Image Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Hi, I’m Jessica’s Creativity and I’m back again to give you more tips about how your holiday can actually be a great time to boost your Creativity, if you use it right.
Okay! So we’ve spent this week looking at how stepping back from work, spending time with people and slurping up creative fodder can benefit both you and your Creativity.
Now it’s time for my last tip!
Fourth Tip: Create Something Random
Yes, you were told previously to step away from your work. This is not work. This is unadulterated play.
Take time (an hour or an afternoon if you have it) and work on a project – something that has no bearing on anything else. Something unrelated to stress. Something that’s not attached to you making money. Something that doesn’t have to wow an audience. Just something you and your Creativity want to play with.
Perhaps it’s something you’ve been wanting to try for a while now, but haven’t had the chance or the time to give it a go.
Perhaps it’s something you’ve never done before because you were worried you’d mess it up.
Throw out the worry and pressure. Just create!
What sort of things could you try?
Painting
The set up for this may take a little bit of outlay, but if you know a friend who has some paints stored away you might be able to ask for a lend. Oil painting is messy, intriguing and sometimes even addictive. Painting with watercolours leaves Jessica in a state of dreamy calm (especially after she discovered the easiest way to do clouds was wash the canvas with blue and then dab the clouds in with tissue). Face paints are also ridiculously fun and require volunteers (who won’t know what you’ve painted until afterwards).
Compose a Song
If you have an instrument lying around the house, why not tinker with a tune and create a song of your own? Try writing some lyrics (steal a melody from another songwriter if you have to…temporarily of course…you’ll give it back later).
Invent a New Recipe
Have you always wondered what adding paprika to your chicken would taste like? Or maybe you’ve been tempted to pour smarties into your muffin mixture? Now’s your chance!
Keep on the lookout for places and times when you could create something random. Involve the people around you. Smile, laugh and enjoy yourself.
If it doesn’t turn out as you expected, smile wider and laugh harder. This is fun! This is play!
This is good for both you and your Creativity.
Okay, now it’s your turn. How was your week? Have you had a chance to use any of the tips? Do you have tips of your own?
P.S. If you’re looking for ways to improve your creative endeavours in the new year, take a look at these great questions on the Go Creative! blog.
Creativity's Workshop 
December 31, 2011 at 12:32 am
Thanks, Creativity, this is a great tip! It is also radical and subversive in its simplicity–in our culture play is looked down upon, which is why it is so important. In cleaning out a closet, I just found a bunch of art supplies, so excuse me, I think I’ll go paint now. Happy New Year!
December 31, 2011 at 10:23 am
Wonderful, Charlotte! I’m sure you and your Creativity will have a ball!
December 31, 2011 at 7:13 pm
I count last week as a great success.
I finished a book about a subject I knew nothing about (the rare book trade) and learnt alot.
I took my mother to a film I would normally not have seen and was impressed by the acting.
I went to see another movie and liked it so much that I went to see it again, something I have not done since my teens (we won’t go into how long ago that was).
I read about a writer who died by toothpick and saw a TV program about a rare book shop in a disused Twinkie factory.
What more could you want. 🙂
January 1, 2012 at 9:50 am
Sounds like a brilliant week! Thanks for sharing it with us. 😀
Died by toothpick…eek!