7 Habits of Highly Creative Minds

1. Learn Something New Every Day

There’s one simple fact you need to know in order to succeed. In order to have the life you want. To live beyond the confined space of so-called life. And to spark your imagination so you can do the best work possible.

Here it is.

“Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. You can change it. You can influence it. You can build your own things that other people can use.” – Steve Jobs

Well said Mr. Jobs. Well said.

Creative minds don’t let other’s achievements affect their own creation of something remarkable. If you think you can’t do something – write a novel, code a website, or make a product you believe people will need – think again. Think about the fact that everything you see right now was created by someone. Did they have some sort of superpower?

No. They were a creative thinker who practiced the habits of creative thinking truly and passionately.

Developing creativity means learning something new every day. Go to Explore our library to find new tutorials and articles posted daily on topics relating to your freelancing niche. Take time between working on projects and running errands to acquire a new skill. This could also mean experimenting with new techniques for the stuff you’re already working on.

Here’s an example for you. My friend is a photographer and has just recently starting drawing. Every day he makes sure to draw something – a sketch, a concept, a character, anything. What he told me is that the more he draws, the more interesting his art becomes. New techniques and approaches to drawing lines helps expand the creativity of his work. You know what happened next? His photography became more interesting too.

Creativity happens when you make the effort to learn or try something new every day. Pretty soon it will become a habit. Have good creative habits and your mind will be happy.

2. Connect The Dots

Steve Jobs talked about it in his famous commencement speech. He said that creativity is just connecting the dots. Creative thinkers produce ideas by finding the relationship between facts. Facts merely on their own are useless until one sees the connection between them.

Creative thinkers produce ideas by finding the relationship between facts. Facts merely on their own are useless until one sees the connection between them.

When you see the connection between facts, you’re able to create something different.

This is what your clients are expecting. Even if they aren’t aware of it, they’re really going to you because they rely on a fresh perspective.

Developing a wide range of skills is a great way to discover the connection of ideas. Don’t just stick to what you’re “naturally” good at. If you’re a web designer, spending some time learning how to code will make your designs better. Why? Because you’re opening up new venues of creativity based on technical aspects you weren’t aware of. For example, you may have never thought to design a website with vertical text. But with a little exploration into HTML and CSS you learned not only how to technically create vertical text with CSS – but it opened your mind into the possibilities of using vertical text for web design work.

The connection between ideas doesn’t happen unless you explore a little. Start enhancing your natural gift with the skills that complement it. Writers can learn about photography, designers can learn about development, and developers can learn about design. Clients will thank you for your ability to see above and beyond. You may even spot something they weren’t aware of and offer your advice.

3. See The Potential and Make A List

Don’t stop thinking just because the technology, money, or support behind your idea doesn’t exist yet. It will someday. Reality is the result of imagination. What you put into the machine of creativity is the actual product or innovation you’ll get out.

You can create your best work based on the amount of vision you put into a single idea. Even Einstein famously said, “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

Some tend to think lists are too constraining for the creative mind. But this only partly true. A list telling you mundane tasks to do at a specific time sure can be limiting to creative thinking. But good list-making is about more than simple task management.

Creative thinkers use lists as mental roadmaps. As a place to see all their ideas before they get overrun by another wave of creative thought. Thomas Edison, John Lennon, and Leonardo da Vinci are among some of the creative thinkers of history that have used list-making as a creativity tool. Designers and illustrators can either make lists of concepts or keep a sketchpad to quickly draw out their ideas. When a new project comes up, it’s easy to be inspired when you already have all your creative thoughts written or drawn in front of you.

Here’s what you should do. Make a list of the things you want your freelance business to do, to be, and to achieve. Without editing, without thinking too much, and without believing something’s impossible – just write a list.

Now take a good look at your list. Keeping in mind the habits of creative thinking, what is stopping you from making the things on your list a reality? Remember that reality is what you create. Think creatively and you’ll find solutions to the issues that may come up when you’re working freelance. Besides – clients are trusting you to be a good solution-finder.

4. Don’t Shut The Door On Creativity

We all know it’s important to listen to other’s feedback. But if someone is telling you something can’t be done or shouldn’t be done without hearing the full story – don’t listen to them. Create without interruption. You don’t want someone knocking down your ideas before those ideas flourish.

