creativity

7 Underrated Skills That Will Help You in Any Job

Kentin Waits — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 08:30:25 +0000

When it comes to employment, degrees, training, and experience matter. Still, not everything employees have to offer was learned behind a desk. There are soft skills and subtle personality traits that can enrich and transform any workplace — from a basement bike shop, to a billion-dollar investment firm. Though they're tough to list on a resume, here are seven underrated skills that will help you no matter what your job. (See also: 15 Soft Skills Every Employer Values)

1. Empathy

It's a fact we sometimes forget: The world of work is populated by humans. Sure, we all strive to appear cool and collected, but sometimes the veneer cracks. People who are able to listen, understand, and offer empathy bring real value to the workplace. These folks tend to be expert communicators (especially across cultural barriers). When managing people, they often develop a loyal following that improves teamwork and productivity. (See also: This One Skill Can Make You a Better Boss)

2. Patience

In our competitive culture, aggression is usually considered an indispensable business skill. But there's something to be said for those of us who don't live on hyper-drive. Patience gives us room to weigh options, consider outcomes, and develop strategies that are based on real information instead of reflex. For managers, patience helps build a healthy team atmosphere and nurture employee talent.

3. Eloquence

Eloquence is the art of expressing thoughts and ideas clearly. Beyond demonstrating intelligence and insight, it's an essential part of tact and diplomacy. Knowing what to say and how to say it can help you navigate the choppy waters of office politics, avoid unnecessary conflict, and calm irate customers. (See also: 25 Ways to Communicate Better Today)

4. Curiosity

Why is curiosity so powerful? Because it's only satisfied by acquiring more knowledge. Curiosity keeps us asking "Why?" and inspires us to look for smarter solutions to everyday problems. Curious employees are more inclined to take initiative, seek out additional training, and pursue professional development opportunities.

5. Creativity

Creativity makes innovation possible. In every job, creative thinking can help you spot (and correct) inefficiencies, develop smarter (and cheaper) processes, and design new products and services that improve lives. That's not just a soft-skill; it's a hard asset that every employer is hungry for. (See also: Boost Your Creativity: 9 Surprising Ways to Generate New Ideas)

6. Adaptability

No matter what your career path, one thing is certain: The road won't always be smooth. Companies reorganize, technologies change, and old industries are constantly disrupted. Embrace the chaos. Being adaptable helps you survive — and sometimes even thrive — in this new reality.

7. Good etiquette

In the nation that invented informality, good manners get noticed. Making proper introductions, practicing basic dining etiquette, ensuring that every email contains a salutation and a closing, and silencing electronic devices during meetings — these small overtures demonstrate a level of professional refinement that can win over new clients and advance your career.

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This article is from Kentin Waits of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Non-Finance Skills That Will Make You a Money Master

Kentin Waits — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 09:00:22 +0000

When it comes to winning in the world of money, I'm a firm believer in the power of the liberal arts. Sometimes, a broad base of knowledge can serve you better than a narrow set of skills in mathematics, business, or investing. So buck up, theater majors and graduates of the School of Hard Knocks; here are eight non-finance skills that will make you a money master.

1. Self-awareness

Socrates was onto something when he said, "To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom." Self awareness is the key to understanding the level of investment risk you're comfortable with, the situations that trigger impulsive consumer behavior, and the strengths you can build upon to become more successful with money. Stretch your self-awareness muscle a little every day by being mindful of your emotional responses to advertising and noticing which parts of your budget are the easiest and most difficult to stick to.

2. Self-control

How do you become a money master while living in the middle of a three-ring consumer circus? You develop superhuman levels of self-control. Money masters resist impulse buys (at least most of the time), drive reliable used cars instead of new ones, shred stacks of preapproved credit card offers, and stick to their budgets despite everything that urges them to do otherwise. (See also: 6 Ways to Resist a Splurge)

3. Self-confidence

In the U.S., keeping up with the Joneses is practically a national pastime. Those in charge of their financial futures evolve beyond the constant comparisons that drain time, energy, and money. How do they do it? They cultivate authentic self-confidence and are able to live by a simple, yet fundamental truth: Who they are is far more than what they buy. (See also: 3 Ways Confidence Makes You Better With Money)

4. Big-picture thinking

Money masters always play with the end-goal in mind. That means sacrificing when necessary to pay down student loans, avoid credit card debt, save for retirement, and build a healthy emergency fund. It means understanding that long-term financial security is the result of dozens of tiny, strategic decisions they make every single day.

