5 ways to boost creativity when you're feeling stuck

Every once in awhile, do you ever feel like you could use a creative boost?

Some little activity that lets you feel like you’re doing something fun and artsy that’s also somewhat productive?

I sure do. The problem is, I’m not really an artistic kind of gal. I can’t draw or sculpt or paint. I don’t cook or knit.

So how does someone like me boost creativity when she’s not artistically inclined? Easy.

Here are 5 things I’ve done recently to get my creative groove back.

1. Coloring

Yeah, yeah, coloring is for children. Or is it? Recently, a British illustrator sold a million copies of her coloring book for adults. A million.

Why? Because coloring is a great way to lose yourself in something that, on a very basic level, lets you get a little creative.

If you haven’t sat down and colored lately, you’re missing out. The act of doing something simple and somewhat repetitive is great stress relief. And you get to put the pictures on your fridge when you’re done (more on that in a bit).

Do yourself a favor: Buy a coloring book and the 64-pack of Crayolas today and start getting creative (seriously, don’t skimp on the crayons — I tried to go with the 32-pack, which was a huge mistake).

[caption id=”attachment_4967” align=”aligncenter” width=”640”] Some of the things I used to decorate my envelope and letter during a recent letter writing workshop.[/caption]

2. Letter writing

Recently I attended a letter-writing workshop put on by my friend Devoya Mayo of Happy Black Girl, a great site which you should check out.

During the workshop, we used brightly colored paper and pens, scrapbook materials, old stamps and other creative materials to fashion envelopes and stationery. Then we wrote letters to loved ones.

I’ve talked recently about how a handwritten note can make someone’s day, and I stand by that. I didn’t have much news to share in my letter to my cousin Nicole, but she was still so excited to get mail that wasn’t junk or a bill.

Pro-tip: Devoya’s best advice from the workshop was to start with a decorated, addressed and stamped envelope, then write the letter. You’re more likely to send a letter if you’ve put a stamp on the envelope. Brilliant, right?

3. Dirty poem writing

I’m not good at poetry. But I’m great at poetry with dirty words in it.

Recently, a friend made a joke about wanting an epic poem written for her future eulogy about her skills at [redacted].

So, during the next week, I kept a notebook by my couch and at night, I’d write a couple of stanzas in the style of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (or what I vaguely remember from skimming the Tales twenty years ago).

Eventually, I presented her with four-page poem that was, if I say so myself, kind of hilarious.

I’m not one to write for pleasure, but this was actually fun. It felt so good to do some creative for myself that eventually became a gift for someone else.

4. Decorating the fridge

On the surface, this seems like another thing that’s meant for children. But why?

I live in a loft with a not-attractive white refrigerator that’s in plain view of the entire lower floor. One day I decided I was tired of looking at it, so I started covering it with bits of memorabilia.

Old Disneyland tickets, some Wes Anderson-inspired Valentine’s Day cards, tickets from museum exhibitions. I even have paper dolls of characters from the show “New Girl” on there (Winston and Nick, since you asked).

Now when I look at the fridge, I see a carefully curated mosaic of stuff I like. Which I made.

[caption id=”attachment_4964” align=”aligncenter” width=”736”] Seriously, how cool is this? (image via Stylecaster.com)[/caption]

5. Organizing book shelves by color

Have you ever seen pictures on Pinterest of bookshelves with the books arranged by color and thought, “That’s cool. I should do that”?

You should do that.

Organizing a bookshelf is always fun, and organizing a bookshelf by color is both fun and creative.

There are so many ways to boost creativity when you’re not super artistic. I’d love to hear what you do to you get those creative juices flowing.