As someone who owns and operates a business alone, creativity matters. Most people assume that creativity only applies to a painter or sculptor but the truth is, it is a prerequisite for solorepeneur success.
Creativity helps you come up with a unique brand proposition. Creativity allows you to get work done without draining yourself (aka “working smarter, not harder”). Even when you are working from home, there are ways to boost your personal creativity.
1. Get a good workout.
Exercising can be the last thing on your mind but it has shown real results for people. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience published a study where it was explained that regular exercisers did better in creativity tests than their sedentary counterparts. Working out makes you more creative in a way that it gives birth to new brain cells. Run outside, get on the treadmill, or join a local fitness class.
2. Spend some time in nature.
Once in a while, leave the confines of your home office and spend time in a natural environment. Invite your buddies to hike with you in the forest. Maybe head to the beach this weekend and immerse yourself in the sound of the waves. Nature shifts your attention from deadlines to sights and sounds that are beautiful. You feel a greater sense of relief and happiness – these are just the things you need to think and plan better at work.
3. Seek the advice of your friends or solopreneurs like you.
Instead of dealing with a solopreneur problem yourself, sometimes the best solution is to get opinions from others. Approach the people who are close to you and ask them what they think of your new product idea or tool. Listen to podcasts by solo business owners who’ve been there, done that. Try our solopreneur episodes here at Lifestyle Solopreneur.
4. Drink coffee!
Coffee is every solopreneur’s best friend. There’s nothing that energizes you better in the morning than a cup of coffee – whether that’s caramel macchiato or espresso. Caffeine that goes to your brain hinders adenosine receptors so that you feel less drowsy. You’d prefer to think, concentrate, and write a good blog post than take a nap. Coffee may not be the only thing that makes you more alert but it sure does wonders, even temporarily.
5. Fuel your body with the right foods.
I am a strong believer in the idea that food can be the solution to every problem. Food gives your body the raw materials in order to think better, feel better, move better, and look better. There are a few brain foods you shouldn’t miss, and these are the ones that contain antioxidants. For example, blueberries, walnuts, chia seeds, and dark green leafy vegetables.
6. Avoid task switching.
In an effort to get things done, too often we juggle several different tasks at once, never fully focusing. You’re writing a blog post, checking your emails, and scheduling social media posts. What it does is that it consumes a lot of your mental energy. “One thing at a time” remains to be the best advice to finish tasks in less time while reducing the incidence of errors. Last week, I wrote about playing the Chocolate Milk Challenge to help you focus on a task and get it done in just 50 minutes.
Final Thoughts
Invest in these creativity strategies and see your solopreneur business improve. So go ahead, have that cup of coffee or spend your weekend at the beach. What’s your experience on the topic of creativity? I would love to know about it. If you enjoyed this post, share it!
