Creativity is the ability to conceive new or imaginative ideas and turn them into reality. All creative work emerges from two actions: thinking and producing. Thinking is activating your imagination, allowing your mind to forge new connections between ideas, and exploring problem-solving approaches to an idea. The second is producing, which is the hard work involved in bringing those creative thoughts to fruition. 

Creativity is a necessary skill for those in the arts, but it has application in other areas, too. For example, creativity is the foundation for many modern businesses and industries. Many industries and entrepreneurs value inner creativity, empathy, and understanding more highly than analytical thinking. Creative thinking helps businesses find new and inventive ways to stand out from their competition and add value to their goods and services.
Creative thinking is not limited to naturally creative people. Research shows creativity is less of a gift than it is a skill you can learn through regular practice. Regularly engaging the creative process can even [improve creativity](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-creativity) over time.
If you want to [be more creative](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/st-vincents-tips-for-honing-your-creativity), try dedicating time each day to:

- __Daydream__. Mind-wandering, or daydreaming, might feel like procrastinating, but it frees the mind to explore creative problems to its furthest limits. Researchers suggest setting aside time to daydream by reducing distractions, relaxing, and letting ideas flow for a set number of minutes.
- __Doodle__. Many creative geniuses, including Pablo Picasso and Steve Jobs, stimulated their creative juices by doodling—creating a simple drawing without much effort or attention. Doodling provides a subconscious workspace for the brain to explore new problems and create new ideas.
- __Exercise__. Brainstorming during thirty minutes of exercise often helps break down creative blocks and fuel new ideas. Research shows moderate exercise has a positive impact on both creativity and cognitive thinking. 
- __Freewrite__. Busy schedules can leave us feeling in a rut and unable to free up space in the brain for creative thoughts. To get started with [freewriting](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/freewriting-prompts-to-help-break-your-writers-block), simply grab a piece of paper and let your words flow. The results might help you gain perspective and clarity. Many online sources provide daily [writing prompts](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-prompts) if you need ideas.
- __Play video games__. It might surprise you to learn video games help many young people develop their creativity and problem-solving skills. Research shows better social skills, improved concentration, motivation, and spatial skills are all linked to playing video games.
Grab the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and plumb the depths of your creativity with the help of modern artist Jeff Koons, abstract artist Futura, and stage designer Es Devlin. Our exclusive video lessons will teach you to do things like utilize color and scale, explore the beauty in everyday objects, and so much more.
Creativity is a skill everyone can learn. Discover new and unique ways to spark creative thoughts.

Creativity is a skill everyone can learn. Discover new and unique ways to spark creative thoughts.

How to Be Creative: Activities That Boost Creative Thinking

Creativity is the ability to conceive new or imaginative ideas and turn them into reality. All creative work emerges from two actions: thinking and producing. Thinking is activating your imagination, allowing your mind to forge new connections between ideas, and exploring problem-solving approaches to an idea. The second is producing, which is the hard work involved in bringing those creative thoughts to fruition. Creativity is a necessary skill for those in the arts, but it has application in other areas, too. For example, creativity is the foundation for many modern businesses and industries. Many industries and entrepreneurs value inner creativity, empathy, and understanding more highly than analytical thinking. Creative thinking helps businesses find new and inventive ways to stand out from their competition and add value to their goods and services.

What Is Creativity?

Creative thinking is not limited to naturally creative people. Research shows creativity is less of a gift than it is a skill you can learn through regular practice. Regularly engaging the creative process can even <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-creativity' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-creativity","linkCopy":"improve creativity","category":null}'>improve creativity</a> over time.

Can You Teach Yourself to Be Creative?

If you want to <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/st-vincents-tips-for-honing-your-creativity' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/st-vincents-tips-for-honing-your-creativity","linkCopy":"be more creative","category":null}'>be more creative</a>, try dedicating time each day to:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Daydream. Mind-wandering, or daydreaming, might feel like procrastinating, but it frees the mind to explore creative problems to its furthest limits. Researchers suggest setting aside time to daydream by reducing distractions, relaxing, and letting ideas flow for a set number of minutes. </li><li class="">Doodle. Many creative geniuses, including Pablo Picasso and Steve Jobs, stimulated their creative juices by doodling—creating a simple drawing without much effort or attention. Doodling provides a subconscious workspace for the brain to explore new problems and create new ideas. </li><li class="">Exercise. Brainstorming during thirty minutes of exercise often helps break down creative blocks and fuel new ideas. Research shows moderate exercise has a positive impact on both creativity and cognitive thinking. </li><li class="">Freewrite. Busy schedules can leave us feeling in a rut and unable to free up space in the brain for creative thoughts. To get started with <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/freewriting-prompts-to-help-break-your-writers-block' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/freewriting-prompts-to-help-break-your-writers-block","linkCopy":"freewriting","category":null}'>freewriting</a>, simply grab a piece of paper and let your words flow. The results might help you gain perspective and clarity. Many online sources provide daily <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-prompts' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-prompts","linkCopy":"writing prompts","category":null}'>writing prompts</a> if you need ideas. </li><li class="">Play video games. It might surprise you to learn video games help many young people develop their creativity and problem-solving skills. Research shows better social skills, improved concentration, motivation, and spatial skills are all linked to playing video games. </li></ul>

How to Be Creative

Grab the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and plumb the depths of your creativity with the help of modern artist Jeff Koons, abstract artist Futura, and stage designer Es Devlin. Our exclusive video lessons will teach you to do things like utilize color and scale, explore the beauty in everyday objects, and so much more.

Ready to Tap Into Your Artistic Abilities?

Creativity is a skill everyone can learn. Discover new and unique ways to spark creative thoughts.

Creativity is a skill everyone can learn. Discover new and unique ways to spark creative thoughts.


Top view of a woman with her right hand poised to begin drawing on a blank page of a sketchbook. 