20 Tiny Creative Shots to Give You a Little Bump of Endorphin, and They're Cheaper than Tequila!
Sometimes the smallest things can bring large rewards.
I have been running crazy for the last couple of weeks. We are selling our house, and it is sitting vacant an hour or more (traffic) from us. We have had two break-ins already, and it seems as though I am running over there every day.
Losing three hours a day adds up.
And while I try to make the time productive by listening to audio books and learning something, it is not the same as working on a photograph or a score.
So I was wondering how I could get a small bump of creativity in between the mad rushes from one place to another, or even when I am waiting for the line to move at the local Mega Walmart. Huge store, slow staff.
Here’s a quick list I made while going through the car wash.
Did I mention I live in the desert now, so having a clean car is about as possible as having a dust-free environment?
Here ya go:
Snap a Photo: Use a phone or a P&S to capture something interesting around you. It could be anything – a shadow, a pattern, an object. Do it even if it isn’t interesting. Make it interesting!
Mind Map a Word: Pick a random word and quickly jot down anything that comes to mind related to it. This expands your associative thinking. You can do this with your recorder on your phone as well.
Color Swatch: Look around, pick a color you see, and imagine a design or object in that color. Photograph a color scheme that you like and import it into Adobe Color to play around with it… you know, when you have time.
One-Sentence Story: Invent a one-sentence story or scenario. It’s a great way to practice concise storytelling. I do this every day. I have for years.
Object Reimagining: Pick an everyday object and think of five different uses for it, other than its intended purpose. What else can you use a fireplace for? Or a broom?
Quick Sketch: Draw a simple object from memory. It sharpens your observation and memory skills. Paper, pencil, go. You have one minute. No worries, you don’t have to share it.
Sensory Focus: Close your eyes for a few seconds and focus on one sense. What do you hear, smell, or feel? This is one of the things I do when I am out photographing. I sit still and listen, I look at everything and try to clear my mind to see what the scene in front of me is really about.
Doodle Freely: Grab a pen and paper and let your hand move freely. No need for perfection, just let the lines flow. I talk, I doodle. I go through a desk mat a week.
Word Association: Say a word out loud and then say the first word that comes to mind. Repeat a few times to build a chain. Then do it again. Do it for a minute and see where you end up.
Micro Poem: Write a four-line poem. It doesn’t have to rhyme; just express a thought or feeling. Four lines are enough to tell us something.
Haiku Moment: Create a quick haiku (5-7-5 syllable pattern) about something in your current environment. This one is always a challenge, but imagine if you ended up with a couple of dozen Haikus you did while waiting for Gladys to bag your frozen peas?
Invent a Character: Think of a quirky character trait and visualize what a person with that trait might look like. Think of a quirky character and decide what trait they would have.
Handy Origami: Fold a piece of paper into a simple shape. Origami is a great way to engage your spatial and creative thinking. NOte to self; Learn Origami.
Melody Hum: Hum a short, spontaneous melody. Music is a language of emotion and can unlock different parts of your brain. Don’t get me started, I mentioned my doodle pad, right? Did I mention it has staves on it? Try humming something you know and change it up just a wee bit.
Dream Snippet: Recall a fragment of a dream and jot it down. Dreams are a window into your subconscious creativity. These are personal, and they can be very inspiring if you allow them to be. Don’t be literal.
One-Word Story Building: Start a story with one word, and each day add another word to it. Watch a narrative unfold over time. Keep it in your journal. You have a journal, right? Right?
Texture Exploration: Touch a surface near you and describe its texture in detail. It’s all about engaging the senses. Try explaining it to a five-year-old, then try explaining it to a distant alien over Zoom. They got Zoom on Mars don’t they?
Imagination Breathing: Take a deep breath, and as you exhale, picture blowing out a colored mist representing a creative thought. Try magenta, or wheat, or that great color you saw on the old building along Rt 66. Yeah, you know the one.
Quick Pose: Strike a dramatic pose and hold it for a few seconds. Physical movement can kickstart creative thinking. This one is best done in more private areas, unless you are doing a TikTok video. You aren’t doing a TikTok video, are you?
Gratitude Thought: Think of one thing you’re grateful for today. Gratitude opens the mind to positive thinking and creativity. If it’s a person, drop them a line and let them know you are grateful for their friendship, mentorship, or even those Miles Davis recordings they let you borrow when you were laid up with the flu. Thanks, Dave.
And there you have it.
Twenty scientifically proven, FDA-approved, and beloved old-world ideas for quick creative shots.
And they are cheap, too..
A shot of Tequila: $8-12. More if it’s the good stuff.
These are all free.
And they don’t run a tab.
(** OK, to be sure, they are not FDA-Approved. I don’t want no trouble, ya’ll.)
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Wonderful tips!