5. Patience

For those of us who don't have relatives in the oil business or who haven't won the lottery, achieving financial security takes patience. Delaying gratification, taking the long-view on investments, building wealth dollar by dollar — these are the traits of true money masters. Without patience, you'll always be seduced by get-rich-quick schemes, always expose your principal to unnecessary risk, and only become the master of financial disaster. (See also: 8 Ways Being Patient Saves You Money)

6. Critical thinking

I hate to alarm you, but there are hordes of people after your money. Every day, scammers and shady investment brokers are developing new and better ways to relieve you of your hard-earned cash. In this environment, critical thinking is a survival skill. Money masters consider each expenditure carefully, arm themselves with unbiased information, and can spot a too-good-to-be-true investment from a mile away. (See also: 7 Steps to Improving Your Critical Thinking)

7. Creativity

Creativity helps people make money and save it. Some of the most creative folks I've ever met were raised during the Great Depression, and the lessons they learned permanently shaped their relationships with money. These money masters know how to stretch a dollar to within an inch of its life (without feeling deprived for a second), grow their own food, repurpose items, and build thriving cottage businesses. (See also: 9 Money Lessons to Take From the Great Depression)

8. Communication

Communication is the life skill that feeds all the others. Money masters are able to talk openly with their partners about finances, negotiate with diplomacy, share their knowledge, and ask the sorts of the questions that empower smart investing. (See also: 5 Money Conversations Every Couple Should Have)

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This article is from Kentin Waits of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

4 Ways to Make Debt Repayment Fun

Emily Guy Birken — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 09:39:08 +0000

When my husband and I were first married, we used to race home on the 15th of each month, each one of us hoping to be the first to get the mail out of the mailbox. Our highly anticipated mail was not our favorite magazine, or the cheese of the month club, or even the newest Netflix DVD (remember those?).

No, we were hurrying home to be the first to open up the monthly statement for our home equity loan, which we were in the long process of paying off. Whoever reached the house first got to see the official tally for our previous month's payment, and color in the next chunk of the debt-payoff thermometer we had posted in the kitchen.

We're not the most boring people on the planet, despite what our kids might say. Our anticipation of the home equity loan statement just showed that we had found a way to make the long slog of debt repayment not only tolerable, but actually enjoyable.

Before you decide that "fun debt repayment" is an oxymoron, consider how getting out of debt can be improved by making it more like a game. (See also: 6 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Motivate Yourself)

Gamify your debt payoff

Games offer both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to keep you playing. Intrinsic motivation refers to the internal or personal satisfaction you might feel for completing a task, while extrinsic motivation is the reward something else gives you for completing a task.

For instance, you might spend an afternoon playing Call of Duty both because of the game's extrinsic motivation of rewarding you for completing the missions, and because of your intrinsic motivation to have some fun shooting digital Nazis in the face.

Understanding how games tap into both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation can help you figure out how to gamify something as traditionally "unfun" as debt payoff. In particular, arranging for extrinsic motivators to keep you on the straight-and-narrow of debt payoff can help make the "game" of getting your balance down to zero an intrinsic reward.

Here's what you need to do to create your debt payoff game.

1. Choose the levels in your game

A game is not designed as a single huge step to overcome in order to win. It's broken down into achievable levels that allow you to enjoy your progress without feeling like you'll never reach the end. Video games generally make the first level an "easy win" in order to get you hooked on the game. As your competence at the game increases, the levels become more challenging.

You can do the same thing with planning your debt payoff "game." Start by determining exactly how much you need to pay off, and figure out how much extra you can send to your creditors each month.

For instance, let's say you have $25,000 in credit card debt. You're currently sending the minimum payment of $625 each month, and that is already a big bite out of your monthly budget. You might decide that your first "level" will be sending an additional $100 to the credit card this month. An extra Benjamin a month is achievable but feels like an accomplishment if you're already struggling to pay the minimum — and this is why it's a good first level.

From there, you might make the next levels when your balance has gone down by $500, and then $1,000, then $2,000, and so on. Once you've knocked $5,000 off the balance, make your levels a little further apart, so they occur every time $2,500 of balance is wiped out, or every $5,000. (See also: The Fastest Way to Pay Off $10,000 in Credit Card Debt)

2. Decide on your extrinsic motivations per each level

Now that you have chosen levels for your debt payoff game, figure out how you can reward yourself for reaching them. Eventually, just reaching these levels will feel pretty great. But at the start of a debt payoff plan, it's a good idea to also build in the extrinsic motivations that will spur you to think of your debt payoff first when you're tempted to spend money.

This is where you brainstorm ways to celebrate reaching the various levels you've chosen in your game — without spending money. Find rewards that cost nothing but still make you feel great. You might consider the following "level up" rewards:

Movie night at home.
A nap in the middle of the day.
An at-home pedicure.
An entire Saturday afternoon playing your favorite video games.

The trick is to think about the things you normally don't allow yourself and pick out the ones that require no (or very minimal) cash outlay. Assign different rewards to different levels. (See also: 20 Free and Fun Ways to Reward Yourself)

3. Create a game visual

It's a lot more fun to play a game with good graphics or good design, and that's no different with your debt payoff game. Once you've determined the levels and rewards of your debt payoff, it's time to find a way to render them visually so that you can both keep track of your progress and enjoy the anticipation of getting closer to each reward level — and your overall goal.

Debt payoff thermometers are a common method of creating a visual for your repayment plan. These are great for a couple of reasons: Anyone can easily draw a thermometer and label various levels on it, it makes for a motivating visual, and it can be a lot of fun to color in the thermometer as you go.

However, that's not the only way to visualize your debt payoff game. Using a spreadsheet or other digital tracker can help you see your progress over time. In addition, if you are motivated by coloring or other artistic endeavors, you could create a beautiful visual of your debt payoff journey that you color in as you make progress. Or, if board games are your jam, consider creating a game board of paying off your debt. You can have fun with figuring out what your board will look like, and how you will represent each level.

