As a creative soulpreneurs, your creativity is a necessary part of your business. And while it’s great to be creative for a living, sometimes you’re just not feeling it (at least if you’re anything like me) and it’s hard to be creative on command.

Creative energy is really just like any other type of energy… it ebbs and flows and needs recharging. And just like your car battery, if it’s not firing up for you, it just might need a bit of a jumpstart.

Fortunately, there are ways to give your creativity a boost when you need it.

Here are 8 ideas to jumpstart your creativity:

Idea #1: Find a new place to work

We humans are such creatures of habit that it’s hard to imagine working anywhere other than your office. But you’d be surprised at how much a change of scenery can help to jumpstart your creativity.

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when you’re always doing the same things in the same place. It’s hard to come up with new thoughts and ideas when everything around you is the same as it’s always been. Changing up your space can expose you to new sights, sounds, and energy that can in turn spark new ideas for you.

You can try working in various new physical spaces like a library, coffee shop, or even a co-working space where you can be around other like-minded people. Or, if you can’t leave your physical space because you’re like me and you need your desktop computer to work, try rearranging the furniture so that you at least have a different view.

Idea #2: Step outside yourself

Have you ever noticed how many times you come up with good ideas when you’re helping other people?

If you can depersonalize the need to be creative and act like you’re doing it for someone other than yourself, you take the pressure off, and it makes it easier for your creative energy to flow.

Idea #3: Find a brainstorming buddy

I don’t know about you, but I find that I always come up with more creative ideas when I’m talking with one other person. I tend not to talk a lot in big groups, but when I have one on one conversations with people, we can come up with all sorts of ideas for new projects and products.

Idea #4: Change your schedule

Yes, I know you have those pesky habits and it’s hard to rearrange your schedule, but it might just be the jumpstart that your creativity needs. So, if your preferred time to write is early in the morning, switch it up for a few days and try writing in the afternoon.

I’m actually practicing what I preach with this article! I usually tend to write my posts in the late afternoon or evening, and as I’m writing this it’s 5 a.m., and I have been awake since about 3 a.m.

I read somewhere once that if you wake up at 3 a.m. for no reason at all, there is a reason for it and you should stay up and try to do something for at least 20 to 30 minutes.

Idea #5: Crank up the tunes!

This works! I almost always have some type of music on when I’m working, and have noticed that on the days that I’m feeling frustrated trying to come up with new ideas, it’s because there is no music on in the house.

I grew up in a musical household, and my dad was a piano teacher who played in a jazz band on the weekends. I started playing the piano at 3, and the flute at 8, so it makes sense to me because there’s always been music in my life.

If you’re not used to having music around you all the time, try it and see what you think. Test out different types of music and see what works for you. It won’t necessarily be the same thing every day – I jump around from country to bossa nova to classical to new age ambient stuff depending on my mood.

Idea #6: Practice meditation

Sometimes all you need is a mini mental break and practicing meditation can give you that. When you empty your mind and let the thoughts flow, you’ll be surprised at what you come up with.

Yes, there’s a learning curve, and it does require practice but if you can even give yourself two or three minutes to just not think, you might surprise yourself with what your creativity produces.

Idea #7: Drink water, not coffee!

I have nothing against a good cup of coffee – I drink one (or more) every morning – but when you’re feeling stuck and need to jumpstart your creativity, it could be because you’re feeling dehydrated. Stop and drink a glass of water and remember to do this throughout the day.

And don’t worry… you’re definitely not the only one who forgets to drink enough water every day. There is a reason that most self-care planners include a water tracker in them.

Idea #8: Get outside

There’s something to be said for getting in some outside time, even if it’s only for a walk around the block. You don’t have to spend a long time out there but getting some exercise and soaking up some sun energy can go a long way to jumpstarting your creativity. I know I always come home with grand ideas after a long walk by the river or a round of golf.

Final Thoughts

It’s definitely not easy to be creative on demand. But if you keep these ideas in mind when you need to jumpstart your creativity in order to keep moving forward in your business (or your life), you’ll no doubt come up with an idea or two that might be just what you need!