5 Tips for Elevating Creativity

Editor's Note: This week, Turn Two's creative director Gerry Frank offers up some advice on some simple ways to jumpstart your creativity.

During a weekly team meeting I was reminded of the importance of taking a walk, running, cycling, shopping, or just about anything other than work – to recharge those sometimes lazy neurons taunting us with their stubbornness.

Let’s face it – summer can be a tough time to keep the steady nose to the grindstone work ethic especially when it seems everyone is back to traveling in one form or another. For the times between “real” vacations – work still needs to be done – and of course done well.

I have heard time and again this is some of the best advice for overcoming creative block. Admittedly, I don’t always follow this when deadlines loom. I’ll sit looking at screen savers until they time out, I refresh, and repeat this process. But when I’m clear-headed and alert, with at least two cups of coffee, I stop what I’m doing and focus entirely on something else.

Here are a few tips to get the creative juices flowing again

Tip #1

Take a Walk (or run, or… shop) - The ideas usually flow shortly thereafter – and many times during another activity (like a long run). Pro tip: Keep a pencil or scrap paper handy, or have your notes app available to jot down a spark of an idea before it vanishes into the ether.

Tip #2

Stop staring into the abyss - If you find yourself channeling Rod Serling -- hypnotically entranced by your screen-saver only to refresh it every time your screen falls asleep – you need to get out of the office, or house. Or room at least. Take a stroll to the local coffee shop, or at the very least – stroll to your kitchen and make some tea or coffee.

Tip #3

Start doodling - Sometimes, breaking out an old school pencil and paper and just starting to free-associate with your project will lead to a completely different way to see the problem. If it’s a visual problem you’re trying to solve, sketching exaggerated objects or scenarios connected to the topic can lead to creative paths you may not have thought of.

Tip #4

Brevity - I have seen Creative Briefs that have no less than two paragraphs of “key takeaways” for the assignment at hand. It always helps to distill the messaging down to its most basic form. Keep writing/editing until you have a simple message that is on target for your audience (you can always embellish later). This will help narrow the paths to appropriate, and usually, more creative solutions.

Tip #5

Relax - It is challenging to know that you have an end-of-day deadline only to find yourself paralyzed mid-afternoon with nothing to show. It often takes just a bit of self-meditation, a few deep breaths, and knowing you have the ability to meet the challenge. Sometimes this takes a lot of practice, but having a little self-assurance will help you get the project over the finish line – even if it is at 4:59!