You don’t want someone knocking down your ideas before those ideas flourish.

When it comes to being a freelancer though, we have to sometimes tone down our creative mind from getting too wild. But don’t do this right away. If a client asks for a logo with very specific requests, don’t immediately follow those rules.

First, design with your initial instincts. What could you do with their concept that they hadn’t asked for? Then tone it down to meet their requirements. Perhaps you could even include this concept design in your preliminary draft. It may even inspire your client to think of something they would want to include in the design. But if you’re going to do this, make sure most of the work you present them follows what they asked for. The point is to keep the door to creativity open. When you write, don’t stop to edit. This is when you loose all the good thoughts that prompted you to open a blank document in the first place.

Create now and edit after. Who knows where your creative mind will go?

5. Keep a Broad Perspective

As a business person (and that’s what you are as a freelancer) you know that the nature of business is to constantly evolve. Roll with the punches, adapt to demands, and carve out a new path in the direction of what a client wants. If you’re going to achieve all that, you’re going to need to think outside the box. Come up with creative ways to take one person’s vision and make it a well-rounded piece.

Many artists throughout history have displayed the effort to think beyond a one-way street. Picasso went through many stages of different styles of art. He had the Blue Period, the Rose Period, and the Surrealist Period, among others.

Over time he evolved. He changed his art to reflect the outside situations he felt and experienced.

As a creative freelancer, you need a broad perspective. Creative minds are curious about how the world works. They find various topics fascinating. This is especially important when it comes to working with your clients. The types of clients we work with vary. Many probably aren’t like you, but you need to know how they think in order to write the best copy, design the best website, or take the best photos for their type of business goals.

6. Say No A Lot More Than You Think

Sifting out the stuff that doesn’t work is just as important as keeping the things that do work. Saying no to clients is actually an important aspect in preserving your creativity. Getting overloaded by requests for extra work will reduce the quality of the work you already have on your plate. But it’s not just about saying no to clients. Saying no also means refining your creative ideas….eventually.

First, let your imagination soar. Write without editing and design without rules. But after that, reel in some of the crazy concepts you caught. Refining the results of your creative thinking and revising out the parts that don’t fit is what creates a solid piece of work.

7. Share Your “Ah Ha!” Moments

Two minds are better than one. Collaboration is key to developing ideas and taking them places you hadn’t thought of before. This habit goes hand in hand with connecting the dots.

It’s like picking fruit from a tree that grows apples and pears and bananas and mangos all on the same branch, instead of picking an apple from an apple tree.

Sometimes an idea flourishes when you talk about it with a friend, co-worker, or partner. Other times, you (and the people you’re talking with) end up with a long list of new ideas that strayed so far from the original thought. This is good. This allows you to connect the dots between all those ideas which, really, has more substance and depth than a singular concept.

Imagine a blank whiteboard on the wall. How many creative ideas could you write down in 5 minutes? What would that whiteboard look like? Now think of 5 creatively-minded individuals (you included) writing down all their creative ideas in the same 5 minutes. You get a different image in your head about what that whiteboard looks like now, don’t you? There’s more to explore and expand upon. It’s like picking fruit from a tree that grows apples and pears and bananas and mangos all on the same branch, instead of picking an apple from an apple tree. The variety of possible creative connections gets you drooling.

Freelancers have the great advantage of collaborating with other freelancers. Not only does the work of individual freelancers improve that way, but the entire value of freelancing in general goes up because we’ve just helped each other reach prime creative levels. People choosing to go the freelance hiring route will feel more secure in their decisions knowing that what they can expect from the freelancing community is a high standard for creativity and effective results.

7 ways to unlock your creative mind

1. Employ some form of exercise that allows you to focus

Galvin explains, “I find exercise to be imperative to creative thinking. Sometimes this is the only chance to think without any distractions. Find a form of exercise that helps you focus on your thoughts.” He stresses the importance of breathing. “There is a great book called ‘The Way of the Fight’ by Georges St Pierre which explains how we have forgotten the simple art of breathing properly. Focus on taking 5 deep breaths, as deep as you can once a day and see how it alters your perspective.”

Anthony states that, “leaving your desk and getting outside for a walk in busy times helps to reduce stress and generate fresh ideas.” Being glued to your monitor can sometimes have the opposite effect to being productive. That awkward feeling of staring at a blank page on-screen can be diminished by simply getting the blood moving by taking a brisk walk.

