The importance of creating as a creative

I need you to keep creating, creative. Even if you just feel like sitting on the sofa…

Do you remember when you were allowed to be bored? When you used to say to your parents: "I'm borrrrrrred...." And they'd reply: "GOOD!".

I absolutely believe in three things as a wonderful catalyst for creativity:

• boredom

• habit building

• disconnecting from the Digital World (ooops, soz you've got to read this online).

The Importance of Creativity:

In a world where we are constantly expending energy on the essential and the mundane, finding time for creativity can be a challenge. I get it. The need to choose dinner for a variety of fussy critics every day. The need to do the damn spellings. The need to say "teeth, shoes, coat, LET'S GOOOO!”. It’s A LOT.

We negotiate and plan and sort through our busy lives, and then we finally get some time to ourselves. Oh goody, time for a scroll. We deserve it, right? A bit of mindless consumerism and mindless scrolling. A cleansing of our busy brains.

But here’s the catch: our screens reward us with instant gratification - a dopamine hit, information at our fingertips, and the ability to buy anything with a few clicks. If everything is “Googleable,” then why bother creating anything new?



Why Creativity Matters:

Because our brains and souls need it. They’re crying for us to engage in the sticky challenge of making something new, to stretch our creative muscles. It’s not just about acquiring a new possession; it’s about experiencing the profound, deeper chemical response of being more than mere consumers. It’s the satisfaction of doing something for the sake of the journey, rather than the outcome.

And the bonus plus side which we might not have even stopped to consider?

In the process of creating, our brains often untangle the truth buried beneath the noise of Netflix and social media. The realisation that we need to do the thing which our soul is calling out for.

Just like in coaching - when I hold space for my beautiful clients to unlock and "aha!!" - so the act of creation actively makes space in our brains for us to work out the "aha!!". The joy!

Practical Steps to Cultivate Creativity:

And so, back to "boredom, habit building and not being online." Here's some practical steps to help you rediscover your creativity:

1. Hide your phone: Yep. Do it. In another room. GO! Disconnect from the constant digital distractions.

2. Embrace boredom: Let yourself be bored. Sit with the itchiness of it - really struggling to do this? Start with something simple: recycle those pair-less socks, stretch, or move your body (go outside!).

3. Make it a daily habit: Start with 15 minutes a day of creative activity. Just 15 minutes. Commit to it for two weeks and see what happens.

4. Reward yourself: Use the power of rewards to encourage your creativity. Reward yourself for being creative, until the act of creating becomes it's own reward.

And finally?

Remember that you are more than what the screens tell you. Let yourself be as curious and playful as a child. Relish it. It's the biggest treat of all.

I’d love to know the practical steps that you take to cultivate creativity. Let me know in the comments below.

With love,

Laura x

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If you enjoyed reading this blog post, here’s a few more that you may find useful for your creative small business:

1. 7 Reasons You’re Delaying Working With a Coach

2. That all illusive confidence and why I don’t always have it

3.  Learning how to forget yourself and live in the moment