Everyday creativity: finding ideas, inspiration and small joys in ordinary life.
Creativity is an interesting thing. It’s hard to define, and in my experience often misattributed. The Cambridge Dictionary tells us creativity is “the ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas” but all too often, creativity is equated with outputs. Drawing, painting, knitting, crafting, even designing are all typically defined as creativity. I disagree. These are skills, disciplines, hobbies, or activities. Yes, lots of truly creative people do indulge in these things, but in themselves they are not creative.
Why, because the most important word in that definition of creativity from Cambridge is “ideas”. Creativity is a way of thinking, a mindset. Embrace it as such and at least two things are possible; one you might discover you’re more creative than you thought and two, you can practice being creative, and that is one of the best investments we can make in ourselves.
Thinking creatively is something I try to do and this is where I’ll share some of the best ways I’ve discovered so far, to find inspiration, meaning and ideas, not by wafting around galleries (although this is something I clearly enjoy) but by noticing the little things; the everyday things that spark a feeling, make a moment or provoke a thought.
Creativity isn’t something you do; it’s the way you are.
What Is Everyday Creativity?
Everyday creativity isn’t about art (necessarily) or design, or any kind of productivity, craft or grand undertaking. It’s far simpler. Everyday creativity is about keeping curious, paying attention, making choices and looking for meaning in what’s right in front of you. It’s ‘simple but not easy’ to paraphrase a quote attributed to Eric Thomas…
Another way to think of it, is much like mindfulness. Mindfulness is a psychological process which intentionally brings focus to the here and now. It’s about observing thoughts, feelings and sensations without judgement. It promotes curiosity and acceptance. Being more observant, and being more curious is one of the best ways to find inspiration and creativity in the everyday. And if, like mindfulness, that also enhances your awareness and reduces any anxiety then, to use a marketing term, it’s an excellent return on your investment of time and attention.
"...split dyed hair, a nose ring and some outlandish bits of clothing... It’s not these things that make me creative."
Creativity Isn’t an Identity, It’s a Way of Thinking
Just as I think creativity is often misattributed, so too would I say it’s also often stereotyped. Now fair enough, I have split dyed hair, a nose ring and some outlandish bits of clothing, and I would describe myself as creative, so perhaps I’m not helping my point here, but hear me out. It’s not these things that make me creative.
At best it’s another type of creative output. However, I think it’s pretty common that people who dress and present themselves in certain ways, are considered creative. It’s the same with professions too. I work in the digital industry and as a result work alongside designers. Are all designers creative? Not in my experience. Skilled and talented, definitely. Interested in aesthetics, sure, but creative, not necessarily. (Don’t get me wrong, some designers, one hundred percent are creative, just not every designer).
This is why I think everyday creativity exists. Just because you don’t “look like a creative” and if your job isn’t typically creative and even if your hobbies don’t go anywhere near a craft or artistry, it doesn’t mean you’re not creative.
If you’re solving problems, from getting Ikea furniture to fit together when half the bits are missing, to rustling up a meal without a recipe, to chatting about existential problems, philosophical ideas and humanity’s biggest conundrums; that’s all creative thinking.
One of my favourite examples of a truly creative person that doesn’t fit the stereotype is Rick Rubin, the nine time GRAMMY winning music producer who by his own admission has no musical training, doesn’t read music, barely plays an instrument and has no technical knowledge when it comes to mixing desks. Rubin lets music be discovered, rather than being manufactured. He operates on feelings, emotions and artistic intuition. He even wrote a book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being in which he states “the real work of the artist is a way of being in the world”.
Amen Rick, amen.
Promotional imagery for The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin (Penguin Random House). A reminder that creativity is a way of being, not a skillset.
Intentional Living as a Creative Practice
If you believe everyday creativity is not just real but valuable, then being more intentional in how you’re living and experiencing the world is a great way to maximise it.
Don’t get me wrong, I definitely operate on autopilot more than I should, especially in the most routine parts of my life, but when I’m more intentional about what I am doing, I notice so much more and everything I notice has the potential to spark an idea or inspire a thought. In a similar way, slowing down can be a creative act. It’s time to think, consider, question and contemplate.
Intentional living is basically just choosing how to spend your attention.
How to Practice Everyday Creativity (Without Maxing Out Your To-Do List)
Notice More Than You Produce
Productivity in itself is not a bad thing. However, being productive all the time, means you’re not allowing yourself time to notice. It’s output over observation and that kills curiosity. Noticing more builds depth in your experience. Giving you more input to play with, think about and create from.
Let Boredom Do Its Job
I get it, boredom feels uncomfortable. Being bored signals a lack of mental stimulation, meaning or engagement, and that creates a “fight or flight” stress response. For me that manifests itself as restlessness, for you it could be lethargy, either way boredom is uncomfortable. BUT, boredom boosts creativity, so sit in it and see what happens. Allowing yourself to experience boredom forces the brain to go looking for stimulation, leading to daydreaming, greater curiosity and novel problem solving.
In other words, when the brain isn’t busy, its default mode activates allowing your mind to wander, connect disparate ideas and indulge in imaginative thinking.
Choose Depth Over Volume
In the same way as producing less and noticing more works, choosing depth over volume is another great way to let creativity into your everyday life. This is about consuming less content and thinking longer. Great ways to consume less include reading more slowly and taking your time over it. Breaking the doom-scrolling habit and cutting screen time is another great way to limit content consumption. Also, in my case, getting out in the world for a walk works wonders too. Consuming less and thinking longer lets you stay with your ideas, develop them, and create something new.
Pay Attention to What Moves You
(and What Doesn’t)
If you’ve explored any of Unrelated, you’ll know that a lot of stuff annoys me. Well here’s the good news (I’m not just mardy), that’s data, data you can use to get creative. Emotional reactions, whatever emotions they are, are insights into what moves you and what doesn’t.
When you pay attention to these internal experiences, you allow your brain to adopt new perspectives and make new associations. It’s also probably no surprise that when you focus on something you love or enjoy the more motivated you are to engage with it. Deep engagement can enable what’s known as the “flow state”, which keeps you solving problems, turning hard stuff into creative opportunities.
Everyday Creativity Is Already Happening
The best thing about everyday creativity is this: you don’t need to change yourself or your life, just the way you think. It’s in the way you notice things, question them, feel irritated by them, or get inexplicably drawn towards them.
It’s about small choices and small joys. Paying attention instead of just scrolling. Sitting with boredom instead of just numbing it. It’s choosing depth over volume, curiosity over certainty, and intention over autopilot.
And here’s the kicker, the more you stop trying to be creative, the more creativity will show up. Not as output, but as clarity. You’ll start asking better questions, seeing familiar things in new ways and having more original thoughts and ideas.
This is the kind of creativity I’m interested in here. Not performative, not productive, but human, thoughtful, and perfectly ordinary.
If this way of thinking resonates, you’ll find more of it throughout Unrelated. Essays on intentional living, everyday small joys, questioning modern norms, and finding meaning in the little things.
You don’t need to create anything with it.
You just need to notice.
Explore more writing on intentional living, everyday creativity, and noticing the ordinary over on the blog, or just start with the pieces about stuff that annoyed me enough to write it down.
