How to Stimulate the Creative Process

-
-

Scientists say we all have the potential for greatness if we learn to tap into our inner genius. Get your artistic juices flowing with these strategies.

Step 1:
Sleep on it. Over the years, researchers have found that the REM sleep cycle boosts our creativity and problem-solving abilities, providing us with innovative ideas or the answers to vexing dilemmas when we awaken.

Tip
Keep a pen and paper by the bed so you can write down your nocturnal insights if they wake you up.

Step 2:
Go for a run or hit the gym. Studies indicate exercise stimulates creative thinking, and the brainpower boost lasts for a few hours.

Step 3:
Allow your mind to wander a few times every day. Far from being a waste of time, daydreaming has been found to be an essential part of coming up with new ideas.

Tip
If you're stuck on a problem or creatively blocked, think about something else for a while.

Step 4:
Keep learning. Studying something far removed from your area of expertise is especially effective in helping you think in new ways.

Step 5:
Put yourself in nerve-racking situations once in a while to fire up your brain. Fear and frustration trigger innovative thinking.

Step 6:
Keep a notebook or PDA with you so you always have a way to record fleeting thoughts. They're sometimes the best ideas of all.

Did You Know?
Author Robert Louis Stevenson said the idea for his 1886 book Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde came to him in a dream.

[therealorberon]

I'm a designer, and I always record down ideas to my phone through audio.

[rievans]

"Fear and anxiety trigger creative thought". Interesting!

[Glitterprincess]

REQUEST:

Could you guys do a tutorial on how to zig zag part hair? I know it's not as in as it use to be, but I need to do it for an event I'm going to, and I don't know how Howcast.

[maritasteffe]

vision and words. Good content, anything that's comfortable and routine is a killer to creativity.

[beautifulpaperflower]

you just take the end of a comb or something with a point (not sharp) and draw a zigzag with it then separate hair :) its easier if you brush your hair forward first too

[Nobodynothing]

I laughed out loud at the sleep one haha

[DancingChakra]

@Salien1999 Could be a notebook laptop.

[gymnast]

haha she's coloring a fish in the beginning... lol!

[DustinBosworthY]

I've found nootropics such as Sunifiram, Piracetam and Tianeptine have been very helpful in stimulating the creative process in myself. I tend to find that these nootropics are becoming more and more well known, which is a good thing considering their general lack of side effects. Smartdrugsforthought has a website that has a bountiful amount of information regarding nootropics, and while I do order through them, I recommend that anyone considering purchasing nootropics follows through with their due diligence in researching both the nootropic and the vendor of their choice to ensure a higher standard of quality product and experience.

Cheers!

[Glitterprincess]

I tried that and it didn't work. I need someone to show me how so I can know what I'm doing wrong.

[Airazor]

That's an awesome ferris wheel. o_O

[uqctph]

to ShrapnelSong:don't worry about it, we all need to be immature once in while, or else the world wouldn't be that fun anymore.

[vandal]

'IN' the toilette? O.O


XD

[Salien]

Why wouldn't I have a pen or pencil if I'm using a notebook?

[vistigioful]

Let's all daydream about fairies, dancing in the fields, floating away.

[eight]

1) god damit man i need to think and plan i ned to take my thoughts to a hgher level and exploit every reacource have a eureka moment
2) for trapper101: sadly i cant get my hands on weed atm

[MYChemicalLyrics]

@trapper101 i was gunna stimulate the creative process, but then i got high (its a song if ya didnt know) :D

[Salien]

@DancingChakra Then they would say Notebook Laptop.

[JackieEco]

she's in coney island - men in black 3

[mrwerevamp]

@sphynx105 Your right, we need to skip the weed and go to acid! Then get a camera and video tape your whole experience! Then post your favorite moments on youtube with intense dubstep music in the background and see what youtube comments you would get. And boom, someone will say something really stupid and disturbing that goes beyond the human ability of stupidity that if you think about, nevermind it will still sound very stupid! Then you wake up from a dream and you will say, "that's creative"