Creativity Exercises

Allow yourself to play and follow your interests. I know it is a challenge to quantify what you get back when you veer off to other things and spend less time on your work…

…somehow it just pays itself over!

 

I granted myself a bit of ‘play’ when I came across an idea: ‘take a section I like — and do an electronic version of Austin Kleon’s Newspaper Blackout series’.

Here is the result:

Inspired by @austinkleon #newspaperblackout —- attempted a digital version. #CreativityExercises pic.twitter.com/KV5nRuar0W

— Leigh Lim (@LeighLim) January 24, 2015

 

Now…how did that exercise pay me back?

• An idea for a song
• Future topic for a blog post
• a reminder of the importance of showing my work to others — because…I might just find (at least) another person that likes it too!

 

More Brain food? Check these out!

• How to Find Your Passion in 5 Creativity Exercises (Entrepreneur Magazine) – “…exploring avenues of creativity to find your passion is likely the quickest route to increase your chances of launching a successful business.”
• Test Your Creativity: 5 Classic Creative Challenges (99u) – “think of as many uses as possible for an everyday object like a chair, coffee mug, or brick.”
• Creativity Exercises (HuffPost) – “Go to an interesting location such as a market, a park or a museum and make an image every 10 steps you take”
• Try Fun, Quick Exercises to Boost Your Creativity – “Instead of trying to be very targeted about my reading, as I once tried to be, I let myself read whatever I want to read.”

 

Oh…one last thing? Make sure you are REALLY in a rut (or due for a break) when you do these! Please…please…please…(I’m begging you!)…veer away from the temptation to keep doing these exercises…(and other things you find)….unless you have gone back to what you need to finish that hour, day, or week.

I do like to hear which ones resonate with you the most (and also which ones have given you ‘more back’). Drop me a line will you? 🙂