How To Be More Creative

Being creative helps you solve problems in new ways. It's useful for everyone, not just artists, because it can lead to better products, services, and ways of working. Want to be more creative? I've distilled the best ideas from five of the most influential books on creativity. These aren't just any tips – they're proven strategies from experts who've cracked the code on creativity. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, or just looking to add more creativity to your life, these key insights can help.

Top 5 books written about creativity

The following is a list of top 5 books about creativity (in no particular order).

1. "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield
2. "The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" by Julia Cameron
3. "Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative" by Austin Kleon
4. "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear" by Elizabeth Gilbert
5. "Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World" by Cal Newport

5 Key Suggestions From These Books To Be More Creative

Below is a summary of actionable suggestions from the five books on creativity.

1. Create whatever interests you, even if it doesn’t seem immediately useful.

Pursue what interests you. Instead of letting fear of others' judgement guide your decisions, follow your curiosity. Explore what intrigues you without worrying about the outcome or whether it's “good enough.” Create whatever interests you, even if it doesn’t seem immediately practical or profitable.

American writer Ray Bradbury: "Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t try to do things. You simply must do things."

I've been using this mindset when I write. I write about stuff I find interesting. If others like what I write, that's a side bonus! If they don't, that's OK for me because I'm doing it for fun. This gave me an intrinsic motive to write. If you want to write, make videos, or do other creative stuff, don't worry too much about what others will think. Just go ahead and do it. Most people are too busy thinking about their own lives to spend time judging your work.

2. Borrow and remix ideas for inspiration.

All creative work is inspired by something that came before it. Don't be afraid to take ideas from artists or works you admire. The key is to mix these ideas with your own thoughts and experiences. This process of combining different influences creates something new and unique. Keep a collection of ideas, images, or quotes that inspire you to use later. I read a lot for inspiration and keep a list of things that I find interesting for future references.

Steve Jobs: "Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while."

3. Do it even when you don't feel like it.

Show up every day. Set aside time every day to work on your creative projects, just like you would for a regular job. Do this even when you don't feel inspired or motivated. Showing up regularly helps overcome the voice in your head that tells you to quit. It builds a habit and makes creativity a normal part of your day. Remember, small steps each day add up to big progress over time.

Vincent van Gogh: "If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."

I decided to write something every day, even if it's just one sentence. I found that the hardest part is getting started - like sitting down at my computer and beginning to type. But once I start, I often keep going. I end up writing much more than I planned and getting a lot done. So the key is to get started, even just for 1 min a day.

4. Write 3 pages of whatever comes to your mind every day.

Start each day by writing three pages of whatever comes to mind. This is called "morning pages" (from The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron). It doesn't have to be good writing - just write whatever pops into your head. This suggestion is not just for writers. It's for everyone who wants to be creative. Morning pages can spark new ideas and help you tap into your creative side.

Watch this video of someone who tried daily pages 30 days and shared her experience. I decided to try morning pages for 30 days at least. Will share my experience later.

5. Engage in deep, focused work. Detox from social media.

Minimize Distractions. Set aside blocks of time where you can work without interruptions. Turn off notifications on your phone and computer during these times. Find a quiet space where you can concentrate fully on your work. Start with shorter periods (like 30 minutes) and gradually increase the time. This deep focus allows your mind to fully engage with your creative work.

This year, I quit using most social media apps. I only kept a few. This gave me a lot more free time, which I now use to be more creative. First, look at how many hours you spend on your phone each day. You might be shocked to see those numbers. Watch this clip below to learn how to successfully delete social media. After you overcome social media addiction, you'll notice you're less distracted and have more time to think. When you have more time to think, you come up with more creative ideas.

That's all. If you want to be more creative, definitely try out these 5 tips, even just one of them!

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I write about cutting-edge tech like AI at FutureTech Yanyan and sometimes about self-development. Since starting in March 2022, the newsletter has grown to over 1,500 subscribers. Thank you all! ❤️ I hope to keep delivering content you enjoy. If you know someone who would benefit, please share!

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