Creativity can seem innate, but like many things, it is actually a delicate balance of nature and nurture. In other words, creative thinking can be enhanced by external forces, and isn’t necessarily reliant on “good genes” or natural ability

As a small-business owner, it can be hard to find the time to do the sorts of activities that help tone the brain's innovation. But you don't need a lot of time to keep your creative muscle working.

It's possible to boost your brain power constantly and on-the-go, by incorporating brain-boosting and creativity increasing activities into your daily routine.

1. Let your ideas live with you. There are simple tools that make noticing and collecting fresh ideas and inspiration easy when you are out and about, reading newspapers and magazines or surfing the web. From the low-tech pad and pen (souvenir jotters gotten from your weekly owambe or events will do) to Evernote, a capturing software available on most devices, simply jotting down ideas wherever you are gives your inspiration a place to live. Give yourself 30 minutes to an hour each week to review what you've collected and you might be surprised by what ideas you've come up with.


2. Stroll more. We all need to go places during the day. Why not make one trip on foot, if possible? Research shows that even a 20-minute stroll can clear your head and make room for fresh ideas. Personally, late evening strolls work for me. Many of our most productive ideas do not come while we're trying to force them out in the workplace, but when we're away from our desks (while having a shower sometimes). Also, a change of scenery has been known to inspire many people. Seeing things you are not used to seeing could make you think in ways you have never thought.

3. Interact with stimulating people and places. Workers in big companies usually have a form of “Happy hour” when they have drinks and gist (gossip). If this doesn’t apply to u or the nature of you job, you might consider setting up your own happy hour where you visit a nearby hang-out spot, a park or even a bar around 5 or 6 p.m. for 45 minutes or an hour with the sole purpose of engaging with others. You could also share your ideas on online forums. A Harvard-based study suggests that sharing information about ourselves fires up the pleasure centers of our brains. More brain activity means more creativity!.

4. Pick brains from social media. Most of us are registered to at least 1 social media network platform. Follow a wide variety of people, not just those who you share similar views with. See the way others think when they make posts. Take some time out of your work time (don’t get caught) or leisure to just observe. Don’t ignore posts you think don’t make sense to you. For every 10 "senseless" posts you may read, you are likely to find that one post that ends up inspiring you.

5. Reward Your Curiosity. One common roadblock to developing creativity is the sense that curiosity is an indulgence. Rather than reprimanding yourself, reward yourself when you are curious about something. Give yourself the opportunity to explore new topics.

6. Build Your Confidence. Insecurity in your abilities can suppress creativity, which is why it is important to build confidence. (You can read my article on how to instantly build your self-confidence here: http://qbizlinx.com/entries/general/20-ways-to-instantly-build-self-confidence- )


7. Make Time for Creativity & Brainstorm to Inspire New Ideas. You won't be able to develop your creative talents if you don't make time for them. Schedule some time each week to concentrate on some type of creative project. Brainstorming is a common technique in both academic and professional settings, but it can also be a powerful tool for developing your creativity. Start by suspending your judgment and self-criticism, then start writing down related ideas and possible solutions. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible in a relatively short span of time. Next, focus on clarifying and refining your ideas in order to arrive at the best possible choice.

8. Overcome Negative Attitudes that Block Creativity. According to a 2006 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, positive moods can increase your ability to think creatively. Although negative moods can sometimes spur creativity, researchers have found that it is during strong positive moods that our best creative work is done. In fact, the feeling of love or even thinking about love was shown to best encourage creative thinking. Hmmmm.

9. Less is sometimes more. Try that. Famously, Dr. Seuss wrote Green Eggs & Ham (a book I read when I was about 6) after betting that he couldn’t produce a story using less than 50 words. Most people naturally take the path of “least resistance” and build off of older or existing concepts when brainstorming, which can lead to less creative ideas. In order to put the brain in overdrive, you can mimic Dr. Seuss and place restrictions on yourself while creating, which will prevent you from falling back on past successes. If you usually write 1000-word short stories, try to create a story in under 500 words. Only use a small handful of colors in your design etc. The limiting nature of the task can bring out your most creative side.

Due to the length of this article, i decided to cut it short. To read Tips 10-14 [url]visit http://qbizlinx.com/entries/general/14-ways-to-step-up-your-creativity-and-keep-your-creative-juices-flowing- [/url]

Thanks for your time. Kindly suggest other ways you think may help keep your creative juices flowing.

follow on twitter, visit qbizlinx.com/blog for more business tips

Creativity is a talent and can be built.

Thanks for the tips

you welcome. thanx for commenting

,,..OK.