2. Discover music that inspires your work or alters your current mood

Like exercise, both agreed that music is an essential ingredient to improve productivity. “For me, music helps to create a mood before I even start a project. If I’m feeling flat and choose the right playlist, it can immediately break the block that’s in front of me.” said Galvin. One strategy that he employs when writing is to create a playlist of music that is in the emotion and style of the story that he is working on. “Often I will design a playlist from other soundtracks that influence the work”.

For Anthony, he actively uses music to set the pace and beat of the designs he is working on. “I find that the rhythm of the music provides a subconscious tempo to work with. I can even switch the music to increase the pace to reach a deadline.” He also advises listening to music you are familiar with, so as not to cause too much distraction. Music should form a part of the tapestry of the creative work you are developing, not detract from the focus.

 

3. Don’t be afraid to find inspiration in others

Creative blocks can seem like salt plains. Desolate blank canvases with no destination in sight. There is nothing more daunting than an empty void. It can sometimes take other people’s work to be the catalyst to begin your own.

Watching a film is the first step in helping Galvin find inspiration and unlocking that dreaded blank_space. “I always revert to film. For others I know a good book, art show or even simply a good article is enough to create that kernel of an idea that was eluding you.”, he says. “I choose film as it is such an emotive medium.” However, it is important to know when you are being inspired and when you are being too derivative. “If you are mimicking, then you are not being a creative, you are being a chameleon. Inspiration should be used to form sketches, not Xerox’s.”

Anthony on the other hand finds inspiration from looking at architecture, photography, paintings and even history. “Being a designer and illustrator I find that it helps to fuel innovation and reduce creative slumps.” Though the internet makes it so easy to find any of these things at the click of a button, often it is the interaction with the physical architecture, gallery exhibitions or history books at a library that is required. Get out and discover new inspiration if you are really stuck.

4. Adopt the perfect environment and time for creative inspiration

The work environment is a big factor in influencing your productivity. Anthony explains, “Finding the right balance between corporate and fun is important. Too many distractions like ping pong tables and video games will certainly reduce productivity, but an environment that is too corporate will strangle creativity.” The Protein Studio is a good example of a space that relies on differentiation. Open, relaxed, not too many boxes or distractions. A steady stream of interesting, creative people that ebb and flow through the workspace.

When it comes to deciding which hours are the most productive for creativity, Anthony and Galvin both agreed that for them, it is night time. Ranging from 10pm – 2am. There is very little to distract you, no phone calls or emails, and everyone else is in bed. When working late, there is a metaphorical stopwatch running and the added pressure of getting the work completed before bedtime. It is about finding which environment and which times work for you as an individual.

Galvin received some great advice from a former colleague which he found changed his working regime for the better. “…a good friend of mine asked me why I was working so hard. I explained that it was the only way that I could try to stop working at night or the weekends. He wisely pointed out to me, that as ‘creatives’ we are forever trying to work out how to work less. How to work ‘a normal life’ without late nights and weekends. When in fact we are often most productive at night. He told me to reconsider the notion. Try to work at night when you are most productive. When everyone is asleep. Then reclaim this time the next day… pay it back. He told me I would end up completing more work and work less hours. It proved to be true.’

5. Be true to your vision

Not every creative block is caused by your internal monologue. Sometimes external influences can pop up at exactly the wrong moment and plant a seed of doubt inside you. Maintain your vision from the beginning of your project to the very end. (See our other article ‘How to be creative: The Gervais Way‘ for a more detailed analysis.).

Try to block out the voices that speak the loudest and listen to the ones that speak with quiet intelligence and perspective. All projects that include creativity, such as writing, designing, painting are subject to change. They meander and weave, it’s part of the creative process, but the core vision should remain intact.

Galvin explains further by reflecting on his supernatural thriller, ‘Stricken’, a screenplay fit for Hollywood without a Hollywood ending (See ‘How Steve Jobs saved our story’). “Focus on what it was that made you want to make this thing in the first place. What drove you? What made you so passionate that you would spend your precious time on it.” Staying true to this vision can sometimes mean being ruthless with your work and your edits. “Don’t be afraid to chuck the baby out with the bathwater. If you introduced something that was not true – cut it out. Throw it away. Do not go quietly into the night. If you aren’t ruthless with your edits, you will never complete anything.”

