their reach. Now, believing you can do something, and actually being able to do it are two different things, however if you don’t believe, you will never try.
2. They Act.
People seem creative to you because you’ve seen them in action. You have seen the work they do, the thoughts they share, and the results they attain. Without action, creativity is pretty much useless. Creative ideas that just stay in your head are good to absolutely no one else. It is only when they are acted upon, even if it’s just sharing them with someone else in the beginning, that they can take root and become a force of change in the world.
3. They Experiment.
Creative people aren’t afraid of making mistakes. It’s unfortunate that we have grown into this mindset that errors and miscalculations are to be shunned and avoided at all costs. Think of any inventor, and their most well-known invention. I can guarantee you that the original idea of what their invention looked like was nothing like the final version. They tried numerous iterations and learned from each failure. In fact, many inventions are only the result of mistakes and miscalculations.
4. They Learn.
Along the same lines, creatives are constantly learning. They learn from introspection and from observing the world around them. They keep abreast of the latest trends in their industries, as well as some of the history behind time-tested methods. By constantly learning new information, creatives can improve their work on a regular basis. If you think you know everything already, then why would you ever believe that another way of doing something could be better?
5. They Connect.
When we are by ourselves, it is easy to think of what we do in a vacuum. Some idea might sound good, but it’s only when sharing it with others that we see either the value or flaws that were invisible to us before. That’s one of the critical reasons why connecting with others enables the creative process. It also brings in more information about the world, and some of the challenges people face that you would be otherwise unaware of. If you are not connecting with people (especially those that are not already in your circle) in deep and meaningful ways on a regular basis, you’re missing out on what the world has to show you.
6. They Breathe.
It can be tempting to just keep going, to keep pushing, and to keep striving for better. That’s what moves you forward, but it can also lead to burnout. Creative people know that well, and more often than not are able to tell when burnout is going to happen, and tackle it before it gets out of control. They take breaks, even if just to change scenery or to get a fresh look at something later, knowing that they will be much more productive in the long run if they can balance their energy with their responsibilities.
7. They Play.
Play can take many forms, and for most, play can sound like a waste of time. However, most creative people know how to play with their work. They see how to make it more interesting and fun. The best part about this is that not only does it make work less dreary, it also helps creatives come up with new ideas and see existing ideas under a new light. Play is what children use to learn about the world around them, and it’s a great habit to also keep well into adulthood.
It’s not impossible to become more creative, and even incorporating 1 or 2 of these habits into your life will lead to dramatic improvements. Just think of what you would do if you stopped holding back because of the fear of failure. Or, maybe you should spend less time doing the same things over and over and more time learning about new methods and ideas. Build these habits into your life and build something great.
Ryan, really glad to see Experiment and Play on your list — they tend to be overlooked and underrated. Not every problem yields to intense frontal assault.
Great list here, Ryan. Each point is important, but I especially like number one. I agree with you that it is foundational for anything. If you don’t believe, you won’t succeed.
“Without action, creativity is pretty much useless.” You’re right, Ryan. I think many people who don’t give it to much thought (which, I fear, is most people) think that “creativity” is about dreams, viewpoints and ideas. That is certainly a basis for creativity; but it is not creativity itself. In order to be truly creative, one must create – to do, to make, to bring into existence.
I might also add one more, which is akin to many of your listed habits, but which I believe is still separate and worth its own mention: EXPLORE. Being intentional about exposing ourselves to things outside our usual routine or comfort zones is important to fostering creativity. It’s not about the thing itself, whether trying a new kind of food, listening to a friend’s iPod playlist with which you’re unfamiliar, checking out new neighborhoods or towns or anything else. These things simply keep our mind and “connectability” limber. That is, they keep our mind expecting to think new thoughts.
Solid post, Ryan. I enjoyed reading it!