Summer means warm days, a different pace of daily life, and time for refreshing. It’s a great season to boost your creativity.
Writing is more than words. Writing is creative. It’s helpful to take a break from the computer and try a different creative activity to pair with your writing. Summer is the perfect time for lighthearted, creative fun.
Stepping Away from the Page
Taking a creative break from writing isn’t procrastination. It’s doing something that will help grow your writing. Trying out a fun, creative activity is a low-pressure way to stir inspiration.
Different types of creative activities engage your brain in new ways, sparking fresh ideas. Have you ever walked through a craft store or pottery shop, and discovered it was easier to write afterward? That’s what I’m talking about.
Summer Creativity Boosters
Here are some easy ways to boost your creative experience beyond writing, and summer is a great time to start:
Listen to New Music
Branch out and look for a playlist of music that’s different from your norm. The notes and rhythms you hear will stir creativity in new ways.
Take a Nature Stroll
Not a brisk walk. Take it slow and easy. Be fully present in nature. Soak it all in. Notice the beauty all around you—colors, shapes, scents, movement. A nature stroll is a wonderful, creative reset.
Color Like a Kid
Pick up a coloring book or print a free coloring page. Get some crayons or colored pencils. Have fun. Don’t go for perfection. Just enjoy all the colors, shapes, patterns. Try some doodles on the coloring page. Switch out colors often and see which ones you like best.
Enjoy Looking at Art
Visit a local art gallery or look at art online. Don’t think or analyze—just look. Allow yourself to experience those works of art, whether it’s paintings, sculpture, or photography. Art has a way of helping you see from a new perspective and stirring creative possibilities.
Do a Simple Craft
Look for an easy craft idea, especially a kid’s craft. No pressure, no performance. Just a chance to play and have fun. Fingerpaints are my favorite. Use materials you have at home or pick up a little kid’s craft kit. Keep it simple, doable, fun. Find a craft you can really enjoy.
Creative Curiosity
Remember, these creative activities aren’t tasks or chores. They’re delightful invitations to indulge your creative curiosity. A chance to enjoy a different creative outlet in an easygoing way.
Creativity is something you grow and stir. Writing, even for a nonfiction project, is very creative. When you add other creative activities to your week, you’ll find your writing is more enjoyable and interesting. You’ll approach your writing project from new angles and discover new insights.
Summer is the perfect time to kick back and have some new creative fun. This week, choose just one creative activity and give it a try. Have fun. You don’t need to reflect on it afterward, unless you want to. Just enjoy the moment.
Then give yourself some time to write. No pressure there either. Don’t try to make something happen. Just enjoy it with the same creative inspiration you felt in that fun activity. The more you try these creative boosters, the more naturally you’ll experience creativity in your writing.
Janet Eriksson 