Creativity is one of the most vital aspects of life. Were it not for people’s creativity, we would not have the Internet or smartphones or even the car that we drive to work.

Think about all of life’s necessities that exist because of human innovation and you can see just how important it is that we all encourage and train our minds to be creative. You may never be a world leader in innovation but you may just be able to come up with a great fundraising idea for a charity you support or a fresh marketing strategy for your business.

The great thing about creativity is that you can develop it. Yes, there are people who are more naturally adept at being creative but even if this does not apply to you, there are still strategies which exist that can help you to be more creative in the way that you think.

The most important thing you have to do is be open to the idea. If you tell yourself that you are “not the creative type”, then you are already closing the door on a whole world of opportunity. It’s important that you embrace your creative potential.

Let’s see what you can do to help this happen.

Give routine the elbow

We are not suggesting that you dispose of all routine in your life; most people need some sort of shape to their existence in order to keep all the balls of life in the air. What we do want to encourage is the variance of routine to include new experiences.

Have you had a meal at that new Japanese restaurant? When was the last time you took a walk around the park enjoying the flora and fauna? Why not actually go that meeting about local amenities? It could be interesting to get involved.

If you stick to the same routine all the time, then your brain is not exposed to any new stimuli. It sees the same places and people all the time. This is not an environment which is conducive to creativity.

You do not have to train your brain to think creative thoughts all the time. You just have to give it the benefit of new stimuli. This may sound strange but it’s not. If this is not something that you normally do, then your brain is being opened to a new experience. It’s doing this to your brain which puts it in a position where creative thought comes more naturally.

Share with a wider network

We all have people around us who we happily confide in when it comes to sharing ideas. This is often because we feel comfortable with receiving their feedback. But here is the thing; if you do this all the time, how do you know you are getting the right feedback? A major part of encouraging your brain to be creative is making sure that you get constructive responses to your creativity.

The more people you share your ideas with, the more likely you are to get a full range of feedback which is more useful in developing your ideas going forward. Think about it, your friend or partner is not usually going to be an expert when it comes to commenting on innovative ideas for your business, just like a business colleague may not be the best person to ask about your design for a state of the art treehouse. It’s all about getting a well rounded perspective to help develop your thoughts.

Do not be constrained by rules

One of the most common mistakes that people make, when it comes to creative thinking, is they try to think within the constraints of what they believe to be normal or sensible. If you really want to flex your creative muscles, you should not shut your mind off to any possibility. It really does not matter how absurd your ideas seem to be; you should still let them happen unrestricted. You may even find yourself laughing at the ridiculousness of some of the things you consider; this is actually good for you and for your creative mind.

The fact is, that the more you open your mind to thought, the more creative ideas you will have. Even if you only have one though out of one hundred that actually works out, it’s well worth it.

See Also: One Awesome Tip On How To Shift Perspective 

Take notice of your environment

Too many people walk around as though they have blinkers on because they lead such busy lives. This is very restrictive for your brain. If you see something that you have not noticed before such as new flowers in the park or a new building being constructed, take an interest. This could mean that you make a mental note or that you capture an image on your smartphone. If you meet someone new, make a note of it and of what effect the experience had on you.

It’s all about training yourself to be more aware of the world around you and making a note of things that catch your eye or ear. The more “stuff” your brain is exposed to, the more ammunition it gains to help it be creative.

Hopefully, we have helped you to see that anyone can be creative. The most important thing is that you give your brain the best life and training in order to help unleash its creativity.

See Also: Here’s How to Get Creativity Bursting Out of Your Eyeballs

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No energy drink can invigorate you more than a good night’s sleep. Sadly, our society has become too proud to acknowledge that sleep is as important as proper nutrition and regular exercise. This is evident in our overworked culture and amplified by technology that keeps us connected 24/7.

When are we going to improve our sleep habits? Let these 8 sleep deprivation side effects convince you that sufficient zzz’s matter.

Lack of sleep is similar to getting drunk

A study published in the Harvard Business Review suggests that sleep deprivation can affect one’s performance as alcohol intoxication. “Next time you’re planning on staying up an extra few hours to finish your paper, consider that you will have the perception and judgment of a someone who is legally too drunk to drive,” wrote Brad Strelcher, editor-at-large at the University of Southern California.

Pulling an all-nighter is similar to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. This can increase your risk of being involved in road accidents. The Institute of Medicine warns that drowsy driving causes 20% of all motor vehicle crashes in the US.

