How to Be Creative—Plus All the Perks It Has for Your Brain

How to Be Creative—Plus All the Perks It Has for Your Brain Innovative thinking is like strength training for your brain, sharpening problem-solving and slashing stress. These five fresh science-backed strategies will teach you how to boost your creativity. The 5 to 10 minutes before falling asleep and the 5 to 10 minutes just after you wake up are the times your brain is most primed for creativity. To tap into this super-creative time, keep a notebook and a pen by your bed to write down any ideas that you come up with. You do your most creative thinking when you’re a little out of your depth. So, when brainstorming, generate more ideas than you normally would, and experiment with your second-favorite concept. Open-monitoring meditation encourages "divergent thinking," which generates creative ideas. Being outdoors also feeds the creative process: get outside for 30 minutes a day to reap the benefits. Drawing, photography, improv, dancing, and writing can help make it easier to access creativity in all areas of your life. Even "pointless" activities like doodling and daydreaming help you access different corners of your brain.