Whether they may be aware of it or not, college students have to brush up on their creativity almost constantly. Finding solutions to complex problems, viewing abstract concepts in a tangible manner, and even transforming something challenging into something more manageable – are all examples of creative thinking!
Without creativity, it’d be hard to imagine how that would go. As you move up the college ladder and get closer to your degree, you’ll see that innovative thinking will help you immensely along the way. It won’t replace real and long fact-studying (sadly!), but it can help with arranging concepts in your mind – in a clearer, more precise way!
If you sometimes struggle with being creative, don’t worry. Creativity is much more than painting or writing. Here’s a little secret – you don’t even have to be creative with writing! The best place to pay for an essay is EssayPro. EssayPro offering professional help with essay writing! You can get a top-notch essay at an affordable price – together with a plagiarism report for free. Make sure to check them out, and relieve yourself of the stress and strain of essay-writing!
Let’s now explore 15 tips to spike that creativity of yours so you can see the world with new, inspired eyes!
1. See creativity in a positive way
The ability to see the world through a creative lens is one of the most valuable gifts we can give ourselves. Some people may believe that being creative is not productive or not profitable enough. Try to see creativity in a positive light – as a skill that helps you see different situations in different ways!
2. Allow room for mistakes
Changing the way you think and perceive the world is nothing less than challenging. It takes patience, time, and will to deliberately choose new ways of looking at life, work, or studying. Sadly, you won’t develop creative vision overnight, so try to be patient with yourself and let mistakes happen. They could be a great way to learn!
3. Look for inspiration
You may think to yourself, “How to get inspired by exams or college errands?” It may not seem evident at first, but at least a little creativity is hidden everywhere. Exams? They test your innovative ways of studying and solving problems. Errands? You can view them as challenges in your life’s game.
Inspiration sometimes comes naturally, but if you don’t see it at first – try digging a little deeper!
4. Check in with others
If you feel stuck in your pursuit of inspiration, feel free to ask others how they’re going around it. Your family, friends, or colleagues may have some excellent advice that’ll help you on the spot. Don’t be afraid to ask!
5. Keep a journal
It may seem like journaling can help with anything these days – but it’s somewhat true. Keeping a journal about your creative feats enables you to get a clearer picture of your progress. You can even use it for other inspiring projects, like sketching or poem-writing. Or perhaps, use it to take lecture notes – but spice them up with colors, stickers, and doodles!
6. Use mind maps
Mind maps directly combine your artistic abilities with learning. They are a fantastic way to activate and engage your brain, especially if you’re a visual learner. You can create them during or after the lecture – and don’t forget to color-code, use all sorts of shapes, and have fun while you’re at it!
7. Reward your curiosity
Being curious is the first step in any creative pursuit. So any time you feel like exploring the world around you or learning more about a topic you’re interested in, reward yourself! It’ll tell your brain curiosity matters.
8. Try collaborative thinking
You sometimes get used to your thoughts. When that happens, the best way to not feel stagnant is to explore other views and opinions! Learn to collaborate with others creatively, maybe on a team or a group project. Your mind will definitely stretch and bend under the weight of new ideas.
9. Make time for thoughts
Make sure to leave some time every day to simply think about yourself, your plans, college goals, and your future. You don’t have to have solutions to every problem or know how to handle any situation. Just think about different scenarios, topics, and wants. That way, you’ll stretch your mind and broaden your innovative and artistic horizons!
10. “The popcorn approach”
Teachers usually use this approach to help their students think more creatively – but the good news is, you can do it yourself! Here are three steps to follow; they may seem easy, but following them proved to be quite challenging for many:
1. Choose a topic/problem you need ideas/solutions for;
2. Turn on your creative brain – and set a timer for 1 minute;
3. Try to write down or record as many solutions as you can before the time runs out.
Again, it may seem too easy, but try it out and see how well you did; maybe you’re a natural!
11. Become friends with art
Art is another word for inspiration. You can research well-known painters, sculptors, and musicians and their work. Even though you may not immediately see the use for this in college, it can signal your subconscious mind to pay attention to art and detail. That’ll for sure come in handy when dealing with those innovative exam questions.
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/xb0wLfZH9Zo
12. Practice daydreaming
Taking a trip to the dream world and escaping college reality for a while is more than beneficial. Sometimes you may get caught up in your college life, thinking that’s all there is. Dreams and daydreaming connect us to our creative side, and we can explore a world with no limitations and enjoy complete freedom!
13. Think outside the box
Practice new ways of thinking – you can do this by:
Reading;
Solving puzzles;
Analyzing problems;
Visualizing;
Escaping your daily routine.
14.Brainstorm
Whenever a new situation arises, practice brainstorming. An excellent way to go around it is simply by recording whatever comes to mind, no matter how ridiculous it may seem at the moment. By doing so, you’re engaging both your conscious and subconscious minds to get to the answer you want. What a smart move!
15. Keep your discipline
It may sometimes seem like developing creative thinking is hard or takes too long. And that can be true. The most important thing to remember is to give yourself a loving space, patience, and time while developing this new approach.
Rome wasn’t built in a day; it took years of consistent work with a vision in mind. The same applies to you – be patient, kind to yourself, and ready for change while holding that vision of creativity firmly in your mind!
What to take away
It is pretty easy to get caught up in the cycle of work, money, and college stress. Many people are so focused on getting through the day that they can’t see the big picture.
It is important to have courage in your creative endeavors because putting in the work now can reap big rewards later. Make sure to stay consistent, support yourself, and give yourself space to grow and change. Your future innovative self will be grateful you stuck with it even when times were tough!