Reigniting Your Creative Spark: Tips to Boost Innovation in Your Company

Creativity is the backbone of innovation and problem-solving in any business. However, even the most forward-thinking leaders can face moments when their creative energy starts to dwindle. If you’re feeling stuck, it’s important to recognize this and take steps to revive your creative drive. Here are 18 strategies from industry experts to help you unlock fresh ideas and get back to your most inventive self.

1. Engage in a Routine, Repetitive Task Doing something monotonous, like washing dishes or solving a Sudoku puzzle, can free up your mind and allow new ideas to emerge. These tasks allow your brain to rest while subtly working through problems in the background. – Suzanne Mattaboni, Suzanne Mattaboni Communications
2. Understand Your Own Creative Process Focus on how creativity naturally flows for you, rather than how you think it should happen. When you understand your own process, you can better support it and trigger new ideas when needed. – Jay Steven Levin, WinThinking
3. Try Different Creative Outlets If you’re stuck, try engaging in a different form of creativity. For example, if you’re struggling with a PowerPoint, rearrange your workspace or doodle. Switching to another creative task can often help reinvigorate your thinking. – Baruch Labunski, Rank Secure
4. Seek Out New Experiences Refresh your routine by trying new things—whether it’s a new restaurant, music, or meeting new people. Sometimes, simply changing your environment or taking a break can help you come back with new perspectives. – Sabina Pons, Growth Molecules
5. Acknowledge the Block and Change Your Environment When creativity stalls, admit it and then take action. Take a walk outside, go to a different workspace, or even work in a new environment like a café or park. – Joseph Steinberg, Cybersecurity and AI Expert Services
6. Step Away from the Task Take a break and do something completely unrelated to your work. Engaging in activities outside your industry can help unlock new creative thinking by accessing parts of the brain that aren’t usually used. – Zain Jaffer, Zain Ventures
7. Take a Short Break or Vacation Sometimes, the best way to refresh your mind is to disconnect for a while. Whether it’s a short vacation or a quiet weekend away, time off helps restore focus and creativity. – Tammy Sons, Tn Nursery
8. Go on a Digital Detox Walk Disconnecting from your devices and going for a walk in nature can clear your mind, reduce stress, and help you make connections between ideas that weren’t obvious before. – Dr. Kira Graves, Kira Graves Consulting
9. Change Your Physical Space Changing your environment can have a huge impact on creativity. Whether it’s traveling, working from a new location, or simply taking a walk outside, new surroundings can offer fresh perspectives and spark creativity. – Britton Bloch, Navy Federal
10. Don’t Force Creativity Trying to force creativity usually backfires. Instead, step away and take a brief break—go for a walk or meditate. Often, giving your brain space to relax leads to faster and more effective solutions. – Krisztina Veres, Veres Career Consulting
11. Walk Without Purpose Sometimes, walking aimlessly without a set agenda can clear your mind and allow new ideas to surface. Pay attention to your surroundings, focusing on the present moment to help creativity flow. – Leah Marone, Corporate Wellness Consultant
12. Rest Your Mind When creativity is low, it’s often due to mental exhaustion. Taking a step back, whether with a coffee break or vacation, can restore energy and encourage fresh ideas. – Lillian Gregory, The 4D Unicorn LLC
13. Take Time Away from the Office Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes. Whether for personal reflection or simply to get away from your normal routine, time spent away from your regular work environment can boost creativity. – Jacob Kupietzky, HCT Executive Interim Management & Consulting
14. Take Five for a Quick Reset Even just five minutes of stepping away from your work to breathe, stretch, or take a short walk can be enough to clear your mind and return to your work with renewed focus. – Karen Mangia, The Engineered Innovation Group
15. Get Fresh Air and Physical Movement Sometimes a change in your physical state is the key. A quick walk, run, or even a swim in the fresh air can get your blood flowing and reinvigorate your creative energy. – Michael Frazier, Bedell Frazier Investment Counseling
16. Explore Other Disciplines If your creativity feels stagnant, try diving into different fields. Drawing inspiration from unrelated areas can spark new ideas and ways of thinking that you can apply to your own work. – Anna Yusim, MD, Yusim Psychiatry, Consulting & Executive Coaching
17. Engage in Activities That Inspire You When creativity is blocked, step away and do things that inspire you—exercise, connect with nature, or listen to music. These activities can refresh your mind and spark new ideas. – Alan Wozniak, Business Health Matters (BHM) Executive Consulting
18. Ask for Input from Newer Team Members Sometimes, fresh ideas come from unexpected sources. When you notice a dip in your creativity, invite newer or younger team members to participate in brainstorming sessions. Their fresh perspectives can offer valuable insights. – Gergo Vari, Lensa

By integrating some of these techniques into your routine, you can unlock new creative energy, think outside the box, and keep innovation thriving in your business.