Making your game visual means that you can be creative about finding a system that will give you extrinsic motivation to pay off your debt.

4. Watch your extrinsic motivation become intrinsic

As you work through your debt payoff game, you'll find something strange happens: Figuring out ways to save money so that you can send more to your creditors goes from being a drag to being fun. That's because you'll find yourself wanting to color in the next level on your game board or reach the next level of reward, and so you stop thinking of paying off debt as a horrible slog. Instead, each step allows you to do something you enjoy (coloring in your debt thermometer or your game board) and also brings you closer to a reward you want.

Once you get used to thinking of sending more money to your creditor as fun, it will become fun in its own right, without needing the game to make things enjoyable — although there's nothing wrong with continuing to treat it like a game.

A spoonful of sugar

Mary Poppins had it right when she sang, "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun." It might seem impossible that paying your credit cards, student loans, or other debt could be the thing you most look forward to each month — but the spoonful of sugar that you add by gamifying your debt payoff may just make you rush home in joyful anticipation on the day you receive your monthly statement.

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Fun and Unexpected Ways to Get Out of a Business Rut

Elaine Pofeldt — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 08:30:08 +0000

Even the most innovative entrepreneurs feel "stuck" sometimes when solving business problems. Many small business owners who need some outside inspiration go to business events and mingle with other entrepreneurs, but that can backfire when you're feeling uncreative. Between all of the networking and hyperactive pitching, it's possible to leave feeling drained instead of inspired.

So what do you do if you feel like you've fallen into a creative rut in your business? Sometimes, turning to unconventional sources of inspiration can help. Here are five ways to regain your creative mojo.

1. Attend an event outside of your industry

When your schedule is packed, it can be hard to break away from the day-to-day to attend a conference or trade show, let alone one outside of your field. But spending time with people in other industries can be a good way to immerse yourself in new ideas you aren't likely to hear about from colleagues in your own field.

At least once a year, and preferably two or three, make time to attend an event for professionals in a field outside of your own. If you're in a traditional brick-and-mortar industry like real estate, head to an event for pros involved in artificial intelligence or automation. Run your own accounting business or a small law office? Pop into a trade show where you can immerse yourself in the latest fancy foods, tech gadgets, or fitness trends. The list of possibilities is endless, so pick one that seems interesting to you personally. The event doesn't have to be more than an hour to expose you to new ideas.

By paying attention to how people in other fields are solving problems and challenges in front of them — or solving problems for their customers — you'll get some fresh ideas on how to move your business forward. You may also meet some new potential clients you wouldn't ordinarily encounter. (See also: 11 Ways Freelancers and Telecommuters Can Make Friends and Network)

2. Immerse yourself in the arts

Reconnecting with your imagination by enjoying art, music, or theater can be a fantastic way to spark new solutions to your most vexing business problems — or help you come up with new products. One business owner told me that playing piano and visiting art galleries gave him inspiration when designing technology involved in streaming music, for instance. My hairstylist recently told me he gets his creative juices flowing sculpting and cooking.

3. Learn a new discipline

It's tempting when you feel "stuck" in your business to hunker down at your desk, but that can be counterproductive and tiring. Reboot your brain by doing a guided meditation (perhaps using an app like Headspace), trying a new yoga class, or signing up for a martial arts class. All of these activities will push you out of familiar patterns of thinking.

Ideally, pick an activity that requires so much focus and concentration you can't think about anything else. For me, hot yoga does the trick. I sometimes wonder whether I should take the time out of my day to drive to the studio, given how long my to-do list is, but after I've spent an hour in a 100-degree room doing downward dogs, my mind is completely clear. Often, I find that the answers to work-related challenges pop into my head on my ride home from the yoga studio — or I realize that a problem that was worrying me isn't as big of a deal as I thought and simply cross it off my "list."

4. Go back to school

Even if you don't have time to sit in a classroom, there are plenty of opportunities to take self-paced classes these days through online platforms such as edX and Coursera. Instead of taking the practical approach and taking a business course, consider studying a subject that interests you outside of your business. edX, for instance, offers classes such as the History of Chinese Architecture, Making Government Work in Hard Places, and The Science of Happiness. Studying almost any new subject will bring fresh ideas into your mind — and by extension, into your business. (See also: 10 Classes That Can Pay for Themselves)

5. Reconnect with your childhood

If there are kids in your life — whether they are your own or those of a friend who would appreciate some free baby-sitting — spend a couple of hours playing with them. Go to a park and let them dictate what you play, or bring over some crafts supplies or materials for a science experiment and put them in charge. Experiencing how they think, experiment, and solve problems will get you out of the "adult" mindset of doing everything efficiently and aiming for results. The more you can connect with the childlike side of yourself, the more willing you'll be to try new, possibly messy, approaches at work. That's a good recipe for getting unstuck.

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This article is from Elaine Pofeldt of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The Key to Debt Reduction May Be a Simple Picture

Paul Michael — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 10:30:07 +0000

If you do a quick Google search for "debt art," you'll be either confused or underwhelmed. It's likely you'll find articles on artists accumulating or dealing with debt. But, there is another type of debt art that you need to know about. Not only can it help you pay off debt more quickly, or reach a financial goal, but it can brighten up your environment with something that represents a real personal success story.

