10 Creativity Resets You Have Never Heard Of But Must Try
Hey, you’ve gotta give these ideas a shot…
Creative slumps are an occupational hazard. We push so hard for so long and eventually, we need a bit of a breather. I often take a long ride on a motorcycle, but that is my own way of getting out of my head — and out on the two-lane byways of the west.
I am always on the lookout for some new and interesting ways to recharge the brain batteries.
Here are 10 novel and interesting ways to get the juices flowing, and make more art.
1. Attend a silent retreat:
Silent retreats are extended periods of silence, often combined with meditation or contemplation. I am not one to meditate, so I just look for super quiet places to sit and engage with the natural sounds of life around me.
Favorite spots:
Vermillion Cliffs in Arizona (winter months)
The Escalante Wilderness in southern Utah
Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona
The road, anywhere in the west
Doing this can help quiet the constant chatter of the mind. The absence of people can heighten other senses and increase awareness of one’s surroundings.
Photography assignment: “The Silent Observer”
Simulate a silent retreat at home or in a quiet outdoor location for a day. Commit to not speaking or using any devices that produce sound.
After a few hours of silence, begin making photographs.
Focus on capturing the subtle details and moments you noticed during your silence. The goal is to create a series of images that convey the sense of stillness and heightened awareness you experienced.
2. Use biorhythm tracking:
Biorhythm tracking involves monitoring your physical, emotional, and intellectual cycles to identify peak periods of performance and creativity. If you understand these natural rhythms, you can schedule your creative work during times when you’re likely to be most productive and inspired. I have not tried this one yet, but it is on my list.
Photography assignment: “Peak Performance Portfolio”
For one month, keep a detailed log of your energy levels, mood, and creative inspiration at different times of the day. Note when you feel most alert, creative, or in tune with your surroundings. Based on this data, identify your peak creative times. Start scheduling your photography sessions during these optimal periods. Create a portfolio of images taken only during your peak times. At the end of the month, compare this portfolio to your usual work. Do you see a difference?
3. Practice “method acting” for problem-solving:
This technique borrows from the acting world, where performers fully immerse themselves in a character. By adopting the persona of someone else, you can approach problems from a completely different perspective, maybe leading to innovative solutions or creative breakthroughs.
Photography assignment: “Through Another’s Lens”
Choose a well-known photographer or a fictional character with a distinct personality. Research their background, style, and approach to photography (or life, if it’s a non-photographer character). For a day, fully immerse yourself in this persona. How would they see the world? What would catch their eye? What techniques would they use? Create a series of photographs as this character. The goal is not to mimic their style exactly, but to approach photography from their unique perspective. I’m thinking Neo, or perhaps Indiana Jones…. hmmmm…
4. Engage in sleep deprivation (cautiously):
Mild sleep deprivation can sometimes lead to a state where the mind makes unusual connections, potentially sparking creativity. However, this method is risky and can have negative health impacts if not managed carefully. Please be careful and only you know your limits.
Photography assignment: “The Dawn Photographer”
Instead of true sleep deprivation, try altering your sleep schedule safely. For one week, go to bed earlier than usual and wake up just before dawn. Use the early morning hours, when you might feel slightly groggy or “out of sync,” to photograph. Focus on capturing the transition from night to day. Pay attention to how your altered state affects your perception and choices. I am a natural early riser, so I am thinking about doing a series of photographs late in the evening. Where’s my flash?
5. Use olfactory stimulation:
Our sense of smell is closely linked to memory and emotion. Different scents can evoke various moods, memories, and even alter our perception, potentially influencing creativity. Some smells can make me instantly recall a place, or an event.
Photography assignment: “Scent-Inspired Imagery”
Collect five distinct scents (e.g., vanilla, citrus, pine, cinnamon, lavender).
Create a photography series inspired by each scent. Before each photo session, spend time inhaling one of the scents. Let the aroma guide your choice of subject, composition, and mood.
