Speaker 1: Developing a creative mind means allowing yourself to relax and think outside of the box. You could become more creative by setting aside time to brainstorm ideas, breaking up your routine, and seeking inspiration from people and places around you. Travel, meditation, and positive thinking can also do wonders. In this video, I will take you through six ways to develop a mind that is creative. Let's begin. To be creative, your mind should be at ease and free from all distractions around you. Once everyday stress and worries have left your mind, you will be able to imagine and think of new ideas. Schedule quiet, uninterrupted time to relax and let your mind wander. Schedule this time on a day off from work or during a part of the day when you have no commitments. Avoid scheduling this time right before an important deadline or appointment, which may distract you. In short, set aside time for your brain to think creatively and away from all the chaos of everyday routine. Designate a creative space with natural light. Natural lighting can cause a drop in cortisol levels, leading to sleepiness and reduced productivity. Natural light, on the other hand, can make you more alert. Choose a spot in your home or office for your creative thinking time that has windows and provides ample natural light during the day. A balcony, outdoor patio, or quiet garden are excellent options for a creative space. If you live in a small house, choose a spot in a nearby park. The idea is to expose yourself to more natural light. Time your creative sessions in the morning or early afternoon to make the most of daylight hours. How many times in an hour do you peep into your phone? The truth is we cannot live without our mobile devices and the internet. But they bring in a lot of distractions. Remove all digital distractions to improve your focus. One of the most difficult parts of the creative process is finding the discipline to follow through with ideas. Remove hindrances by eliminating electronic distractions while you allow your brain to think creatively. Turn off your phone, Wi-Fi connection, television, and radio to immerse yourself in the project at hand. Now that you have chosen the right spot and removed all electronic distractions, it's time to brainstorm ideas. Choose a specific issue, a recent problem, or a goal you want to achieve to brainstorm about. Sit down with a piece of paper and pen and write down as many ideas as you can in a 45 to 60 minute period. For instance, if you are planning to start a new business. Describe the business in 200 to 300 words. Why do you really want to do this business? How will it help people? Will your business solve an existing problem? What are the pros and cons of starting a business? How will you arrange funds? What's your backup plan if the business fails? It will not only help you visualize your business plan, but also make you aware of the challenges you are likely to face when you actually start the business. When you brainstorm ideas away from all the distractions, you will get more clarity and help you look at things from a different angle. Following a fixed routine day in and out is the biggest enemy of creativity. Why do I say so? A routine removes the need to think out of the box and keeps you away from new ideas. But when you change your daily routine, it helps you expand your thought process. It keeps you always on your toes and opens your mind creatively. I am not asking you to make major changes to your routine. You could do simple things such as take a new route to work. Maybe you find an interesting billboard that could spark up some new ideas. Change the arrangement of your work desk. Listen to different music and podcasts from what you generally do. These changes may sound small, but they keep your thought process going and your brain at work. Creativity is contagious. Surround yourself with other creative people to get inspired from. Depending on your interests, you may get along well with entrepreneurs, photographers, writers, or filmmakers. Attend events, take lessons, or join groups where you will have the opportunity to meet such people. Motivational speeches can be catalysts for your creative thinking process. Hearing about other people's experiences, creative efforts, and success and failure stories can be a great push to develop a creative mind. Look online for TED Talks pertaining to your creative interests or attend lectures at a local seminar. Remember you always gain something by watching and listening to others. Maybe the ideas they share won't apply to your situation 100%, but even if they make 5 to 10% of the difference, they are worth watching. That's all for today. Remember, a creative mind is one that is open to possibilities and not always about practical thoughts. It is a mind that is not afraid to investigate new ideas and try new creative hobbies. It is like having a mind without conventional boundaries. If you think this video has inspired you to think creatively, give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends, subscribe to the channel if you haven't already. If you want us to make a video on a particular topic, let us know in the comments below. I will see you very soon. Until then, take care and keep thinking creatively.