First Thing's First — What Is Debt Art?

Quite simply, debt art is a piece of art that helps you reach a financial goal in a creative way. Whatever the goal is, be it eliminating credit card debt, a student loan, saving for a vacation, or paying back taxes, debt art removes the hard-edged numbers and spreadsheets and instead lets you visualize, and track, your progress.

How to Create Debt Art

It may sound corny, but the only limit to debt art is your imagination. Of course, people with more artistic flair can really go to town on it, but all you really need to do is find a fun way to track your progress. It's also good to have the debt art in a prime location in your home or office, so that you are reminded daily of your development.

The simplest solution is a series of squares that you color in. Each square can represent a set amount that you are putting towards your goal — say, $50 per square. You want to save $1,000 for a vacation, so you create 20 squares that need to be colored in. As you save each $50, you color in a square. When every square is filled in, congratulations! Debt art has helped you reach your goal.

Of course, that's not very interesting. Some people have taken debt art to much more creative extremes. Take, for example, Amy Jones. On her blog, Map Your Progress, she outlines a truly wonderful piece of art that helped her reduce her debts by $26,000!

The art was not difficult to create. As you can see, it's a series of swirls, arranged in a kind of floral pattern. At first, the lack of color on the poster looks overwhelming. The goal, to have every $100 swirl filled in, looks like an impossible task.

However, slowly but surely, Amy colored in those swirls. The sense of achievement, and the visual indication of reaching a goal, was powerful enough to keep her going. "Coloring in those swirls month after month helped me feel like I was doing something, "she said. "It helped me see that I was making progress toward my goal of zeroing out my credit cards."

Why Debt Art Works So Well

It's all about breaking down something insurmountable into something very achievable. If you look at a debt like $5,000, it can seem incredibly overwhelming. So much so, that it's easier to forget it, ignore it, or hope it goes away.

But, when you split up that $5,000 into more manageable chunks, it suddenly doesn't feel as tough. Instead of $5,000, you're looking at a picture of 200 circles, each one representing $25. How easy is it to color in one of those $25 circles? One leads to two, and three, and before you know it, you've made a $200 dent in that debt.

The ability to track progress based on these much more achievable goals means that it's easy to see and make progress quickly. The great thing is, you can customize it to something you believe will work for you. If $25 chunks are too big, try $10, or even $5. You might like the feeling of coloring in several $5 chunks in one day, or week, over one $50 chunk. But as you see the black and white canvas become a rainbow of colors, you are spurred on to achieve your financial goal.

Ideas for Your Own Debt Art

You don't have to have artistic abilities or flair to create something that will be both fun to look at, and easy to track. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Bricks in a Wall — You can print out a simple brick pattern from a Google search, and then use it to create a building or tower. Each brick can represent a specific sum of money.
Legos — Here, you don't need to draw anything. And you can approach this piece of debt art in two ways. Either build something up, or knock it down. Each Lego brick can represent a sum of money, and you can either add to a tower, or remove a brick (perhaps revealing something behind it…an image of something you're saving for is one fun example).
Circles — Draw a series of circles until you have covered the page. You could have different sized circles for different amounts (big circles = $50, small circles = $20). When all the circles are filled in, you have reached your goal.
Coloring Books — If you really feel put off by the idea of creating your own art, why not find a coloring page from a book and have it enlarged? These adult coloring books are all the rage right now. Find a pattern that easily translates to something that can be used to track finances, and print it out poster-sized.
Ask the Kids — Kids of all ages love creating and coloring. If you want something that you can have as a keepsake after, ask the kids to draw something that you can fill in every week. Maybe they will draw a bunch of happy faces, cats, trucks, or fruit. They can help you color it in, too, giving you something that has meaning beyond the monetary success story.
Use Amy's Debt Art Maps — Amy has some available for purchase at her site. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes.

Have you used art to motivate you to reach a goal?

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Wonderful Ways to Use Wallpaper

Ashley Marcin — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 15:00:09 +0000

Do you have old wallpaper remnants collecting dust in your closet? Or perhaps you've seen some patterns that inspire you, but aren't right for an entire room? Whatever the case, you can use wallpaper for some pretty nifty projects. Check out our top picks and feel free to add your own ideas in the comments.

1. Framed Art

For quick art on the cheap, try framing wallpaper. You get the look and whimsy of wallpaper without the long-term commitment. Just cut paper to the size of some thin wood panels. Moisten and stick on, making sure to brush away the bubbles. Then use inexpensive trim pieces to make your frame.

2. Dresser

Or dress up an old dresser by lining its drawers with wallpaper. This project cost only $25, and the author found a great way to get fancy wallpaper for less: Order samples! Alternatively, you can put the wallpaper on the faces of your drawers for a bolder look.

3. Stairs

This blogger made her "stairway to heaven" using wallpaper samples to lead the way. Simply cut paper to fit your stairs. Then wet, stick, and smooth. Try mixing and matching patterns for a fun look that will brighten your whole house.

4. Bookcase

Give your old bookcase some pop by adding a colorful wallpaper backing. Remove the shelves before measuring the length and width of your bookcase. Then cut wallpaper to the exact measurements before brushing with paste and adhering.

