How To Be More Creative

Niamh O’Reilly delves into the world of creativity, to find out how we can all tap into that imaginative side of our mind on a regular basis and how best to use it to our advantage.

When was the last time you felt truly creative? For many of us, it’s a tough one to answer. Often creativity conjures up images of hugely talented, eccentric types, who rail against conformity and live in a completely different headspace all the time.

But that’s a bit of a red herring.

Yes, there are a cohort of exceptional creatives, such as Francis Bacon, Frida Kahlo (pictured right on this page) or Virginia Woolf, but all of us are capable of creativity on a daily basis.

And there’s the rub. Creativity doesn’t mean you have to be the next Steve Jobs or Banksy. Creativity is for everyone and if you think of it more as a mindset, rather than something just for the chosen, talented few, it can transform your life and open up unlimited positive possibilities.

Sounds great, I hear you say, but how do I do that?

Just sit and watch a young child play. The way in which they will create entire worlds in their minds with the most basic of toys or even from objects like a cardboard box, is astounding to adults because most of us have pushed those creative urges down. Why? Conformity. The older we get and the more we move through the system of life, the more we all suppress those wilder creative urges to make the world run smoothly. But what if you could tap into that well of imagination and use it to your advantage?

I asked three people who are creative for a living, for their top tips on how to be more creative.

Best-selling author Andrea Mara, whose new book Hide And Seek is out now, has to create entire worlds out of nothing, so how does she get into the creative mindset?

1>> Unplug “I love my phone. It comes everywhere with me. But to get into a creative mindset, I need to empty my mind sometimes, and that means putting down the phone. Try leaving it in your pocket and just listen and look around. You can hear all sorts of interesting exchanges that can spark stories if you tune into your surroundings. Until 10 years ago, most people didn’t have smart phones and just stood in queues doing nothing. Sometimes I wonder about the ideas and lightbulb moments we may have lost since then”.

2>> Read “If you’d like to write, read, read, read. Someone wise once said ‘if you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time to write’. Read widely, read outside your genre. You may find you’re reading something new, nodding along, thinking ‘this is the kind of story I want to write’.”

3>> Get Out “Go out into the world and spend time with other people. Random conversations can spark all sorts of ideas, as can travel – even if it’s just travelling to a coffee shop. I used to wonder what it would be like if I had childcare, if I didn’t have to close my laptop at two o’clock every day for the school run. But over time, I realised that being at home all day alone writing wouldn’t necessarily work for me, and that spending time out in the world, meeting people, gives a much more creative balance.”

Helen Steele is an artist and fashion designer who creates digital prints from her unique windblown paintings. Her collections can be found in Dunnes Stores. Helen takes inspiration from rural Ireland and colour for her work.

1>> Sleep “I know it’s hilarious, but if I don’t get enough sleep, it cuts my creativity in half. I also sleep with a notebook and pencil beside my bed to jot down ideas before bed or when I wake up as I get a lot of ideas when I am relaxed.”

2>> Practice “I try to work at or do something creative every day. It’s important to feed your practice. It’s through repeatedly doing something that you get better. Chocolate and coffee also help. They are my go-to when I’m under pressure with deadlines. Instant hit.”

3>> Art/ Theatre/ Music “Try to watch or go to any of these. Lots of art galleries and museums are free. I go to the Municipal Art Gallery to sit outside Francis Bacon’s Studio. I get such inspiration there. I can still feel the energy in his studio. Watch programs on artists or designers, visit exhibitions of their work, view the details in their work, there is always something new to learn.”

Creator of mindfulness guided journals mojo&co, Maureen Hoey changed her life during the pandemic, leaving her job to pursue a more creative path.

1>> Write Your Ideas Down “No matter how big, small, or insignificant you may think they are, sometimes the simplest ideas can be the best. Writing them down is your space to gather your ideas, have a notepad handy so you don’t lose sudden flashes of inspiration.”

2>> Prioritise “If you have a long list of ideas but don’t know where to begin, start with the one thing that energises you the most, the one that gets your creative juices flowing, this will make it easier to get creative with your other ideas and in time bring them all together.”

3>> Take a Break “If you’re having a creative block, that’s when you need to step away from the process. Get a coffee, go for a walk or try to switch your mind to something else for a while.”

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