How to jumpstart your creativity
Do you sometimes struggle with creativity when it comes to writing music?
If you’ve hit a creative block and aren’t sure what to do, here are some useful tips to get your creative juices flowing once more.
Go for a walk
Put your guitar down for a bit, lace up your sneakers, and get walking! A 2014 Stanford study found that creative thinking improves while a person is walking and shortly thereafter – either indoors or outdoors.
Listen to something new
Your Spotify playlist might have all your favorite songs, but it can be helpful to listen to something completely different to get your creative energy going. If you mostly listen to metal, try listening to some country. If you listen to mostly indie music, try some K-pop. Branching out into a different genre will help you get a new musical perspective – even if you don’t love the music.
Spend some time in nature
A Danish study from 2015 found that spending time in nature can help boost creativity by recharging directed-attention. Directed-attention is maintaining focus on a specific task, which can sometimes lead to mental fatigue. Bonus points if you take a walk in nature!
Let loose
Writing music can sometimes feel daunting because of the pressure to write better and better – so why not write worse? Let yourself write something that’s silly or cliche – just for the pleasure of writing it. You might not add a song about dinosaurs to your next album – but it might help you unlock some really good ideas.
Go see some live music
Watching another band or artist play original music is a great way to find new inspiration. Check out a local band in your city – or go to an open mic night!
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