5. Window Shade

Window treatments need not be expensive. Breathe new life into boring shades by covering them with wallpaper. Unroll the shade and cut your paper to size. Cover the shade with wallpaper paste and stick on your new print.

6. Clipboard

Jazz up an old clipboard by adding wallpaper to its backing. You can arrange several of them above your desk as a beautiful way to wrangle papers, bills, and other stuff. I think they'd also make great (inexpensive) gifts.

7. Headboard

Don't have a fancy bed? No problem. You can make your bedroom look like new by simply framing some wallpaper at the head of your bed. Measure and cut paper to size (the larger it is, the more dramatic the look will be). Then apply and let dry. Finish by framing out with trim.

8. Lampshade

Over the years, lampshades get dings and stains. Spiff yours up by covering it with wallpaper. This project is so easy. Cut paper to the right width and height before applying scrapbooking paste all over. Once that has dried, finish with a little grosgrain ribbon.

9. Switch Plate

Martha Stewart shows us how to customize drab switch plates by covering them with wallpaper. Cut paper so it's around half an inch longer on all sides of the plate. Cover paper with glue and center your plastic plate before letting dry. Then carefully cut out room for the switch and screws before folding the excess over and installing.

10. Accent Wall

Of course, we cannot forget the accent wall in this list. If you're having trouble deciding between prints, I love this patchwork wallpaper wall using different designs and colors. It's like making a quilt with paper. Cut squares or rectangles of different papers and arrange them on the floor (or on a bed) before sticking on the wall.

Is wallpaper part of your interior design arsenal?

This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: Foods That Feed Your Creativity

Amy Lu — Fri, 08 May 2015 19:00:09 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on the foods that spur creativity, clever kitchen tips and tricks, and the cities with the lowest taxes in America.

How to Have More Eureka! Shower Moments

Linsey Knerl — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 17:00:05 +0000

It is often quipped that the best ideas happen to someone, somewhere, while they are in the shower. And while many people do get inspired while scrubbing up (just take these waterproof notepads as evidence), the perfect "ah-ha" experience can happen most anywhere. So the question arises: Why? And, how can we encourage it to happen more often?

Happiness Is Brilliance

What exactly causes that moment of brilliance? A number of factors can contribute, but science suggests it usually can't be done without that amazing brain chemical called dopamine. Responsible for the feelings of pleasure, this hormone-turned-neurotransmitter can also bring out some of those amazing moments that make us shout "Eureka!" So this likely explains why great ideas happen in the shower, while listening to our favorite tunes in the car, or when relaxing with a tasty treat. (See also: 9 Surprising Ways to Generate New Ideas)

As it turns out, however, there is much that happens before the pleasurable event that goes into the brewing of a great idea. Here's how to make the moment ripe for inspiration.

1. Create a Bigger World

It's hard to have new ideas if your vision is narrow. To expand how you see the world — and potentially create new concepts — is to approach everything with openness. Nessa Victoria Bryce of Scientific American suggests that this first step is by done by challenging yourself to explore something new to you.

Have you always wanted to try watercolors? Do you shy away from certain cooking trends? Is there a different route home that you've avoided taking for no particular reason?

When you find the time and energy to stretch yourself, do it! By keeping your options open in your everyday life, you are training your mind to anticipate and acknowledge new "ah-ha's!"

2. Dig In Deep

Once you've found something that you really connect to (those watercolors, for example), Bryce claims that you you now need to get into the trenches of that subject and learn everything you can about it. Learning the answers to your questions only prepares you mentally to solve even more problems, possibly with unique ideas that haven't been implemented before. It also helps to make you a "subject expert" for a particular topic. Future bright ideas can come together more quickly if you have all the puzzle pieces stored away in your brain.

3. Relax

You can't — and shouldn't — work all the time. Once you've discovered the ins and outs of your chosen subject, walk away for some "off" time. Drop the brush and head outside for a jog; enjoy the breeze or listen to the birds. When your mind is allowed to just "coast," you'll be surprised to find that your brain may pop with a new, brilliant idea! (And if your "off" time creates extra dopamine, you're set for success!)

In a recent study of 90 Harvard students, those who were forced to step away from their problem-solving and given the opportunity to work on a different task, came back to the table with more ideas and solutions than the group who stayed focused on the problem continuously. Further proof that taking a break is essential to having a truly "ah-ha" moment.

What if you have tried all of these things and aren't impressed with the results? It's possible that the timing just isn't right. Like most great ideas, we can't always set the perfect stage for their appearance. I find that most of my best ideas happen when it is terribly inconvenient to write them down (driving in traffic). Again, this is related to the science that my brain is likely on "auto-pilot" or coasting, plus I enjoy driving. The combination of the dopamine I get from listening to my favorite tunes in the car, plus the relaxation that seeing the wide-open plains gives me is the perfect storm for some brilliant ideas.

What can you do to capture the ideas you do get so that you don't lose them for later? Here are a few of my favorite tools for gathering up all the goodness:

Use the memo recorder on my cell phone.
Jot it on a sticky note. (Although most of my ideas end up on the backs of envelopes.)
Scribble it on your hand. (Writing on your hand won't kill you.)
Bounce it off a significant other.
Call your voicemail.
Send an email.
Post it on your Facebook wall.
Find a similar idea on Pinterest and pin it!

