We always can use some more creativity in our lives. Whether you’re running a massive company or just looking to take on some do it yourself projects at home, being creative is a form of self-expression and is the backbone behind productivity and success.

To me, creativity goes hand in hand with productivity and we all have our different ways to show it. Creativity is not limited to those in the arts, but it is the driving force behind your best work no matter what form it may be. For some people, creativity comes more naturally than it does for others, but there are ways to help give your creativity a little nudge in the right direction.

Here are 4 ways  to help harness your creativity:

1. Get up and move around

Motion creates emotion. And emotion is critical in your creative process. No matter if you’re a writer, musician or putting together a new budget proposal, to get the best out of your work you need that bit of emotion and passion to put everything you have into it. Since a majority of our time is spent sitting down this is a good time to get up and move. It might just be a quick walk or jumping jacks, the point is when you do get up and move that motion will translate into a better energy that you can put towards your work.

2. Read or watch something inspirational

This can work a few ways. Firstly, it is beneficial whenever you hit a rut and feel you’re drained on a creative level. Having things to turn to that inspire and motivate you are a great way to get back on track. It can be as simple as putting a playlist of inspiring music together or a collection of youtube videos that you find motivating.

Watching, reading or listening to inspirational things first thing each day can also be a good way to set up your creative process for the day. It starts the day on that creative note which can lead you down a more productive path as the day goes on.

“If you can dream it you can do it.” – Walt Disney

3. Get more exercise

This will be different to the first point which is about trying to break out of little ruts by generating quick emotion. Consistent exercise can lead to more consistent creativity. Research from the Leiden University in the Netherlands, found that those who exercised four times a week were able to think more creatively than those who were sedentary.

This has a double-pronged effect as when you do need those little short term bursts as shown in the first point your body is more able to adapt to a creative place. The exercise has the ability to help strengthen that creative muscle along with your actual ones!

4. Refer back to your best work

You may have dozens of examples of your own creativity at it’s best or even just a handful. The point is you know you can be creative and have no doubt fired on all cylinders at some point. When you feel you are lacking in creativity go back to some of your best stuff to get a reminder that, not only can you be creative, but you know you will be again.

In whatever work you do sometimes the best inspiration can come from yourself. It’s something I’ve been doing lately by going back to some of my best writing and blog posts as it gets me back into that creative mindset that was really working at the time.

“Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” – Albert Einstein

You are going to hit creative ruts from time to time, that’s just a fact. The best thing to take away here is to simply realize that. When you can come to terms in realizing periods of non-creativity are not the end of the world, and that you will break through them, it sets you up for future success.

Like athletes who do the same pre-game ritual day in and day out so it goes with the person who depends on creativity in order to be productive. Creating a routine, and some things to fall back on during those dry spells, helps to create a dynamic where you are more easily able to snap out of it and get back on the track to real creativity and progress.

What are some things you do to harness your creativity? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!