Self-Improvement 10 Psychological Tricks to Help Boost Your Creativity Learn to think in new ways By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 22, 2024 Reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by mental health professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Susman, PhD Reviewed by David Susman, PhD David Susman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. Learn about our Review Board Print Trending Videos Close this video player If you think that you're born with all the creativity you'll ever have and that you can't develop it further, think again—and in a different way. That's the essence of creativity as defined by renowned developmental psychologist Howard Gardner, who wrote that creativity is "the ability to create new things or do old things in new ways." And psychologists say you can cultivate and develop this superpower with a little practice and hard work. What Is Creativity? Creativity is "the ability to create new things or do old things in new ways," according to renowned developmental psychologist Howard Gardner. — What Is Creativity? Creativity is not passive, however. Begin by actively seeking out ideas, people, and things that inspire you. Then, try these 10 ideas that can help you toward your full creative potential. 1 Go for a Walk Although psychologists have long known that regular physical activity can help enhance and protect cognitive abilities, walking might be of particular benefit when it comes to creativity. If you're tied to a desk and struggling to come up with a good idea, go for a quick walk. 2 Reward Yourself Creative RF/JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images Rewarding things that are already intrinsically rewarding can backfire and instead reduce motivation, a phenomenon known as the overjustification effect. However, research has also found that creativity increases when rewards are offered explicitly for producing creative works. So if you're looking for inspiration, promise yourself a desirable treat as a reward for coming up with a creative solution. Just don’t overdo it, or you risk decreasing your motivation. 3 Create Some Psychological Distance Daniel Truta / EyeEm / Getty Images People often suggest taking a break from a task when you’ve hit a creative block. Studies have found that placing some psychological distance between yourself and the problem might also do the trick. Researchers found that participants solved more problems and came up with more creative solutions when they imagined that a problem originated far away rather than close by. The next time you face a difficult problem, try imagining that the issue is distant and disconnected from your current location. 4 Surround Yourself With Inspiration Positive psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi suggests that surroundings play an important role in the creative process. Stimulating environments can facilitate creativity, so surrounding yourself with things that you find inspiring and motivating can help. Create an office space that helps you feel inspired and energized. Seek out stimulating experiences and settings that can help trigger inventiveness. 5 Create Restrictions When trying to solve a problem, people often resort to tried-and-true solutions rather than innovation. Using old ideas often leads to good outcomes, nonetheless—but sometimes, mental sets and functional fixedness develop that make creative efforts challenging. One way to overcome this: Challenge yourself by putting restrictions on your thinking that force you to look beyond the easy and familiar. When trying to solve a problem, try narrowing the scope of things you can use. You might find yourself coming up with new and innovative ideas that you might not have considered otherwise. 6 Daydream Sam Edwards / Getty Images In today's high-tech, connected world, distraction is just an arm's length away. Instead of filling idle moments with apps, games, etc., try letting yourself be bored for a spell. In one study, bored participants performed better on creativity tests than those who were elated, relaxed , or distressed. In another study, researchers found that boredom gives people time to daydream, which in turn heightens creativity. Boredom encourages creative thinking because it tells the brain that the current situation or environment is lacking, which forces the brain to fill the void. 7 Reconceptualize the Problem Gone With the Family Creative people typically re-conceptualize problems more often than less creative people do. This means taking a step back to see it from a different angle. Revisit the problem from the very beginning. Is there a different way to think about it? Starting over with a fresh point of view can foster creative thinking and lead to novel solutions. 8 Channel Your Emotions Researchers linked positive emotions to creativity long ago, but further research has found that both strong positive and negative emotional states were associated with creative thinking. You don't need a bad mood to gain inspiration—but the next time you lapse into a negative state, try applying some of that energy toward solving a problem or accomplishing a task instead. Make the most of negative emotions by working on something productive instead of ruminating. 9 Surround Yourself With Blue Color psychology suggests that colors affect moods, emotions, and behaviors. According to a study, blue's association with nature, peace, and tranquility helps people feel safe enough to explore and be creative. 10 Meditate Young woman doing yoga,hand close-up. RunPhoto/Getty Images Some types of meditation are linked to an increase in creative thinking. Meditation has long been used as a relaxation technique, but recent research has demonstrated health benefits that extend far beyond relaxation. In particular, open-monitoring meditation, in which you're receptive to all thoughts and sensations without focusing on any particular object or idea, can encourage divergent thinking and the generation of new ideas. Look for ways to incorporate meditation techniques into your daily life. Simply focusing on your thoughts and experiences might help foster creative thinking. 10 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Sun J, Chen Q, Zhang Q, Li Y, Li H, Wei D, Yang W, Qiu J. Training your brain to be more creative: brain functional and structural changes induced by divergent thinking training. Hum Brain Mapp. 2016;37(10):3375-87. doi:10.1002/hbm.23246 Steinberg, H., Sykes, E. A., Moss, T., Lowery, S., LeBoutillier, N., & Dewey, A. (1997). Exercise enhances creativity independently of mood. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 31(3), 240–245. doi:10.1136 2Fbjsm.31.3.240 Oppezzo, M., & Schwartz, D. L. (2014). Give your ideas some legs: The positive effect of walking on creative thinking. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 40(4), 1142–1152. doi:10.1037/a0036577 Byron K, Khazanchi S. Rewards and creative performance: a meta-analytic test of theoretically derived hypotheses. Psychol Bull. 2012;138(4):809-830. doi:10.1037/a0027652 Wronska M, Kolańczyk A, Nijstad B. Engaging in Creativity Broadens Attentional Scope. Front Psychol. 2018;9:1772. doi:10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2018.01772 Hocking, I., & Vernon, D. (2017). A bridge too far: Conceptual distance and creative ideation. Creativity. Theories – Research - Applications, 4(2), 333–352. doi:10.1515/ctra-2017-0017 Bonaiuto M, Mao Y, Roberts S, Psalti A, Ariccio S, Cancellieri U, Csikszentmihalyi M. Optimal Experience and Personal Growth: Flow and the Consolidation of Place Identity. Front Psychol. 2016;7:1654. doi:10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2016.01654 Gasper, K, Middlewood B. Approaching novel thoughts: Understanding why elation and boredom promote associative thought more than distress and relaxation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2014;52:50-57. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2013.12.007 Mastria S, Agnoli S, Corazza G. How does emotion influence the creativity evaluation of exogenous alternative ideas?. PLoS ONE. 2019;14(7):e0219298. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0219298 Xia T, Song L, Wang T, Tan L, Mo L. Exploring the Effect of Red and Blue on Cognitive Task Performances. Front Psychol. 2016;7:784. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00784 Additional Reading Colzato LS, Ozturk A, Hommel B. Meditate to Create: The Impact of Focused-Attention and Open-Monitoring Training on Convergent and Divergent Thinking. Frontiers in Psychology. 2012; 3. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00116. Csikszentmihalyi M, Getzels JW. Discovery-Oriented Behavior and the Originality of Creative Products: A Study With Artists. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1971;19(1), 47-52. Csikszentmihalyi M. Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention. New York: Harper Collins. 1996. Eisenberger R, Armeli S, Pretz J. Can the Promise of a Reward Increase Creativity? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1998;74(3), 704-714. Gasper K, Middlewood BL. Approaching Novel Thoughts: Understanding Why Elation and Boredom Promote Associative Thought More Than Distress and Relaxation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2014;52, 50-57. By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit