Today, I want to offer you some tips on how you can reclaim your inner creative as an adult. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many great minds in my life, and one consistent issue I hear is “I’m not creative”. I firmly believe that creative expression is something we all possess, and reclaiming it is just a matter of practice! So let’s take a look at some of the best ways to stay creative as an adult.

1. Make Time for Creativity

One of the most important things you can do to stay creative as an adult is to make time for it. Set aside a specific time every day or week to work on a creative project. This could be anything from writing in a journal, drawing, painting, or playing an instrument. Whatever it is, make it a priority and stick to your schedule.

In the past what I've done is set a theme for a day. For example Saturday morning doodles at 10am. If you set something that you look forward too it will make it that much more appealing, keep it fun!

2. Break Your Routine

Staying in the same routine every day can stifle your creativity. To break free from the monotony, try doing something out of the ordinary. Take a different route to work, try a new restaurant, or pick up a new hobby. These small changes can help stimulate your brain and inspire new ideas.

Breaking the routine doesn't have to be something grand, it could be but within reason. Starting with small task is best, in my opinion.

3. Surround Yourself with Inspiration

Surrounding yourself with inspiration can help keep your creative juices flowing. This could mean anything from visiting an art museum, attending a concert, or following social media accounts that showcase creative work. Whatever it is, make sure it inspires you and ignites your creativity.

With this tip, one thing to note, is to document the experience, how did it make you feel? Take photos if you need to and journal about observations and create an idea bank.

4. Keep Learning

Learning is essential for staying creative. Continuously learning new things can help you come up with fresh ideas and inspire your work. Take a class, read books, or watch online tutorials in your field of interest. Never stop learning, and you will always have something new to bring to the table.

This can be really fun, if your brain starts to tickle, and you're having fun you're on the right tack. Learning can be fun, if you're more hands on, find way to incorporate that. You also don't want to challenge yourself too much because that will work against you.

5. Collaborate with Others

Collaboration can be an excellent way to stay creative as an adult. Working with others can bring new perspectives, skills, and ideas that you may not have thought of alone. Look for opportunities to collaborate with others, whether it's a coworker, friend, or online community.

One of my favorite tips, this is a great way to practice your communication skills while learning other people's processes. A bit of a give and take.

6. Embrace Failure

Failure is an inevitable part of the creative process. Don't let it discourage you. Instead, embrace failure as a learning opportunity. Analyze what went wrong, learn from your mistakes, and try again. Remember, some of the most significant breakthroughs in history came after multiple failed attempts.

My buddy Errol Gerson taught me this, fail means. First Attempt In Learning.

If you don't like the word failure, use experiment instead.

7. Take Breaks

Taking breaks is essential for maintaining creativity. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to burnout and creative block. Take breaks throughout the day, and make sure to take time off when you need it. Doing so can help recharge your creative batteries and prevent burnout.

This was the toughest lesson for me to learn. As you can imagine if you push yourself too hard you'll start wear out. I use to think if I worked 6 hours straight that it was a good thing.

8. Experiment and Play

Experimentation and play can be an excellent way to stay creative. Try new things, and don't be afraid to fail. Take risks and see where they take you. Remember, some of the best ideas come from experimenting and playing around with different concepts.

Have you ever had a wild idea? Maybe you thought it was too "crazy" to try? That may be an indicator you're on to something. Play can be an excellent way to discover new ideas or to remix ideas.

9. Keep a Creative Journal

Keeping a creative journal can be an excellent way to stay inspired and motivated. Write down your ideas, observations, and inspirations. Use it as a place to brainstorm and flesh out your creative projects. You can also use it to reflect on your creative journey and track your progress.

I've always believe that taking that idea in your mind and to transfer it to physical paper is a great way to get ideas out especially with ink. I love computers but it just doesn't feel the same as mind to hand.

10. Stay Positive

Lastly, staying positive is essential for staying creative as an adult. Don't let self-doubt and negative thoughts bring you down. Keep a positive mindset, and believe in yourself and your abilities. Remember, creativity is a journey, and setbacks are a natural part of the process.

It's all about that positive vibe, if you're not having fun, even that's a good thing because now you know.

Conclusion

As we age, it is easy to lose touch with our creative side due to the demands of everyday life, but creativity is a valuable skill that can benefit us in all areas of life, both professionally and personally. To help you stay creative as an adult, we have compiled a list of 10 tips, including making time for creativity, breaking your routine, surrounding yourself with inspiration, continuously learning, collaborating with others, embracing failure, taking breaks, experimenting and playing, keeping a creative journal, and staying positive.

By incorporating these tips into your life, you can reclaim your inner artist and bring creativity to all aspects of your life. Remember, creative expression is something we all possess, and reclaiming it is just a matter of practice!