Aristotle is quoted as saying: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” (see below for tangent on misattribution of this).
Regardless of authorship, I’ve always loved this quote. If we want to live creative lives, we have to create. It’s as simple and hard as that. Here’s some tips and ways I’ve found has helped me incorporate living creatively in my daily life.
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Schedule creative time: Make time every day for creative activities, even if it’s just 15 minutes.
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Create a dedicated space: Having a dedicated space for your creative activities can help you get in the right mindset.
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Take breaks: Breaks can help you relax, refresh your mind, and come up with new ideas.
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Carry a notebook: Jot down any ideas, inspirations, or creative thoughts that come to mind throughout the day.
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Surround yourself with creativity: Surround yourself with inspiring things like art, music, books, and other creative people.
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Experiment with different mediums: Trying new things can help you expand your creative horizons.
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Collaborate with others: Working with other creative people can help you bounce ideas off each other and come up with new concepts.
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Give yourself permission to fail: Don’t be afraid to fail, it’s all part of the creative process.
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Challenge yourself: Set creative challenges or goals for yourself to push your boundaries.
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Keep learning: Read books, watch videos, or take classes to learn new skills and techniques.
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Take inspiration from the world around you: Look for inspiration in everyday things, like nature, architecture, or people.
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Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness can help you focus and be present in the moment, which can lead to new ideas.
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Embrace your uniqueness: Embrace your own unique style and approach to creativity.
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Start small: Don’t feel like you need to create a masterpiece every time you sit down to be creative. Start small and build from there.
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Make it a priority: Make creativity a priority in your life, and you’ll find that it becomes a natural and enjoyable daily habit
I write this list as a reminder to myself, as it is super easy to get caught up in the minutiae of everyday life, and realize weeks have went by without me attempting to create anything.
Do any of these tips help you in your creative journey? Are there any I need to add? Let me know in the comments!
