03/02/2025
How can we maximise creativity in our day-to-day life?
From returning to the childhood joys to pursuing new skills, follow this guide to embrace creativity each and every day
Whether it’s going through the motions at work all day or juggling housework with caring responsibilities, it can be hard to find time for creativity. But fanning a creative spark in daily life is something that can support our wellbeing – and it may be easier to rekindle than you think.
Creativity is absorbing. It takes us away from everyday life, and makes space where you focus only on the project you’re working on,” says life coach Annabel Smith. “Time seems to pass differently. It gives us a break and perspective. For many of my clients, and for me, bringing creativity back into our lives has helped us reconnect with parts of ourselves we’ve missed or felt we’d lost forever. And it’s fun!”
Recognising your creativity
A good starting point for bringing creativity into our daily lives is by recognising the ways that we’re already creative.
Creativity is not only about being an artist. Creativity is about imagination and the choices you make – the scarlet scarf not the grey one, the pink cushions, the blue tiles in the kitchen,” says Annabel.“It’s there in how you decorate a cake or arrange a vase of flowers, the way you create songs and games for your children, the stories you tell in the pub or over dinner.”
Maybe your job has a creative spark, even if you don’t work in a typically creative role. If you have children in your life, perhaps you find yourself joining in games with them. Personally, I think about crawling on the living room floor with my nephew, putting together an epic train track that spiralled across the carpet.
At first, I found it hard to tap into my creative, playful side. “No, the train track won’t work if we make it go up at such a high angle onto the coffee table,” I’d say. He didn’t listen to this, and kept creating his way. And, soon, I found myself letting go of my analytical mindset and helping him construct a precarious bridge out of toy giraffes, and balance elephants on top of trains. It was fun, and embracing moments like this is a way of bringing creativity into our lives.
It’s understandable, though, to feel some resistance. As adults, it can be hard to tap into our creativity, especially when it’s about fun and creativity for its own sake. Although I’m a full-time writer – a creative job I love – it’s something where I’m usually creative with a finished product in mind. So being spontaneous and creative just for the joy of it can still feel tricky.
“Perfectionism, self-consciousness, and fear of judgementare the enemy of creativity, so put them in a box and lock it,” advises Annabel. “Give yourself permission to do bad drawings, and make a mess.”
Weaving creativity into your life
“Return to things you loved from childhood,” suggests Annabel.She recommends writing a silly poem, or making a nature table and collecting beautiful leaves, stones, or berries.
You might find there is a specific creative activity you want to try. “Ask a friend and go to a class together,” suggests Annabel. This could be a beginners’ group – your local college or Workers’ Education Association (wea.org.uk) may well have courses to join. It could be something less formal too – I have friends who’ve recently started going to ‘sip and paint’ sessions at a local bar, where you spend a couple of hours painting while enjoying a nice drink in a social, relaxed atmosphere. Another friend regularly goes to a ‘knit and natter’ group in a nearby community centre, where members knit, sew, or cross stitch, while chatting – with no pressure to make anything in particular.
“Start small, a little every day,” says Annabel. “Begin to rewire your brain a little, create new habits and build confidence.” It could be playing the guitar for 10 minutes each evening, or setting aside an hour a week to work on the draft of a screenplay that’s been brewing in the back of your mind for years.
Seeking more inspiration? Here are four ideas for how to bring creativity into your daily life:
1. Sing along to your favourite songs. If you want to practise a particular song, it can help to hum along to the melody to start, and then start singing the lyrics. Think about how the music makes you feel too, and what it’s like to use your voice like this.
2. Plant herbs, whether in your garden or a window box. Take some time to select ones you’re drawn to, and think about how you could use these herbs when they grow – whether that’s camomile for tea, or lavender to sew into scented pillows.
3. Go through your phone’s camera roll and choose some photos you love – maybe they’re from that fun day out with friends, or of your cat looking exceptionally cute. Print these pics, and spend time either placing them into photo albums or frames, or making a collage.
4. Watch a film or TV show, or read a story or poem, and think about how it makes you feel. Creativity isn’t just about creating new things ourselves, but reflecting on art and our experience of it.
Bringing creativity into our daily lives can feel daunting, but there are small ways to weave it in. Think about what idea you’re most drawn to, give it a go, and enjoy the process.
- text by Caroline Butterwick, Happiful Magazine
