9 Ways to Engage Your Creative Side While Staying at Home

Now that the banana bread baking craze has died down and we have no more clothes left to tie-dye, some of us have been facing a bit of a creative slump. Despite the challenges, working from home — or just spending more of your time there — has given us more freedom to explore different ways to approach our time, and to take a look at why creativity is so crucial.

Whatever industry or profession you are in, finding ways to reignite your creative side will not only make your work more mentally engaging, but it has the potential to make the outcome of that work even more valuable.

Here are some ways to engage your creative side while working from home if you feel like you are getting stuck in a rut.

Switch Up Your Daily Routines

The way you wake up for the day sets the tone for how you will be feeling. If you have been lacking creativity, start thinking outside the box, from the moment you wake up. Play a different podcast or playlist, try a new morning beauty routine, or turn your morning latte into this morning smoothie. Paying attention to the little actions that we typically breeze by can help add a little spark of inspiration.

Make It a Priority to Learn Something New

Curious about how to recycle your food scraps? Ever wondered how marketing experts use social media to predict the latest fashion trends? Learning new information can help to increase your desire to expand your knowledge in other ways. If you’ve been wanting to do your work differently, utilize this time to learn a new system that makes you more marketable. Take a course on Skillshare or grab a book from your local bookstore — here’s just one list of different subjects you can dive into.

Get Handsy

As humans, we are wired to create and build. Starting a DIY project (like growing your own herb garden), creating a piece of handmade artwork, or even cooking a new meal (like this coconut chicken soup or this nourishing bowl) can help spark activity in the right side of your brain.

Think on Your Head

Studies show that there are several inversion yoga poses that work to promote blood flow to the head, and can help you see things differently once you get back to work. Take a five minute break during the day when that creative slump starts to hit and try out one of these poses.

Change Up Your Diet

The food we eat has an overall effect on our mental, physical, and emotional well-being, but research shows that food can also impact our mood and creative thinking skills. Taking care of your gut is super important for your immunity and potentially even your cognitive function. If you’re not sure where to start, try a healthy meal subscription service. Even if you love cooking creatively, this is a great way to get new recipe ideas to riff off of in the future.

Look at Colors Differently

Children are often inspired to be creative when they see a box of crayons or markers because those colors are stimulating their right-frontal lobe (the one connected to creativity). Research shows that green might be the key to unlocking your creative side. Our favorite green tip: add a plant. Since fully redecorating your home office may not be an option, here are some other ways to spice up your space without breaking the bank.

Do Some Journaling

A lot of times a creative slump occurs when we are veering from what drives us and brings us purpose. By taking the time to ask yourself deep questions (Do I enjoy what I’m doing? How is this work fulfilling me?), you can discover what makes you feel most creative. This does not always mean a shift in careers; maybe you tackle a different role at your job and take on some new responsibilities that align with your purpose.

Ask for Recommendations

Creativity should always be a collaborative effort. Reach out to a friend or colleague to ask what has been inspiring them. It can be helpful to hear what someone else is doing to keep those creatives juices flowing.

Take the Pressure Off

When we put pressure on ourselves to perform a certain way (pumping out creative ideas on a deadline, for example), we tend to make it more difficult for our brains to engage in the way we want. If you’ve tried all of these tips and are still struggling with creativity, create a judgment-free zone for yourself where you recognize that struggling with creativity is something that everyone faces. A momentary lapse in creative juices does not mean you are not a creative person, so no need to stress it!

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