Creativity isn’t just for designers and marketers! Every position in an organization can benefit from workers with curious mindsets and an interest in improving the systems and circumstances of their work. 

Here are six ways to boost creativity, no matter your working role. 

Focus On Collaboration 

One way to kickstart creativity is to work closely with others. Make sure to emphasize open communication while brainstorming ina group— an initial approach of ‘no bad ideas’ can launch new ideas and open pathways of potential. You can always get practical and narrow down your ideas later. 

Even if you’re working on a project solo, getting someone else to review it might be exactly what you need to break through on your progress. 

Take Breaks

You can’t run on empty! Taking breaks and slowing down is crucial to boosting creativity. If you’re focusing on task completion and nothing else, you’re likely to skip the best way to do something in favor of getting it done. Approaching a problem in an unconventional way requires time to think and ponder. 

If you’re not in the habit of taking breaks, it’s time to start. The Pomodoro Technique is a great way to recharge; work for 25 minutes, take a break for five minutes, then repeat that three or four times. After these highly productive sessions, take a longer break for half an hour. The structure can help you get used to stepping away, and the scheduled breaks can help boost productivity. 

Enjoy Nature 

Spending time outside is great for your physical and mental health. The reduction of stress alleviated by being outside can open up your creative capabilities. 

A simple walk while you’re taking a break (see above!) can boost your creativity and inspire you. Try to focus on sensory details, like the way the sun feels, the different animals and plants you see, and the particulars of the weather. It might seem like a simple task, but it’s closer to meditation than you might think! The act of mindfully observing the world around you is excellent for sparking creativity. 

Increasing emotional intelligence (EQ) has a lot of benefits, one of which is stimulating creativity. By focusing on the five factors of EQ, you can improve your motivation, awareness, and regulation of yourself and others.  This can increase your empathy and help you understand and resonate with the emotions of others. 

As you focus on multiple different viewpoints and consider the perspectives of others, you might experience more creative problem-solving. Developed EQ helps you look at the world through the lens of others; embracing those other perspectives might be exactly what you need to take your work to the next level. 

If you stick to the same methods, you will get the same results. Kickstart your creativity by finding where your boundaries of comfort are and pushing past them. This can be as simple as trying a new cuisine, watching a movie in a different language, or attending a local event of a group you’re not familiar with. 

New experiences will get your brain working in new ways! Focus on how these experiences make you feel, paying equal attention to the parts you enjoy and don’t enjoy. Learning about a new culture, country, or subculture might be exactly what you need to start thinking outside the box.  

It might take some time to find your ideal working environment, but finding your most productive set-up is more than worth it. Whether you’re fully remote or in the office all of the time, you can find ways to enhance your experience working. 

• Does listening to music energize you while you work? Or are your noise-canceling headphones your secret weapon? 
• Are mornings your most productive times? Do you hit a mid-afternoon slump? 
• Can aromatherapy using a diffuser help you focus? Or the less sensory input, the better? 

Asking yourself these questions can help you create the most creative environment specific to your needs. Not everyone will have the exact same requirements and preferences, and that’s okay. As long as you’re fulfilling responsibilities, there’s no wrong way to work. 

Get The Creative Boost You Need 

No matter what you do in your working role, you can benefit from a more creative mindset. Try these tips and find out what works for you! 

Are you interested in taking TTI Success Insights’ EQ assessment? Contact us here to get started.