6 Ways to Stay Creative in 2020

If you’re perceiving this last month of the decade as a time for preparation and organization to start our next decade full on, this post will be helpful for you (and for me). At the end of the day, our intention has a lot to do with being in the present and thus to make the most of our time. Either that meaning time-space to chill out or to hustle, everything will have a more important role in your path/progress/growth.

In case you’re not able to read my handwriting (and for SEO purposes, of course) I’ll be transcribing the bullet points for each of the six habits. I hope you find any of these activities helpful, let me know if you end up implementing any (or all) of them and how that goes for you!

0. Intro

“2020 Creative Habits for more ideas, introspection & innovation | through pattern recognition, data visualization, intention & iteration } = Organization & Storage”
Because creativity is, in my words “Natural re-organization”.

1. Journaling

-Notes from books

Divide the books you’re reading by chapters or key segments and include your highlights by sketching, coloring, writing with different fonts and sizes, and by creating mental maps/charts to have all that information all cute and useful. This will help you to better digest any book and also It’ll serve as a beautiful reminder of your reading experience. 

-Spontaneous thoughts

Strive to make this notebook an essential item to carry with you to maximize the practice. 
Write about love and about pain. Let everything out in poems and in prose. Write big, draw small, dance the stroke with its narrative. 

-Sketches

For this, I don’t recommend getting either a lined notebook (nor a plain one) but a dotted one. Going now for my 6th notebook (yas), I’ve realized that if there’s lines, I’ll stick more to writing, and if it’s plain, I’ll tend to draw a little bit more but my writing would go in waves. So now you know :)

-Travels

Yes, take it even to your adventures. Use it to make up the itinerary, take note of the cool places you want to go or that you’ve been. Write the things you’d like to tweet and the things you want to post. Use it to be more present and to process each day with a little entry before going to sleep.

-Lists

Movies, more books, ideas, questions, answers, music, moods, the things you plan to do, excuses to create more lists, ways of creating lists, etc. 
And always remember to leave space for a couple more entries. 

-Reflections about experiences

We live stories, so track ‘em down and let your book write itself.

2. Creative Sessions

1. Have a Clear Intention 

Take note of what you want to reveal from it. What are the questions you want to answer? Are you stuck in developing any idea? This is the time to get it all out, arrange the cards on the table, and see the whatever topic you’re struggling with in a new light. A glass of wine or a cup of coffee to incite the brain to loosen up? cute & all but just take care, remember to never use it to just escape, & always be conscious of a special intention and respect.

2. Put Distractions Away

Feed the momentum, stay present as much as possible. If any, a good introductory meditation is ideal to increase intention and set a good start to the session. 

3. Relax & Put Background Music

You know the drill, no distracting lyrics, no distracting stuff. Just a good radio/album/playlist that gets y’all in the flow. ~

4. Brainstorm Freely 

Open yourself to the wonders of the unknown <3 Avoid early judgments, and just flow with it. 

3. Passion Planner

Big S/O to Lynnie at @artforthepeople for gifting me a Passion Planner <3! This will be my first year doing this and everything looks promising. All I can say is that I am excited about the travels and projects that I already have in mind. 

-Big Projects in Perspective

Specially in big projects the whole picture can be terrifying. So help yourself out by dividing that into smaller tasks and intelligently spread it out in a reasonable time frame. 

-Adds Intention to the Month/Week

You already know what you need to achieve, so it’s easier to just follow what you have planned. Give yourself a pat in the back if you already have the process all laid out.

-Keeps Priorities in Check 

This goes hand in hand with the last point. You already cleared out what’s important, so go ahead and get that.

-Enhances Travel Plans

= cheaper flights, wiser walks, a more prepared mindset, less trouble with your work schedule, etc etc etc. 

-Frees Up Time 4 More

By being more conscious about the way you spend your day/week, all of the sudden there’ll be more time for more intentional work & leisure <3

4. Physical & Mental Care

PHYSICAL

-Exercise

Your brain will reward you with good chemicals.

-Balanced Diet

You know it.

-Hydration

Get it!!

-etc.  In other words, take care of your physical self.

MENTAL

-Meditation

We already have more than enough evidence to firmly state that meditation is directly related to a healthy development of creativity. Because, if you have a clear & relaxed mind -alas- if you’re fully in the present moment; your brain will be in its best condition to make the most of what your intention is. 

-Self-Care/Love

Give yourself a break, make sure you’re sleeping good, treat yourself responsibly, be patient with yourself, practice self forgiveness, be intentional.

-Creative Expression/Introspection

Write your mind out! know thyself, Look inward and let yourself be connected with your essence. 

5. Blog/Website

-Great Creative Quota

The only way to stay undefeated in regards of our website’s maintenance is to forget that we’re doing it for the metrics. We all know that the second most common reason why people stop updating their website is because of the lack of success in their early stages. Said that, let’s STOP being impatient, and instead of looking at the numbers, see these updates as another personal creative quota. 

-Attract & Share Feedback

Look, if you’re sharing what you love, I’d assume that you have friends who are also drawn to these topics. And in any ways, by putting your work out there

-Pushes for a More Refined Final Product

By having to click the “Publish” button, you’re not leaving your texts in the draft section. It’s that simple. By ~making it official~, you’re naturally putting extra effort in that delivery.  “That’s it, that’s the tweet.” 

6. Nature Walks

-Best Way to Clear the Mind

There’s a lot of scientists & artists backing this fact. Go and have a nature walk.

-Record Audio

Unexpectedly, yes. I’d recommend you to bring your phone. Then, after you’re on a good pace, record anything that comes to mind. I bet you’ll have something to say.

-Re-connection with Nature

We NEED nature, so ahead & get your natural dose of it. 

-Fresh & Beautiful Spaces 

Another way to say “nature” <3