Inspiration is like a fire: You have to keep feeding it or it’ll go out. At Printing Solutions, we’re all about firing up our imaginations so we can keep on improving our services and products. Here are eighteen things that we like to do to get inspired.
BONUS: Kick Out The Jams
Few things can blow the cobwebs off your brain like a sweet piece of music. When you want to get into the creative zone, listen to your favorite music to get yourself in the right state of mind. If you play an instrument, taking a few minutes to jam can do wonders for getting past mental blocks: Pluck a few strings on a guitar or tap a few keys on your piano and you could end up untangling mental knots and unlocking parts of your imagination that you haven’t been able to tap into lately.
Get Your Grub On
Sometimes the best way to get some good food for thought is to grab a bite to eat. It can be hard to think fast and be creative when you’re hungry. When you’re feeling listless and blocked, stop what you’re doing and grab a bite. And to further stimulate your mind: Eat outside your comfort zone. Have sweets one day, savory the next. Indulge in cold treats or flaming hot spicy food. A playful palette can lead to a playful mind.
“As Above, So Below”
There’s an old philosophical adage called “as above, so below” that says the universe outside us is a reflection of our inner selves. Think of your environment in these terms. Look at your home and your office: Are they reflections of how you feel? How you think? If you feel mentally stale, it may have something to do with your surroundings. Redecorate and move your environment around until it feels more like you. If you create an environment that appeals to you and moves you, it’s bound to inspire you to greatness.
Count Some Sheep
It’s called a “power nap” for a reason. A little bit of sleep can refresh and revitalize you. Trying to operate at the peak of your mental abilities can be frustrating and unproductive. Feeling rested can give you the energy and fresh perspective you need to innovate and tackle problems head-on.
The Company You Keep
Surround yourself with people who inspire you to be your best self. Don’t spend too much time with people who let you stay in a rut or encourage you to camp out in your comfort zone. Be with people who CHALLENGE you. A little healthy competition among friends and coworkers can be a splash of much-needed gasoline on your creative fires.
Alone Time
On the other hand: Sometimes it can be hard to hear yourself think if you’re always around others. Take some time to yourself. Try practicing meditation. It’s one of the easiest things you can do to clear your head and inspire you. Try sitting for five to seven minutes and keep your mind as empty as possible. Don’t think about anything: If a thought comes to mind, treat it like a fish that’s swimming by in the ocean. Just let it swim away. An easy way to get used to meditating, if you have trouble keeping your mind clear, is to focus on your breathing. Count your breaths. You’ll be surprised at how relaxed and steady you’ll feel when you’re done!
The Great Outdoors
Mother Nature is an endless source of inspiration. One of the most inspiring things you can do is to take a long walk outside. Go for a swim, a hike, or a bike ride. The combination of fresh air, sunlight, solitude, and activity can spark all kinds of wild ideas and thoughts.
Back To School
Inspire yourself by taking a class. It could be on a subject or skill that’s related to what you’re most passionate about, or it could be something that’s completely outside your knowledge and experience. Just the experience of showing up to class, being surrounded by like-minded folks trying to learn, and expanding your horizons can inspire you in significant ways.
Hit The Drawing Board
A great way to stimulate your unconscious mind is to pick up a pen or pencil and draw away! Doodle on a scratchpad, try drawing self portraits or still lifes, fill up a coloring book, or even try your hand at some chalk art. If you aren’t a visual artist, you’ll discover that there’s an entire side of your brain that gets activated and engaged when you start drawing.
Game On
Games can be a great way to switch up your thinking. Playing competitive sports, theater games, or board games with your friends or coworkers can strengthen your strategic muscles and make you sharper. Video games are also a great way to get inspired (and they improve hand-eye coordination, to boot!).
Shake Your Groove Thing
To paraphrase Parliament-Funkadelic: Free your booty and your mind will follow. Hitting the dance floor isn’t just a great way to work up a sweat and have a ton of fun: It can also get your mind working overtime! Dancing is a great way to free up your imagination.
Cookin’ Up Something Good
Cooking is a survival skill AND an artform. Learning how to take a dish and make it your own can be hugely inspiring. It’s also a great way of boosting your confidence: Nothing can make you feel more self-assured and in control than cooking yourself a mouth-watering gourmet meal. And one of the keys to inspiration is confidence. If you have faith in yourself, ideas will flow like water in a gushing stream.
Shop Til You Drop
Treat yourself to some inspiration by treating yourself. Go shopping and pick up something you love. It could be a piece of clothing or a book or ingredients for an exquisite dish. Go to a store you haven’t been to before and get lost in it. Look for something that you’ve never seen before that catches your eye.
Clean, Clean, Clean
A lot of people wouldn’t think of cleaning as a Zen activity, but a little bit of cleaning can empty out your mind as thoroughly as a meditation sit-down. Clear out your mental clutter by cleaning out your physical clutter.
Movie Magic
The silver screen can be a source for inspiration. Go watch a movie. See something that moves you: It could be a movie that makes you laugh so hard you crack your funny bone, or a film so scary it’ll have you checking your closet when you’re home at tonight. Lose yourself in another world for a few hours and see how it can inspire you.
Pump It Up
Exercise is great for the body AND the mind. It clears your head, relaxes you, and floods your body with powerful, rejuvenating chemicals. It can also free your mind to daydream and brainstorm, because so many exercise routines are based around repetitive motions that you’ll really deviate from.
Booksmarts
Both fiction and nonfiction texts can inspire you by giving you deeper insights into the world and teaching you fun facts and unique ideas. It’s a workout for your imagination: Since you can’t see what you’re reading about, it’s up to your imagination to fill in the blanks and paint a picture in your thoughts.
The Internet
If you’re looking for something to kill time and give you something to think about, the Internet has got you covered. It’s simultaneously the world’s leading source for information and an endless provider of distractions. You can find goofy GIFs to laugh at and also read profound articles that could change how you live your life. Inspiration is everywhere: You just have to look for it.
Looking for inspiration? Our creative minds at Printing Solutions have got plenty to spare! For more information about how we can turn your printing dreams into reality, give us a call at 480-596-6300.