Poor sleep habits and reduced mental performance

One mistake college students commit is pulling all-nighters before a major exam. Cramming is a trend that doesn’t do anybody a favor. “Sleep deprivation negatively impacts our mood, our ability to focus, and our ability to access higher-level cognitive functions,” according to Harvard Medical School.

Scientists were able to identify changes in brain activity after nights of insufficient sleep. The brain activity, measured by an electroencephalogram or EEG, showed “lower level of alertness and a general propensity to sleep.”

If you need to prepare for an exam or a presentation, make sure your brain is well-rested.

See Also: 7 Little Known Ways In Which Poor Sleep Is Killing You And Your Career 

Long-term sleep deprivation increases disease risk

A sleep-deprived body is at risk of developing diseases. Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine presents three types of studies about the health risks of sleep deprivation.

The first type involved the short-term impact of poor sleep that could trigger diseases, while the second type analyzed the link between habitual sleep duration and the existence of certain diseases. The third, and regarded as “the most convincing type of evidence” is the long-term assessment of sleep habits and diseases of initially healthy individuals.

The results from longitudinal epidemiological studies suggest that “adjusting one’s sleep can reduce the risk of eventually developing a disease or lessen the severity of an ongoing disease.”

Less sleep, more weight

Losing sleep upsets the body’s hormonal balance that helps control the appetite, metabolism, and glucose processing. Studies show that people who sleep less than six hours each night, versus the recommended seven to nine hour sleep, are much more likely to have a higher body mass index.

You may have noticed that you crave carbohydrates and sugary foods when staying up late. This is because of the higher secretion of biochemical ghrelin, which stimulates appetite. Moreover, being sleep deprived can leave you too tired to burn off extra calories with exercise.

Sleep loss and heart problems

Overworked employees who reportedly pulled all-nighters recently made global headlines following their premature deaths. Most suffered from a cardiac arrest after losing sleep for three consecutive nights. Harvard Medical School noted that “sleeping too little (less than six hours) or too much (more than nine hours) increased the risk of coronary heart disease in women.”

Sleep apnea, a chronic condition characterized by one or more pauses in breathing during sleep, is also linked to heart diseases. Apnea sufferers’ airway close up when they fall asleep and they experience surges in blood pressure when they wake up.

Insufficient sleep causes mood disorders

Mornings can be challenging for the sleep deprived. According to experts, a single sleepless night can cause irritability and distress the following day. Regularly missing the recommended seven-to-nine-hour nightly sleep can also lead to long-term mood disorders, and depression and anxiety.

In a study published in Current Biology, the researchers found a causal relationship between impaired sleep and some psychiatric symptomatology and disorders. The amygdala, or the brain region for emotions, emotional behavior and motivation, seemed to be “rewired” in the sleep-deprived brain. People who lack sleep experience a “pendulum of emotions, going from upset and annoyed to giddy in moments,” according to Dr. Matthew Walker of the University of California, Berkeley.

Sleep deprived people drink more alcohol

You may know family and friends who turn to whiskey or vodka to help them fall asleep at night. While alcohol can act as a mild sedative that induce sleep, its impact is only temporary. After a few hours, the alcohol begins to stimulate the brain, causing disruptions throughout the night. Alcohol dependency is linked to a number of diseases including liver inflammation and coronary heart disease.

Losing sleep can cut down life expectancy

Neglecting sufficient sleep, which is one of the pillars of health, can lead to various physical and mental problems. It is no surprise that sleep deprivation can lead to premature death. Studies show that sleeping for five hours or less each night can increase one’s mortality risk by about 15 percent. It is imperative to seek medical assistance and undergo therapy if your sleep habits are downgrading the quality of your life.

See Also: 5 Natural Ways to Stop Your Sleepless Nights 

The staggering amount of evidence on the effects of sleep loss should be enough to encourage us to rethink our lifestyle. Sleep deprivation can put your safety at risk as well as negatively affect your performance. It can lead to mood disorders, obesity, heart problems, even premature death.

One student realized the need to adjust his lifestyle to improve his sleep habits. “I enrolled in slightly less demanding classes, took on a less time-consuming job and allotted for more free time in my schedule. I’ve been more active, more happy and all around more successful,” shared US student Brad Strelcher.

When will you make the right changes in your life?

 

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