Later that day I talked to my friend and photographer extraordinaire, Peggy. She was telling me that her spinning class was back on. “But this isn’t any spinning class”, she said, “it’s a live your passion class on a bike.” We briefly discussed the benefits of exercise and creativity – sparks new thinking, clears the head, gives you a different perspective, helps you focus, etc.
In fact, recent research has shown that those that perform in mild aerobic activity and then in engage in creative activity report to have feelings of higher creativity. Furthermore, other research has shown that movement helps to deliver more blood to the brain, hence giving the brain more oxygen. That would explain the old adage, “go for a walk to clear your head”.
The great news is that you don’t have to get up at 5am or take a grueling spinning class full of not-so-attractive spandex shorts to experience the power of creativity in motion. There are so many ways to create short bursts of motion, get the blood pumping and the imaginative juices flowing.
1. Go Shopping:
That’s right, take a stroll down the aisles of any major chain or grocery store. Bring your journal, there is a lot to write and draw about on those shelves. Look for new products you’ve never seen before. Write down what they do, what you like or don’t like, use those products for inspiration to come up with a few of your own. Peruse a few aisles you never go down. Ask yourself, who typically comes down these aisles and why? Look back at your journal later for even more inspiration
2. Become A Photographer: T
There is beauty and intrigue even in the most mundane. With a theme in mind (street signs, intersections, mailboxes, doors, cars, playgrounds, buses), take a 20 minute stroll, photographing everything in your theme. Take pictures from above, below, behind, around, fuzzy, sharp or whatever feels right. At first you’ll be taking pictures of signs but eventually you will begin to see patterns, colors, relationships of shapes and more, engaging the right brain. Once developed, go through your photos. It’s amazing what the camera picks up. Put a few in your journal, scribble around them and journal about the experience.
3. Stalk A New Neighborhood: OK, not literally but do take a walk in a different neighborhood. Most of us know the nuances of our own streets but what about the nuances two neighborhoods over? Do they park on the street, are the garages in front or back, what is the style of the houses, what types of trees line the streets, do you hear dogs, do you hear cars? Again, journal is a great place to record your learnings. I read a research report that stated that one of the only ways to get new neurons firing in our brains to have new experiences. So, spend a spark to the right side by taking a stroll.
4. Do A Jiggy In Every Room:
Isn’t dancing fun? Find a good dance tune on the radio or in your cd collection and commit to doing a jig for one entire song. The key here is to dance your way around the house. Dance from room to room, upstairs and down. The movement from the dance and the different perspectives will help spark the imagination while you have a little fun and work on your mad dance skills. I find this one is great when I feel low on energy and motivation as well. We all know that music can have profound effects on the brain, including opening up the creative side.
5. Café Hop:
This one is a little less motion but I couldn’t help but add it. Wouldn’t you agree that each café has its own culture? Even the different Starbucks around town attract different groups of people – moms, entrepreneurs, workers looking to escape for a few minutes. If you live in an urban neighborhood where there is a Starbucks or local café on every corner spend 10 minutes in each one. Write down your observations. Who comes to this café, what type of conversations are they having, what are they ordering, what are the sounds, smells, etc. I suggest going to at least four. If you don’t have a café cluster you can mimic this by sitting in different seats in the same café. Pay attention to how your perspective shifts, what you see that you didn’t before, how the sounds and sights change, what type of people are sitting in the different areas? New perspectives can give us new ideas.
Creativity in motion is a wonderful thing. Get moving.
Dream big. Dream often. Love your mind!
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Filed under: For All, Move - BB#5 | Tagged: 7 building blocks to creativity, become innovative, building blocks of imaginative thinking, children's imagination, creative building blocks, creative journaling, creative play, creativity exercises, exercise and creativity, family activities, imagination, imaginibbles, movement and creativity, right brain exercises, tamara kleinbeg, unleash creativity