And there are always those waterproof sticky notes mentioned above.

When do you usually get your best ideas? How do you ensure that you keep them for when you need them?

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This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Science Proves It: You NEED to Take a Vacation

Christa Avampato — Fri, 09 May 2014 09:00:18 +0000

"All who wander are not lost." — J. R. R. Tolkien

Fifty-seven percent of American workers don't take all of the vacation days they're given by their employers. As many as half a billion vacation days go unused, and 92% of people who do take vacation check in at the office at least once during that time. Most developed nations — 20 out of 21 — have mandated vacation benefits. The U.S. is the lone exception, and that could be harming the productivity and health of the American workforce. Here are five scientific studies that highlight the holistic benefits of vacation.

1. Vacation Fires Up the Brain

Time away from work, all work, actually ignites the brain. In the mid-1990s, researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to show that while people concentrate on a task, parts of their brain experience a drastic reduction in activity. When those same people let their minds wander, those same parts of the brain light up like a Christmas tree. Downtime is actually a stimulant for the brain.

2. Vacation Sparks Creativity

If you like to spend your vacation time exploring other cultures, chances are your downtime will supercharge your creativity. Scientists found that people who spend time abroad are forced to learn to navigate the world on very different terms than they usually experience in their everyday lives. Being a stranger in a strange land strengthens our creative muscles, literally and figuratively, and those benefits linger long after the vacation ends. These experiences also make us better managers, negotiators, and collaborators.

3. A Rested Brain Is a Connected Brain

For too long, sleep was seen as a waste of time. Now there are a plethora of sleep studies that show sleep and rest are the very best methods to assimilate new information into knowledge we can use in future circumstances. We are bombarded by information, data, and many other forms of stimuli during every waking moment. When we rest, our brains have the opportunity to connect all of these disparate dots, and those connections lead to insights great and small. Sleep and rest also improve memory. So, be sure to get plenty of rest on your next vacation!

4. The Shortest Bridge Between Despair and Hope Is a Good Vacation

This is more than a clever turn of phrase. It's actually grounded in science. Studies show that people who sleep 7-8 hours per night are happier and healthier. If you're feeling low, rest and relaxation via a vacation may be exactly what the doctor will order. Vacation gives us a chance to truly let go, and that's food for the emotional centers of the brain that will bring it back into balance.

5. Vacation Reduces Stress

Stress is one of the root causes of disease. It's been shown to cause cellular degeneration and increase blood pressure, sugar levels, and blood lipid levels that increase the risks for heart disease and stroke. It also negatively impacts the respiratory and digestive systems. In short, stress kills. A true vacation gives us a chance to detox the body of stress, and that detox is crucial for our long-term health. It recharges us mentally and physically, with a particularly positive impact on brain health and cognitive function.

With all these benefits of vacation, it's time to get out those travel books, fire up your search engine, and start planning your next great getaway. Don't think of it as time off; think of it as an investment in your most valuable asset — you and your health!

Have you noticed how vacation improves your productivity? Please share in comments!

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This article is from Christa Avampato of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Boost Your Creativity: 9 Surprising Ways to Generate New Ideas

Sarah Winfrey — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 12:19:39 +0000

Whether you're solving a problem at work, figuring out how to remodel your home, or trying to come up with something new to fix for dinner, you'd probably have an easier time if you had access to better ideas. Creativity is the art and science of generating these sorts of ideas, and nearly everyone wants to be more creative. (See also: 20+ Ways to Boost Creativity)

Improving creativity often involves knowing how your brain works best and utilizing techniques in your thinking that will allow access to your rich, most creative mindspace. While some aspects of creative thinking are different for everyone, many depend on how the brain itself works. If you're not sure how to jumpstart your creativity, try applying some of the brain hacks below.

1. Relax!

Creativity requires dopamine. The more dopamine we have in our systems, the more creative we will be, and the better the ideas we will have. Dopamine is associated with activities that make us feel happy, full, and rested, like showering, exercising, sleeping, etc. That's why we often find that we have our best ideas in unexpected places — because those are the places where our brains are relaxing. (See also: Free Videos That Help You Relax)

2. Get Distracted

Along with relaxation, distraction often produces some of our best ideas. We often stew on the problems we're trying to find solutions for. When we don't come up with an answer, we walk away to do something else. And that is when we find the solution. New ideas often need an incubation period, where the connections being made in your subconscious can leap into your conscious brain. If you've been working on a problem for a while, try doing something else for a bit.

3. Let Your Brain Get Tired

When your brain is tired, it doesn't filter things as well. One result is that in this less focused, less sharp state, our brains are free to room and make new connections. Since a huge part of having new ideas is simply letting your old ideas connect in new ways, this gives them the chance to do just that. So, if you're an early bird, try looking for new ideas at night. If you're a night owl, get up early to generate new ideas. (See also: 5 Things to Do in the Morning)

3. Create a Safe Place to Think

Your creativity, according to comedian John Cleese, is something like a tortoise. Before it really comes out to play, it pokes out its nose to see if the environment is safe. We talked about relaxing above, but it also helps to give yourself a certain time slot in the day where you try to think creatively, so your tortoise brain knows it's safe to come out. You can also make your workspace a friendly, inviting place where you feel happy to lure the tortoise into the open. (See also: 10 Ways to Be Happier)

4. Deprive Your Senses

Some people find that sensory deprivation helps them think more creatively. When you deprive yourself of all the sensory input you're normally getting and processing, your brain can use that energy to generate new ideas. While a sensory deprivation chamber is the best way to do this, simply dimming the lights and working at a time and place where noise won't distract you can help you generate more ideas. Since vision is your dominant sense, shutting that off can be the most effective in generating more brain power for fresh ideas.

