11 Everyday habits to be more Creative
Hey friends, Happy Wednesday!
This week’s newsletter is not about gadgets but about how we can all be creative everyday irrespective of our fields and expertise.
Let’s look at how we can all be more creative every day in this week’s issue. This is a very unusual newsletter issue as I very very rarely write non-Technical newsletters. But I felt this is very important for generating new ideas and innovation, so I wanted to dedicate a separate email for the same. I aim to write my newsletter issues in a way one can follow them while traveling on a bus, having a coffee, waiting for your food, etc. Let's jump in!
Tweet of the week
I’m sharing a cool fact about gadgets every day on Twitter. And here is one of them for you.
11 Daily Habits and Mindset to be more Creative everyday
The following is heavily inspired by the book “Where good ideas come from” by Steven Johnson. I would highly recommend the book as irrespective of the field you work in, creativity is a crucial component.
If you want to be creative and come up with novel ideas, irrespective of your domain, try to incorporate a few techniques in your daily life and work. Along with you, I’ve been trying to practice the following as well.
The 11 ways you can come up with new ideas every day:
1) Be open to randomness: Sometimes, great ideas emerge from chance encounters or unexpected sources. Therefore, it is important to remain open to randomness and be willing to explore unexpected connections. For example, Steve Jobs famously experimented with new designs and technologies to create innovative products like the iPhone.
2) Seek inspiration from nature: Nature is full of complex and innovative systems that can inspire new ideas and approaches. For example, the structure of lotus leaves inspired the creation of self-cleaning surfaces.
3) Embrace constraints: Limitations and constraints can often spark creativity and force you to think outside the box. Necessity is the mother of invention! For example, the Beatles recorded their early albums in a single day, with the constraint of limited time and resources. This forced them to be highly creative and efficient in their music-making,
4) Error: Mistakes and failures are an essential part of the creative process. Sometimes the most innovative ideas emerge from unexpected outcomes or unintended consequences. For example, microwave ovens were invented by accident when microwaves melted a chocolate bar in a scientist’s pocket during an experiment.
5) Ideas come from networks: Good ideas are often the result of connections between people, places, and things. Therefore, it is important to build diverse networks and foster collaboration to generate new ideas. For example, the Wright Brothers collaborated on the design and construction of their first airplane.
6) Allow time for play: Engaging in playful activities and hobbies can help stimulate your creativity and generate new ideas. Learning to play an instrument or playing tennis, for example. Charles Darwin took daily walks to help him think.
7) Platforms for innovation: Platforms, such as the internet or social media, can be powerful tools for innovation by connecting people and ideas across the world. Therefore, it is important to leverage platforms to generate new ideas and share knowledge.
8) The adjacent possible: New ideas are not necessarily created out of thin air, but rather from the combination of existing ideas. The adjacent possible refers to the set of all possible combinations of existing ideas that could potentially lead to new ones. For example, World Wide Web was invented by combining existing technologies like hypertext, computer networking, and the internet to create something completely new and innovative.
9) Keep a notebook: Recording your ideas, thoughts, and observations in a notebook can help you capture and build on ideas over time. For example, Leonardo Da Vinci recorded every idea he came up with in a notebook.
10) Allow for Incubation: Creative ideas often take time to develop, sometimes years or even decades. A slow hunch is an idea that is just beginning to form, but that has the potential to develop into something significant over time. For example, the idea for this newsletter that you’re reading right now :)
11) Exaptation: Exaptation refers to the process by which something that was originally developed for one purpose is later repurposed for a completely different one. This process often leads to surprising and innovative outcomes. For example, Airbnb combined the idea of the sharing economy (like Uber) with the concept of short-term rentals (like a bed and breakfast) to create a platform where people could rent out their homes to travelers.
Question of the week
Have you been practicing any of these techniques already, or have you read the book “Where good ideas come from” by Steven Johnson already? Reply to this email with your thoughts, and we’ll have a discussion.
Gadget of the week
Smart cutting board: Blok is a new cutting board that features a digital display so you can stream classes and tutorials while you cook. The display is waterproof and you don’t have to use your phone, laptop, or cookbook for cooking.
Thank you for reading!
Have a nice rest of the week, and take care!
Until next Wednesday,
Chendur