Writer Neil Gaiman has some wise words on the matter. “Perfection is like chasing the horizon. Keep moving.”

 6. Travel and explore

The creative mind benefits hugely from travel. Travelling can mean exploring places you have never been before, but it doesn’t have to take you halfway around the globe. “… it can be as small as a weekend trip down the coast, or going to a place or suburb that you have never been to before. Discovering graffiti in the back pathways of Newtown can be just as successful in removing creative blocks as walking the back alleys of Venice.” 

Exploring does not need to be expensive. Providing a new environment brings new perspective and stimulates the senses. It can help to generate ideas for personal projects. Travel is as much about changing the walls around you as it is experiencing various cultures of influence. Find your happy place. It could be just around the corner or in another country altogether.

For Galvin he recommends artisan hotels. His favourite is The Petit Ermitage when working in Los Angeles. A boutique hotel that caters for finding creativity in everyone. The environment of art Deco rooms, Parisian music, live acts and private art collection throughout the hotel is the epitome of a retreat for the creative mind.

7. Be smart with your rest and manage your down time

Sleep. The enemy of the creative mind. Your thoughts churn. Your paranoia feeds. Yet it is the elixir we all need in order to perform and break through the creative blocks ahead of us. Knowing when to call it a night is incredibly important. As basic as it sounds, a good night’s sleep helps to fuel the creative day. ‘By resting your mind you can prevent tunnel vision on a project’, says Anthony. “Tunnel vision is a creative block that is particularly irksome. It is a trap that we all fall into. The world around us pulls in until our project is far in the distance waiting for us. But we can never quite reach the end of the tunnel. Having focus is different. And focus requires a well slept mind.”

For Galvin there is nothing worse than wasted time. ‘If you find yourself mindlessly scrolling through social media, you need to snap out of it and get up and be active. It’s the biggest distraction of the current creative mind. Maximising your spare time will help you get the most of your working time.’ His last thought on managing your downtime. “If you have kids and are struggling to overcome creative blocks… simply spend time with them. There is nothing more creative than a child’s mind.”

7 Things You Must Remember When You Love A Creative Person

1. Our minds don’t stop

This can be quite exhausting but ultimately, it keeps us going. Our minds are always bouncing from task to task, rarely finishing one project without already having a rough idea of where the next one will lead us.

This constant distraction does not mean we don’t care about the people around us – it also doesn’t necessarily mean we are trying to throw ourselves into work as a means of escaping our lives. Creativity, 24/7 simply drives us.

2. Expect highs – and lows

The mood cycles of a creative individual can be a bit hard to keep up with, but really, creativity is a cycle full of highs, lows and even plateaus – none of which are permanent. In fact, as you spend more time with your creative partner you may find that you begin to predict the changes as they happen.

3. We need alone time

This characteristic tends to cause quite a bit of conflict in relationships. However, don’t take it personally if your creative partner periodically disappears into their own little world. Even when we are far away from our tools, our mind is constantly working and looking for new ways to do things. Again, this does not mean you are not stimulating enough for us. A respectful, creative partner will be able to split their time and mind power fairly between their lover and their craft.

4. We feel deeper than most

What some people might be able to brush off without much thought, creative individuals get hung up on for days. Things people say to me tend to stick for ages until I write about them, or they wind up in a song in one way or another. This sensitivity is something to pay attention to – insults and arguments will sting more than you may realize. You can also expect that the good emotions will be so much stronger as well, with the love your creative partner feels for you being stronger than anything you know.

5. We battle ourselves

Creativity is, in many ways, an internal struggle with one’s self, experiences and motivation. Some days we come out on top and others, we can barely get out of bed. Again, this is a cycle that becomes easier to predict with time.

6. We need reassurance

Reassurance that we are on the right path with a project or even the relationship itself is always welcome. Because of our need to constantly wear our hearts on our sleeves, we are always wondering what people think of our work and, by extension, us. Support from the one person we love most can mean the world.

7. We are incredibly focused

Well, actually, we can also be incredibly scatterbrained. But the moment things all come together brings an incredible amount of focus and attention dedicated towards the creative task at hand.