I was interested to read Janet Hawley’s “Australia Day Special” about the iconic artist, John Olsen, in The Age Saturday 23rd January 2016 [Link].
The 88-year-old artist lamented the constant bombardment of mass communication and fast-paced modern day life results in little time for “personal dreaming. That sense of being intimately yourself…” Consequently, we are bereft of imagination and risk losing our sense of individuality. He encouraged us to stop running around all the time, reflect, look at nature and just allow our thoughts to wander.
Have you ever experienced a great idea, solved a problem, or gleaned a new perspective while you were doing something completely different or just daydreaming? Creative juices can be stimulated when taking a bath, doodling, going for a walk or spending five minutes out of the day to sit in the sunshine. Perhaps this is why adult colouring books have dominated recent book sales. Harnessing your imagination and inner creativity can also provide benefits in the workforce by sparking innovation, promoting entrepreneurship, generating new perspectives or better ways of doing things.
Below are five ways you can harness your imagination and creativity:
- Enjoy a break each day: Take time out each day to sit outside, observe and listen to the sounds. Often we don’t do this because we’re too busy. However, by taking a quick break you actually improve your productivity. Importantly, you are more creative when you relax. You will also help your vitamin D levels!
- Don’t skip holidays: Vacations are essential to unwind and rejuvenate. How often have you made significant change to your life after enjoying a holiday? Make sure you schedule regular holidays or short breaks throughout the year.
- Take up a new hobby or do something different: You use your brain differently when you learn something new, which promotes creativity. For example, learn a new language, master a musical instrument, or take a short course, such as floristry, photography, creative writing or art appreciation.
- Engage in regular exercise: Not only will you derive health benefits, you increase oxygen flow to the brain improving cognition and promoting endorphins or “feel good” hormones. Recent research shows it does not have to be strenuous exercise, simply moving regularly throughout the day with short bursts of more intense exercise, even for a few minutes a day, will provide health benefits.
- Adopt a zest for life and learning: Read avidly, foster a network of contacts and talk with different people, not just those in your own field but broadly, to promote cross fertilisation of ideas and to see things from different perspectives.
