10 Ways to Reinvigorate Your Creativity! – Guest Blog from Kerry Hishon!!!

The members of TLTDAY have been going in a variety of directions lately and we had to arrange our schedules so we could even find a chance to meet and re-connect, (and even then one member messed up the schedule!). But as a team, we are hoping to reinvigorate our podcast and blog with some new themes and ideas in 2014. So, what is a better way to get the ball rolling than to have a guest blog – from the delightful Kerry Hishon? Read on to see what her suggestions are for reinvigoration…. maybe we’ll even put some ideas to use!

10 Ways to Reinvigorate Your Creativity

It’s January, it’s cold and crummy outside, and you’re feeling uninspired.  What’s a creative person to do?  Shake things up, of course!  If you’re feeling the January blahs, take a look at this list!

1. Have fun in the snow.  Don’t let snow bum you out.  Like the song says… “Do you wanna build a snowman?”  Help a neighbour shovel out their driveway, or make a fort with your friends.  Or draw happy faces with the snow on peoples’ cars!  Fresh air will get your muscles moving and your brain thinking!
2. Immerse yourself in culture.  Go see a show or a movie, check out a museum, hit up a concert.  Just get out and get inspired!
3. Plan a creative get-together.  Arrange a time to spend time with some of your most creative friends and go get some food and drinks.  Leave the cell phones at home.
4. Revisit a childhood hobby.  Colour in a colouring book.  Make friendship bracelets.  Finger paint.  Let yourself reminisce about the good old days.
5. Get out and about.  Go for a walk or a bike ride.  Spend some time in nature.  Bring your camera and take photos of interesting things you see.
6. Rest.  You may be feeling burnt out – take some time for yourself and take a nap!
7. Take a class.  Is there something you’ve been dying to try?  Find a class and sign up!  Painting, trapeze, modern dance, Cantonese cooking… there’s something for everyone!
8. Mix things up.  If you’re a costume designer, try volunteering to run lights on the next show. Are you an amazing ASM?  Try making props!  Are you an actor extraordinaire?  Perhaps you’d enjoy being an assistant director!
9. Do something mundane.  Sometimes people get the best ideas when they are doing a seemingly mindless task.  Clean the bathroom, cook some soup, sort and de-clutter your craft room.  Side benefit: you’ve done something productive!
10. Make a list of everything you like.  No holds barred.  Teddy bears, professional wrestling, yellow roses, sailing, dubstep music, fuzzy blankets.  Now take the list, cut out each item into small strips, throw them in a hat, and pick out three.  Figure out how to combine them in a ridiculous way: a professional wrestler goes sailing with his childhood teddy bear.  Now you have the start of a play, story, drawing, improv situation, song… even if it doesn’t work out, you’ve at least written created something!