5. Get Warm

If sensory deprivation isn't your thing, or isn't possible for you, then at least make sure you're warm enough. Being warm makes us happy, which produces dopamine. As mentioned above, more dopamine means more creativity, which means more great ideas. What's warm for one person may be cold for another, though, so you may have to compromise on this to optimize creativity for everyone in your workspace. (See also: How to Be Happier and More Likeable at Work)

7. Don't Fear Bad Ideas

Being afraid of bad ideas can paralyze us and keep us from thinking up new ideas in general. When we fear bad ideas, and there's no way to tell if our next idea will be great or terrible, we tend to stop thinking up new ideas in general. Instead, we can let our new ideas come as they may, knowing that we can discard the bad ones and keep the good ones. This way, we'll generate more great ideas than we will when we fear the bad ones.

8. Let It Sit

Sometimes, we wonder how to tell the difference between a good idea and a bad one. We don't just fear having bad ideas, but not realizing that one is bad and investing ourselves in it before realizing our mistake. One sure way to determine which of our ideas is great is to simply let them sit. Take a vacation. Walk away. Go do something else. When you come back to the problem, you'll often find that your brain has sorted your ideas and determined which ones are more likely to be worth following up on.

9. Meditate

These days, I sometimes feel like meditation is supposed to be the cure for everything. However, a recent study out of the Netherlands shows that people who meditate and then are given creative tasks perform better than those who are given the tasks without the meditation time before. Meditation seems to predispose the brain to generating ideas, possibly by helping it relax, or by inducing mental states where ideas can connect.

When it comes to generating great ideas, what works for you?

This article is from Sarah Winfrey of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Places to Go for Inspiration

Jennifer Holder — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 10:24:03 +0000

Inspiration comes to people differently. With the internet (ahem, Buzzfeed), there are tons of inspirational quotes and stories, but for me, physical locations are often more inspirational than memes. (See also: 8 Quotes to Inspire Your Dream Career)

It usually all boils down to what your interests are, or what you're struggling with in the first place. Below are the 10 places that inspire me, but I'm sure there will be an overlap in your own lives.

1. Live Music

I work at a music venue sporadically, and live music is simply the best. From seeing music in a small, intimate setting or in a large arena, you're able to see a musician really dig deep into what they're playing. Their love for what they do always reminds me that we should love what we do for a living as well.

My father loves jazz, and the live experience of improvisational jazz can't be topped by recorded music. It's freeing, and you don't know what could happen next. In college, I met almost all of my friends through music, whether they played it or enjoyed it as equally as much as me. In fact, it was a friend I met through one specific band's (Warning: Autostart Music) many live performances who then inspired me to move to New York and ultimately shaped my destiny.

2. Comedy Clubs

When I moved to New York, I met quite a few comedians and improvisers. I've seen some of the funniest people alive today perform comedy, and it's amazing to see how quick their minds work and how they can recall the slightest detail. Also, laughter allows you to steer your mind in a different direction, so you distract yourself long enough to work out an issue. It's also nice to hear a stand-up comedian make fun of something that's been on your mind lately. Having people find the humor in sometimes difficult situations can help you move on.

3. Public Parks

Sit on a bench, play on the swingset, or just stroll around. Public parks are often filled with children and watching them smile, share toys, or ride a slide 50 times because it's just as fun the last time as it was the first time is uplifting. Children take joy in the little things, and it's a nice reminder that we should too. Take a journal with you and write down random thoughts or observations. Life is short, and being happy and having fun every day is important.

4. Nature

Find a trail to hike or bike. Take in the sights, smells, and sounds as you go. There are no car horns or televisions on those trails, just the blowing wind and crunching leaves. Or if you live near a beach, head down to the shore for a few hours and lay in the sun, taking in the crash of the waves and the smell of sea salt. The ocean refreshes itself, so let it refresh you. And don't think nature is just for art — nature has influenced quite a few tech geeks as well, so you never know. (See also: Over 50 Ways to Have Free Outdoor Fun)

5. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

You have nothing but time while in transit, and the momentum helps to get your juices flowing. While traveling, I've always had the ability to completely clear my head and focus. I've written some of my best stories with the unlikely aid of leg cramps and exhaustion. Use your time wisely and charge up your laptop or don't forget a pen. And if you're worried about anyone reading what you write, who cares… it's all worth it in the end. (See also: 6 Ways to Get More Done on a Plane)

6. Bookstores and Libraries

Books themselves are, of course, often inspiring. Often when I read a book, I think like the author and pick up on their writing style. But I love diving into one piece of literature and a chapter later reading another piece of literature. I sit on the floor surrounded by books, reading everything at once.

