Training Your Creativity

“My contention is that creativity is now as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.” - Sir Ken Robinson, British Author, speaker and educator

We hear lots of things about training our body and staying in shape through exercise programs, healthy eating, good sleep habits – basically advancing the idea of mind, body, spirit in ourselves. Olympic and professional athletes train themselves for years to get themselves into shape for peak performance. But relying on and training our “creativity” seems to be quite the elusive topic for many, sometimes accompanied by lots of anxiety and self-doubt. Why wouldn’t we, as creative people, apply the same dedication to be excellent in our crafts with our maximum output of creativity?

?As an eight-time Emmy award winning Producer/Director, creativity has been part of my normal business and personal life for a very, very long time. I must admit, I think I had a slight advantage as my mom was an art teacher who did not believe in coloring within the lines, so I always had as many resources as I needed to foster and grow my creative efforts, including lots of blank pieces of paper with paint, pencils, markers, whatever was needed to “create.” (We were NOT allowed to have coloring books! i.e., lines!) My dad also taught me all kinds of construction trades, so I had lots of applicable skills to work out my creative ideas. Add to that I was an early adopter of every Adobe product there was and is, and my transition from traditional to digital was an easy step for me.

I also teach creativity as a university professor at Colorado Christian University as part of the Strategic Communication and Digital Media Major in a class called Visual Creativity and Design. It’s a non-stop journey with hands-on training for practicing being creative through numerous agency-type projects, i.e., billboards, branding, logos, slogans, mobile apps, art and museum displays, trade show designs, one-sheets, games and many more. Some of the exercises are timed (READ: Pressure!), some are thought up on-the-spot, and all are shared as part of the “gallery walks” with others offering constructive criticism and feedback on a weekly basis. Learning collaboration can be a key to your creativity as you learn to work with others and share in the joy of innovation and ideation for whatever a client needs (or doing it just for fun!). ?

?"You use a glass mirror to see your face. You use works of art to see your soul.” ?-George Bernard Shaw, Irish Playwright, Critic

?Training your creativity involves developing habits and practices that stimulate your imagination, broaden your thinking, and enhance your problem-solving skills. Here are some strategies to help you train your creativity:

?“If you want creative workers, give them time to play.” - John Cleese, British Comedian, Actor

?1. Practice, practice, practice! Dedicate specific time each day or week to creative activities, whether it's writing, drawing, brainstorming, getting to know your cameras, lighting, or any other form of creative expression. Like going to the gym, engage in daily creative exercises, such as writing a short story, doodling, or coming up with new ideas for a project.

?“Don't wait for inspiration. It comes while working.” - Henri Matisse, French Painter, prominent figure in modern art

?2. Keep a Journal: Keeping a daily journal to save your notes and thoughts is key. How many times have you woken up in the middle of the night with this amazing idea, assuring yourself that it is soooooo incredible that there is no way you’d ever forget it. Then you wake up and “poof,” it’s gone. No recollection whatsoever, no matter how hard you try. I used to let these 2am nuggets drift into La-La land, but no more. I was tired of losing them. And many of them are great money-makers. My habit is to get up and at the very least, write it down in my journal. Sometimes I’ll even get up and start working on the idea a bit so I can relate to the full idea and execution that came in the dream. The other way I use my journal is to reflect on the creative process I’ve been thinking about in the past and track my progress. Usually on New Year’s Day, I will break out last year’s journal and have a glance through all the reminders of the great things that have happened despite what I might currently think or feel.

?“The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.” - Bruce Lee, Legendary Martial Arts Expert and Actor

?3. Meditation, Mindfulness and Relaxation: Everyone needs a way to unwind and debrief from the events of the day. Take some time daily to refresh yourself with focused meditation and relaxation techniques. It’s so easy to get wound so tight that we’re ready to bust open. I find that creativity flourishes when I’m not trying to force it (i.e., sleep or doing something else like walking or working out). NOTE: Have another note pad along with your journal with you when you’re doing this meditation because inevitably things will come to mind that need to be done that day or something you’ve forgotten that will distract the peace you are trying to enjoy. By writing it down, your brain can release it knowing that you can get back to it later.

