3 Creative Morning Rituals to Come up With New Ideas
In my latest post on creativity, I gave you the most potent creativity boost there is: spending time alone in the morning. Yet just being in the morning, alone, offline, in a comfy chair can easily lead to sleeping again so, how do we turn that alone time into fuel for our creativity rocket? Let’s go over three creative morning rituals you can put into practice during your recently rescued alone-time that would boost your creative soul.
1. The creative warm-up: make it fun
Remember the giant ball pit? A while ago I published on my Facebook page this wonderful video of people taking a few minutes to roll in a giant ball pit:
What makes you laugh? What sparks joy in you? When was the last time you did something that gave you joy? Sometimes I listen to jazz with my headphones on at full power while everyone in the house sleeps. Whenever I’ve been in recovery from some misstep or an especially stressful period, I’ve done gentle stretches or a couple yoga positions.
My advice is that before jumping into brainstorming, do something fun that triggers positive energy, even if it’s just for three minutes. Read a couple pages of your favorite book, write down a joyful memory, dance to your favorite song, go for a quick run.... anything! And then, the next day, aim to do a little less — that will take the pressure off starting. You don’t need to get to yesterday’s level: just a little less. And once you get the ball rolling, it’ll become easier and easier.
2. The creative cool off: meditate
Ok, you have done your fun warm up and your body is now awake. What about your mind? Is it still worried about yesterday’s problems, or tomorrow’s fears? Meditation helps us live in the moment even in the most extreme circumstances, reconnect with our body and inner thoughts, and free ourselves from external pressure to conform. It will definitely awake your mind and help you narrow your focus on what is truly important: the present moment.
Use this time to truly connect with yourself. Find a comfortable position, sit upright, and breathe in and out, focusing on your breath. Like we said the other day, try not to think about anything at all. If any thoughts appear, just swipe them right as if they were notifications on your phone. If you have a hard time clearing your mind, don’t get angry at yourself, just discard them. it takes practice, and you with time you will get better at it.
3. The creative moment of truth: put pen to paper
Often people get lost in complicated, restrictive mind-mapping apps and elaborate paraphernalia. Don’t.
Your ideas are enough in any shape or form. Tools are just tools. But if you have a sweet tooth for aesthetic pleasures and a beautiful notepad is vital for you, go ahead. Anything that helps you look forward to this moment. But I will ask you to do one thing: as soon as you get your new notepad, break it a little bit.
I beg your pardon?
Yes. Break it a little. Please, make a small cut, stain it a little with something (coffee, ink, deodorant, it doesn’t matter). Creativity is about colouring outside the lines, and often we’re afraid of getting it wrong or putting stupid ideas in beautiful notebooks. We wait until we find something worthy to include, so we never use them. No. First, stain it, then write a joke that you remembered, or a funny thing your kid said last week. Something that will make you smile. Something that will make opening it tomorrow so much easier. Think of it as a technique to break the ice with your creative self.
Once you have completed the 3 creative morning rituals, drink from that bottle of water you left at your creative space; you’ve earned it. See how you feel throughout the rest of the day, then repeat the next day.
You want to try more creative techniques? Check out this post where I share some journaling prompts that will take you deeper into that creative journey.
