15 Tiny Creative Habits to Brighten Your Day
Think creativity has to be a big dramatic act? Think again. The happiest, most inspired people sprinkle tiny creative habits into their everyday routines - and you can, too. Following are 15 small but mighty ways to make your days more colorful.
First, why do small habits matter? Because when we start with small seemingly insignificant practices, they eventually become part of our everyday routine. I’ve always heard that if you want to create a lasting habit, you should set aside 21 consecutive days to be sure you practice whatever it is you’d like to make a sure thing. It will happen! Human nature is quite fascinating. By the end of those 21 days, your mind and body will decide they need this new habit.
There are a few ways to make a new habit stick, and the good news is that none of those ways is difficult. A few I use include: 1. Picking one habit at a time. I can’t pile on too many habits because between my family and work, I just don’t have the time. 2. I track my new habit in visual form. I like to use a chart or graph, and I like it to be very colorful. You can make your own either with a piece of paper and markers or print it off (there are many sites that can help with this) and get it on the fridge immediately. 3. Lastly, I use the reward system. I need positive enforcement even if it is just me recognizing my efforts. My rewards are seldom anything large, but they are ALWAYS something I love.
That list of 15 things:
Doodle in the margins. I used to watch my grandparents do this while they were on the phone. I found it fascinating because their drawings were …. very interesting. Seriously, you can doodle while in a meeting, at lunch, or again, while on the phone. Just for a few minutes. You can always set a timer for five minutes and see what happens.
Take a “color walk.” Go outside with the intent of gathering all of the things you can see that are blue (or whatever color you’re feeling inspired by in the moment.) Take a picture of it. If you’ve gathered anything you shouldn’t have, you might need to return it - LOL!
Start a tiny sketchbook. Depending on your location or motivation, look around you. Maybe you draw a particular bird that frequents the bird bath in your front lawn. Maybe you and the neighbor’s dog are on good terms and you can quick sketch her while she sits by your feet. Maybe your mailbox is where you find peace and stability. Sketch it!
Hum or whistle a made up tune while you are doing chores. One of my favorite sounds as a kid was listening to my grandmother whistle as she hung out the clothes on the clothesline. Yes, I did help, but it was a quiet time because I never wanted to break the spell. If you can’t whistle (I can’t either), enjoy humming a forgotten tune or one that you’re making up for the first time.
Take a photo of something you find beautiful on your daily walk. Maybe you see a tiny flower bloom through a crack on the sidewalk. Maybe you witness a fall leaf land in just the right spot so it glows against the leaves around it. Maybe you see a perfectly shaped whale cloud.
Write a six word story before bed. Bonus points if the protagonist is a fictional character from a far away land. Or if you capture the essence of the rising action. Or if the ending makes you cry.
Try a new handwriting style as you make your to do list for tomorrow. It may sound a bit crazy, but have you ever done this? It’s quite fun. When I was younger, I was fascinated with the handwriting of all the older people I was around (I grew up in a community much like Mayberry - where everyone knew everyone - and life was roses. More on this later. . . ) and I always wanted to attempt to write like them. Once, when my sons were in the first grade, one of their first grade teachers grabbed me and asked me to come look at something he had written. I thought it was perfect. She agreed but explained that he’d written the sentence starting with the period and had written it backward. Maybe today’s your day to write something backward.
Do a quick blind contour drawing. Don’t look at the page. Just draw while looking at a random object. Maybe it’s the face of your partner. Maybe it’s the neighbor’s car. Maybe it’s the teacher’s fish.
Start a small item collection. Perhaps you want to collect the same things or different things. Find an interesting bowl and start collecting those quirky shaped rocks, bottle caps with bright colors, or leaves that are still holding a perfect shape.
Make up a new rule for your morning or evening walk. For instance, I’m sure you walk quite normally, beautifully, elegantly, even. New rule: “Everytime I see a bird, I’ll hop.” That will break up the beautiful monotony. Maybe - if you’re in the country - everytime you hear a cow, you could swing your tail - LOL!
Bake or cook something without a recipe. Try to recreate those biscuits like your MeMaw did in the green Tupperware bowl without any measuring cups. She just measured with love. This will be fun!
Try drawing or writing with your non-dominant hand for one solid minute. You can think big picture or big words - that might be easier if you’ve never drawn or written with your non-dominant hand before.
Make up a back story for a stranger you see on your commute. This is one of my favorites. My sisters and I used to see “this guy” at “the mall” periodically when we were shopping. Before long, the guy had a name, a nickname, several pets, and many reasons for his frequent shopping trips.
Keep a “wonder list” of questions that pop into your head. Examples: Why do leaves curl? Why do I never dream in color? Why do eleven year old twins argue constantly?
Start a one line a day journal to keep up with the funny or sweet moments. I wish I’d done this when the boys were little. There were so many hilarious things that came out of their mouths, and then, of course, all the sweet things I think it’s important for us to remember during those days of adolescence. . . . .
Challenge: Pick two or three of these this week. Take pics of the evidence if you dare and hashtag it #keepyourearandcreate
I believe in you, friend!!! You can do this!
Remember creativity is built one tiny spark at a time.