For example, a sharp citrus scent might lead you to seek out bright, high-contrast scenes, while a mellow vanilla might inspire softer, more nostalgic images.
The goal is to translate olfactory experiences into visual ones, exploring how different sensory inputs can influence your creative process.
6. Try “productive procrastination”:
(“Honey, my procrastination on doing that yard work is really me being productive”… yeah, good luck with that.)
However, when we’re stuck for an idea, switching to an unrelated project can sometimes lead to unexpected insights. This technique allows our subconscious to work on the original problem while we’re consciously engaged with something else. I will often take a long walk or even a day road trip and come back with plenty of ideas.
Photography assignment: “The Procrastinator’s Portfolio”
When you feel stuck, instead of forcing progress, switch to an completely unrelated photo project. This could be experimenting with a new technique, photographing a subject you’ve never tried before, or even organizing your photo library.
Spend no more than an hour on this “procrastination” task before returning to your main project.
Keep a journal of any insights or ideas that come to you during or after these procrastination sessions. You do journal, right?
7. Create a “reverse bucket list”:
Instead of thinking about what you want to do, make a list of things you do not want to do. By exploring what and why you don’t want to do certain things, you might uncover hidden assumptions or fears limiting your creativity.
Photography assignment: “Embracing the Uncomfortable”
Create a list of 10 types of photography or subjects you’d never want to shoot. For each item, write down why you’re averse to it.
Then, challenge yourself to photograph one item from your list. Approach it with an open mind, trying to find beauty or interest in what you previously avoided. Reflecting on how this experience changed your perspective can open your eyes to new forms of expression you hadn’t thought of.
8. Practice extreme empathy exercises:
This technique involves imagining the world from radically different perspectives, encouraging you to think beyond human experiences and potentially leading to unique insights or creative ideas. Imagine the world where everyone is incredibly fragile, and the slightest challenge could alter their lives. Or try a more dystopian world of fear and anger being challenged head on by a peace maker.
Photography assignment: “The Object’s Eye View”
Choose five inanimate objects or abstract concepts (e.g., a chair, the color blue, gravity).
For each, spend time imagining how it might perceive the world if it had consciousness. There’s another reason for that journal.
Then, create a photograph that represents this perspective. For example, how might a chair “see” a room? How might the color blue experience a sunset?
This is a variation of one of the more well known “Pretend as if” creativity boosters.
9. Use linguistic constraints:
Limiting your vocabulary or working in an unfamiliar language can force you to think more creatively about how to express ideas, potentially leading to a unique approach to your work.
Photography assignment: “Five-Word Photo Story”
Choose five random words from a dictionary. These are the only words you can use to plan and describe your next photo shoot. Use these linguistic constraints to guide your choice of subject, composition, and mood.
After the shoot, create a five-word artist statement using only these words.
10. Engage in “idea sex”:
This colorfully named technique involves combining unrelated concepts to generate new ideas. The unexpected juxtapositions can lead to innovative solutions or creative breakthroughs. I have used this method for years and we used it quite often at the agency when we were discovering ideas used to develop advertising for our clients.
It is both fun and challenging and can kick your butt with idea generation.
Photography assignment: “Concept Collision”
Create two lists: one of photography techniques (e.g., long exposure, macro, silhouette) and another of random objects or concepts (e.g., democracy, origami, quantum physics).
Randomly select one item from each list and combine them to create a unique photography project.
For example, you might end up with “long exposure” and “democracy,” challenging you to visually represent the slow process of democracy using long exposure techniques. Produce a series of images based on your combination.
And there ya go. Ten unique creativity boosters you can use to find your mojo when your mojo has run off with your muse and they’re both spending your creativity credit card like love-struck tech-bros on vacation in Paris.
If you do any of these, I would love to see the results.
Hey, you want ten more?
Hi, I’m Don Giannatti, a photographer and mentor for up-and-coming photographers. You can find me on my website, Don Giannatti, and at my Substack site, where I also publish for creative people. All subscribers to my Substack have access to a free, long-form workshop on the business of commercial and professional photography.
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