??“I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts.” - Exodus 31:3

?Many of you that know how important my faith is and how it has literally changed my life. I am a big believer in the power of meditation – what I call prayer. (If you want to hear my stories, feel free to invite me to lunch. I have a plethora of them to share!) I find spending time with God is a great way to take the edge off of things as well as seek wise counsel from the creator of all things.

?“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” - Sylvia Plath, American Poet, famous for confessional poetry

?4. Collaborate with Others: Having a group of like-minded folks around you can be very helpful for sparking the creative process. Collaborate with others to brainstorm ideas. Group dynamics can lead to innovative solutions and ideas. Also, joining creative communities or groups where you can share your work, get feedback, and be inspired by others is another way to be inspired and encouraged.

?“It’s no good being too easily swayed by people’s opinions. You have to believe in yourself.” - Donatella Versace, Italian Fashion Designer, VP Versace

?5. Embrace Constraints: Challenge yourself by using constraints to your creativity. Set specific rules or limitations for a project to force yourself to think outside the box. And work on your problem-solving skills. Work on solving real-world problems that require creative solutions. Constraints often lead to innovative thinking. A great book for this is Creative Workshop: 80 Challenges to Sharpen Your Design Skills by David Sherwin. I use this book in classes to help drive creativity and practice a wide variety of skill sets through challenging exercises.

?“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” – Albert Einstein

?6. Experiment and Play: Experiment with different techniques, tools, and mediums. Play with new ideas and don't be afraid to make mistakes. You can also turn creative tasks into games or challenges to make the process more enjoyable and stimulating. If you haven’t walked through the imbedded tutorials that all of the Adobe programs have for each of their tools, that’s a great way to learn some new things while applying and practicing for training your creativity.

?“You can be cautious or you can be creative, but there’s no such thing as a cautious creative.” - George Lois, Influential Ad Creative and Art Director

?7. Learn from Others: Analyze and learn from the works of other creative individuals. Understand their techniques, styles, and processes. And don’t be afraid to enroll in courses or workshops that focus on creativity and creative thinking. I find that Deke McClelland’s LinkedIn classes (that are free if you’re an LI Premium member!) are helpful. You can look up training courses through Adobe.tv or just search YouTube as there are LOTS of people giving insight into using various software and techniques for creativity.

?“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” - Maya Angelou, American Author and Poet

?8. Read and Explore: Read a wide range of materials, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and scientific articles, to expose yourself to different ideas and perspectives. And stay curious about the world around you. Explore new places, try new activities, and seek out new experiences. These can light a fire for your creative thinking.

?“Creativity doesn’t wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones.” - Bruce Garrabrandt, Artist known for his detailed pencil drawings

?9. Set Goals and Deadlines: Set specific, achievable goals for your creative projects. Deadlines can motivate you to produce and refine your work. And share your goals with others or join a group that can hold you accountable for meeting your creative milestones.

?“A?creative?life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life." -Elizabeth Gilbert, Author Eat, Pray, Love

?10. Cultivate a Creative Environment: Create a workspace that inspires you, filled with things that spark your creativity, such as art, books, music, and tools. Ensure your creative space is free from distractions that can interrupt your creative flow.

11. Take a break from technology: As much as our phones and AI can help us accomplish more, you need to take regular breaks from interacting with social media and technology. The “freedom” may give your brain more space to come up with amazing ideas and you could certainly benefit from the rest. Taking a break from your phone and technology can help manage impulses, enhance focus, and contribute to your overall mental wellbeing.

“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.” – Pablo Picasso

?By incorporating these practices into your routine, you can train and enhance your creativity, making it a natural and integral part of your life

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?“Be yourself. Everybody else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde, Irish Poet and playwright

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?Jess Stainbrook is an 8x Emmy Award winning producer/director who is passionate about raising up the next generation of creative professionals and visual storytellers.