little Happy Meeting - v. 6 (1)

Hello Rembrandt,

We can’t escape boredom (‘tis ubiquitous). That slippery little fella creeps up on us, no matter how hard we try to avoid it. The good news is that moments of boredom allow our creative energy to flow — and this is good for the soul (research shows creative expression is tied to happiness and well-being). Creativity doesn’t need to result in a masterpiece. It can be any expression, formal or informal — like crafting, dancing, journaling, gardening, collecting, mine-crafting, joke telling, and music playing.

Life in neutral

Spending idle time staring at the wall may be fine for a bit, but the benefits of conceiving, devising, and creating may have you swapping your TV remote for a paintbrush. Check them out! Creativity:

• sharpens your mind,

• Boosts your mood,

• improves your self-esteem and optimism,

• relieves stress and anxiety,

• gets you moving, and

• many forms will boost your immune system.

Creative Caveats

Creativity can be anything, big or small, goal-oriented or personal. One model describes creativity as existing on a continuum — from mini-c (personally meaningful) and little-c (everyday creative) to pro-c (professional creative) and big-c (eminently creative).

• All types have positive implications, but personally meaningful and everyday creative (like making your own greeting cards) may have the biggest impact.

• Creativity is not a finite set of things (see big Al’s quote below); many things qualify as creative endeavors.

• You have to lose your fear of being awkward, wrong, or odd.

Some suggestions big and small. Try them once, try them all. (Poet? Or don’t quit my day job?)

1. Change the Scenery. Looking for a new solution to a problem? Try working in a new space, rearrange your desk, or even take a walk somewhere unfamiliar to break the routine.

2. Invent a new recipe using your favorite ingredients (mashed potatoes, M&Ms, and brownies, hmmm?)

3. Use your beautiful voice to sing a song that makes you happy (maybe even write your own verse). Need inspiration?

4. Try mind mapping: Start with a central idea and branch out. The structure of a mind map can help you make new connections and uncover ideas you might not have thought of initially. You might start with ‘student engagement strategies’ and branch out to the Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud.

5. Use the “what if” game: Ask “What if?” about everything around you. For example, “What if humans could fly?” or “What if we lived underwater?” This kind of thinking challenges assumptions and opens up creative possibilities.

6. Embrace your inner thespian and read your e- or snail mail in a dramatic voice (maybe a Darth Vadar-esque reading of your water bill or a Dolly Parton drawl announcing a pizza coupon).

7. Create a new yoga move (maybe a variation of my sig’s favorite, Shavasana).

8. Play a creative game. Play Minecraft, Planet Coaster, Scribblenauts, or any video game that allows you to express your creative self (being a kid is not a prerequisite).

9. Write a story based on produce. “I do not carrot all. You cannot turnip anytime you’re lonely.” (I have to credit my sister for this inspiration.)

10. Limit Yourself: Surprisingly, limitations can spark creativity. Create with a restricted set of materials or under specific constraints (e.g., only using one color or writing a story without the letter “e”).