Creating art can also have many benefits for the brain, including:
Activating the reward center: Making art can activate the brain’s reward center.
Lowering stress and anxiety: Making art can help lower stress and anxiety.
Promoting brain plasticity: The process of creating and appreciating art promotes brain plasticity, which can lead to cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills.
Art therapy is a recognized form of treatment because engaging in a creative practice can help reduce symptoms of depression and PTSD.
“What’s so interesting is that we seem to intuitively understand that if we can get ourselves to believe something first, we’ll be more effective at getting others to believe it,” says William von Hippel, a psychologist at The University of Queensland, who co-authored the study. “So we process information in a biased fashion, we convince ourselves, and we convince others. The beauty is, those are the steps Trivers outlined—and they all lined up in one study.”
Finding creative ideas can come from a blend of exploration, inspiration, and structure. Here are some techniques you can try:
Divergent Thinking: Start with brainstorming without limits. Jot down as many ideas as possible, no matter how unconventional. Quantity often leads to quality by pushing past the obvious.
Mind Mapping: Begin with a core concept and visually branch out with related ideas. This approach can reveal connections you hadn’t considered.
Combine and Remix: Take two unrelated concepts and see if you can combine them into something new. For example, think about how the paper industry could intersect with environmental education, or how digital platforms can simulate real-world investment.
Observe and Take Notes: Everyday life is a constant source of inspiration. Notice trends, user pain points, or processes that could be streamlined. Keep a notebook to capture these thoughts, even if they seem random at first.
Reverse Thinking: Instead of asking “How can I create a great idea?”, try thinking in reverse—consider how not to solve a problem or list “don’ts” for a project. This can lead to breakthrough thinking by clarifying what you do want.
Draw from Other Industries: Looking at innovation in completely different fields often brings fresh perspectives. For instance, if you’re in the paper industry, examine what the tech or entertainment industries are doing to engage customers and consider how you might apply similar strategies.
Set Constraints: Ironically, limitations can fuel creativity. Setting a constraint like “this idea must be doable with only one material” forces you to think deeply about how to work within boundaries.
Collaborate with Others: Bringing other perspectives into the mix can help generate more ideas and refine them. Try brainstorming sessions with people who have different backgrounds or expertise.
Experiment and Prototype: Sometimes ideas only become clear through trial and error. Don’t wait for a perfect concept—build quick prototypes or mockups to test the feasibility and refine them as you go.
Take Breaks: Finally, stepping away and engaging in different activities, like a walk or even enjoying a beer, can refresh your mind and lead to unexpected insights.
“What’s so interesting is that we seem to intuitively understand that if we can get ourselves to believe something first, we’ll be more effective at getting others to believe it,” says William von Hippel, a psychologist at The University of Queensland, who co-authored the study. “So we process information in a biased fashion, we convince ourselves, and we convince others. The beauty is, those are the steps Trivers outlined—and they all lined up in one study.”
