No matter what platform you create content for, the difference between standout creators with buzzing pages and ordinary creators who struggle for relevance is their ability to generate and execute creative ideas.
In fact, the whole point of creating content online as an industry or in the right parlance, as a digital economy, is based on creators showcasing their creativity in a bid to create entertainment or educative value.
Safe to say, without creativity, creators cannot create value and the digital economy cannot thrive.
So as a digital creator, your job is to find or generate creative content ideas and turn them into creative arts that can be beneficial to your audience.
Luckily, creativity can be learned and you can hone your creative skills and turn it into a second nature.
In this post, we’ll look at a few hacks you can use to improve your creativity as a digital creator and start creating content that is relevant and thought-provoking for your audience.
Let’s get right to it.
Find the right environment
For many creators out there, the right environment can provide the kind of stimulation or inspiration that drives creativity.
In fact, research has shown that changing of work environment can significantly influence creativity.
Creators who frequently have a change of scenery can break away from regular thinking patterns while being exposed to new perspectives.
As a creator, you can find alternative work environments such as public workspaces, incubators, or even travel to a new city for a work holiday.
This can help you freshen up mentally and even get to try out new creative tasks.
Embrace Constraint
In as much as the vast majority of workers globally dislike working with constraints, there’s always hidden opportunities in them.
Working with limited resources could inspire creators to think out of the box to find solutions that work immediately and that could trigger creative ideas.
It’s been found that constraints, whether imposed by external factors or self-imposed, could trigger innovative thinking.
Hence, it could be a hack to not be averse to constraints or work limitations. Rather, you should embrace it with the knowledge that there could be an opportunity for creative problem-solving.
So, instead of thinking you can’t shoot that video with a shoestring budget, think of ways to find the right people, resources, and concept to make the video within that limited budget.
Dedicate time for Brainstorm
Dedicating specific periods for brainstorming can be a great hack for improving creativity.
Research has found that brainstorming could be a dedicated way to come up with a high volume of creative ideas which can be further developed into tangible innovations.
So, if you want to consistently come up with creative content ideas as a digital creator, you could dedicate time for brainstorming sessions weekly or monthly, to zone in and explore your creativity.
I do this a lot, especially with the aid of AI and automation tools, and I’ve been able to do more creatively than I would have done without those sessions.
Explore Outside Your Niche
The worst thing that could happen to a digital creator or a creative is being boxed into one niche.
You become stuck and resigned to working with old recycled ideas that
When it comes to creativity, you shouldn’t be boxed in. Rather, you should explore everywhere and everything to get inspiration for your work.
Did you know that Apple’s innovative designs were inspired by calligraphy because Steve Jobs decided to think out of the box by exploring arts for technology inspiration?
That should let you know that exploring beyond your scope of expertise could be a source of creative inspiration.
Practice Digital Minimalism
Sometimes, less could be more, especially for creators who find themselves entangled in the web of digital clutter.
Several open tabs, non-stop app notification, endless cycle of multi-tasking, etc. This could be creating unnecessary distractions that dim your creative flow.
According to Cal Newport, in his book Digital Minimalism, reducing digital noise could be a legitimate pathway for creators to create meaningful ideas and do deep work.
Maybe you’re not just suffering from a dearth of creative ideas but from lack of focus on the creative tasks that really matter.
Leverage AI Tools Strategically
AI tools could help you fast-track the creative process and do more in less time.
Recently, most of my brainstorming sessions now involve using AI tools, and I’ve been able to create better by getting new perspectives and insights that I wouldn’t have had without AI.
The key however, is to use AI tools for inspiration, not execution. You want to leverage AI to improve on your natural creative output not to replace it.
Interestingly, research has found that AI-Human co-creation is better than using AI alone, and creators can produce higher quality ideas by complementing their work using AI tools.
Keep a “Creativity Bank”
Creative ideas can come in pieces, and you’ll be mistaken to discard them as single random thoughts instead of fitting them together into one big idea.
That is why it is important to keep a creativity bank where you document all your creative ideas and concepts because you never know when they can come in handy.
Creative ideas could come in the least expected places such as when taking a shower, during a walk, in the middle of a chat, or even in your sleep!
So, it’s necessary to keep a creative bank for these aha moments. You could use apps such as Notion, Google Docs, or Evernote to jot down ideas, store photos and screenshots, and even sketches.
Collaborate & Share Ideas
How many times have you had an aha moment while sharing ideas that you care about with others?
In my experience, countless times. I found that the more I share ideas and brainstorm with others, the higher I can stimulate creative thoughts.
This is further corroborated by research which found that creativity can be cognitively stimulated when people share ideas.
So, you could improve your creativity by sharing your ideas with others with different skills and experiences, and collaborating via niche communities like Discord, Reddit, or Facebook groups.
This way, you can be exposed to new perspectives and may start seeing your work via the lenses of others.
Take Regular Creative Breaks
A creative break is an opportunity to reset your creative circuit and freshen up mentally before continuing a creative task.
Taking a creative break is not the same as taking extended time off work or abandoning tasks until you decide to take them up again.
Rather, it could be a way to take regular short periods away from work in order to avoid long periods of recovery from burnout.
In fact, many creative professions like software development, graphics design, and film making now advise creators to take creative breaks so as to “clear their heads” and avoid creative block.
This way, creators can return to work with fresh energy and improved problem-solving, which could amount to improved creativity.
You could take a creative break by taking a walk, listening to music, meditating, exercising, and many other amazing things you can do with your creative breaks.
Revisit Your Old Works
Sometimes, the idea that propels you to the next level of creativity is hidden in your archives — old sketches, audio recordings, forgotten drafts, etc.
Revisiting these old works could spark new ideas or ignite new passions that drive you to new levels of creativity.
As a content creator, you should take the time to revisit your old works or that of others, especially in similar project areas, in order to reimagine concepts and tap into the creativity of others.
Build Creative Habits
Lasting creativity is built out of habit rather than inspiration. So, instead of relying on your moments of genius, build creative habits that help you achieve creative consistency.
Creative habits could be in the form of creativity building sessions such as painting, storytelling, or even collaborative brainstorming. These activities can help strengthen creative confidence which becomes applicable in work situations.
Journal Your Creative Process
Journaling is a great way to leave trails of what is most important to you during your creative process.
This way, you can always track what inspires your creativity, and aim to achieve creative consistency.
For example, in programming, coders are advised to journal their creation process by commenting on their code so as to describe the purpose of the program and the algorithm used so as to help users understand the function of the program without having to read the code itself.
By keeping track of creative patterns, creators can create environments where creativity can thrive by being understood, learnable and transferable.
FAQs on Hacks to Improve your Creativity
Can creativity be learned or is it natural?
Creativity can both be natural and learnable. However, it is important to create work environments where creativity is freely expressed if you want to reap its benefits.
How do digital creators overcome creative burnout?
Creators should find the right work environment, embrace digital minimalism, and learn to take creative breaks if they want to avoid burnouts.
What’s the role of technology in creativity?
Technology helps creators create faster and find inspiration in a holistic way. However, it is important to include human input for a more robust impact.
Does working in a team increase creativity?
Yes. As aforementioned, sharing ideas and brainstorming with others, especially in a team has been found to stimulate creativity.