Go through different sections and topics — you might be surprised at what might pique your interest, especially books from different time periods (both fiction and nonfiction). After all, history can be a great source of inspiration. We constantly learn from the past to shape our future.

7. The Gym

Exercising is the perfect way to unwind and relax. It's also the perfect way to think about things you might be pushing away because you can't make a decision or don't know what you want. Yoga helps me meditate and plan things out, and I find that the grueling task of spin class helps me to refocus my energy and teaches me self-discipline. You go hard in spinning classes, and there is no room for complaining. The stress relief will make you feel better and really get you moving both mentally and physically. (See also: 20 Really Cheap Ways to Relieve Stress)

8. Flea Markets and Thrift Stores

As they say, one man's junk is another man's treasure. Browsing around flea markets and thrift stores is a great way to get inspired by the past.

I have a number of friends who are excellent "pickers," and when they buy an item that is slightly used, they're instantly ready to go to work on it or use it to change their entire motif. Looking at something worn and run down and creating something beautiful from it is inspiration at work. For instance, my friend used thrift stores and flea markets to style her wedding. It was cheaper, and she felt more of a connection with the items because they were made or improved by her own hands. In the end, working on her wedding inspired her to pursue a career in styling weddings and photo shoots.

9. Dreaming/My Bed

Yes, my own brain is my inspiration. I'm often described as random, mainly because my brain goes from one totally inane topic to another. Therefore, my dreams do, too. Most of the time it's my brain working something out for me, whether it be a problem I need to solve or an issue I need to address. My dreams are also vivid and creative, which leads to imaginative storytelling. And sometimes at lunch I take a power nap so I can refocus myself, as Thomas Edison did. A nap hasn't led me to an invention like the light bulb, but it has helped me sort out issues for clients.

10. Restaurants and Bars

Eating and drinking with friends is a great source of inspiration for me. Discussing issues with a friend and sharing personal experiences makes me think of the problem in a completely different light. Getting away, having a drink or two, and relaxing makes me focus on the big picture, rather than being stuck on one problem. It also gives me new perspective on the issue because I'm able to step away and come back to it later.

What places serve as your inspiration?

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This article is from Jennifer Holder of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

90 Free Activities to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

POPSUGAR Smart Living — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 10:24:31 +0000

We all get stuck in a rut, which gets frustrating when you're looking for inspiration. Instead of sitting and stewing, get your creative juices flowing with free activities that will motivate and inspire. Here are 90 basically free activities, from heading to a local art gallery to walking through open houses, that are guaranteed to motivate.

Head to your local library and check out a book on a subject you're not familiar with.
Go on a nature walk and collect five things that are beautiful.
Get out your old photographs and take a look at your past, remembering special moments that were important to you.
Pick up a pencil or pen and sketch without worrying if you're a good artist. The process is more important than the product.
Grab a cookbook and attempt a recipe you've never made before. Invite friends over for an impromptu dinner party and share the dish.
Learn how to arrange flowers into a beautiful display.
Keep a dream journal and pick up a dream analysis book from the library to learn more about your sleeping brain.
Tap into your inner child and head to the closest park and swing on the swings. Along with being fun, pumping those legs will get you thinking in a different way.
Upcycle something you're planning on tossing.
Volunteer your time at a local animal shelter, elder community, or homeless shelter.

Read on for more motivating ideas.

Find out when the closest art museum offers free admission and make a date to visit. Spend time walking through the displays and taking notes on your favorite works of art.
Join Instagram and explore manipulating your pictures and sharing with friends.
Do a crossword puzzle.
Go to a poetry reading and then try writing your own verse.
Fold the best paper airplane.
Download a free iPhone app and check it out.
Head to an empty bench at the park and eavesdrop. Yes, not socially acceptable, but donning dark glasses and pretending to read a book while listening in on others' conversations is a great way to spark your imagination.
Watch a classic black-and-white movie on TV and note how things have changed over the years.
Get free tickets to watch a live filming of your favorite TV show.
Check for local garage sales or antique fairs in your area. And you don't have to buy anything — simply scope out the stuff and people watch.
Borrow your friend's kids and head to the park. Playing with children is a fun way to spark your creativity.
Read a fantasy novel — or a romance.
Relax. Calming your mind will allow all your amazing ideas to flow.
Take a shower and belt out your favorite tune.
Read back on your journal and reflect on where you are today. Or start a journal and get writing.
Learn how to make the perfect boiled egg to start your day out right.
Start a blog and write posts about something you are passionate about.
Join Pinterest and look at all the inspirational things others are doing and sharing.
Go to a free concert.
Attack that stack of old magazines and create an inspiration board.
Check out DIY blogs online.
Go to a craft fair and take pictures of all the neat things people are making.
Pack for a trip even though you're not going anywhere. Imagine you're traveling to somewhere amazing and write an email detailing the trip. When finished, send the email to yourself.
Transform just-about-wilted flowers into homemade potpourri.
Listen to classical music.
Head outdoors and take a photo tour of your neighborhood, snapping all your favorite spots.
Write a letter to yourself in the future.
Grab a blanket and find a quiet spot to cloud watch.
Ask a friend questions you've never asked before. Or call your sister, brother, or parents, and catch up.
Check for free improv nights in your area and make a date.
Head to your local community collage and sign up for a free class.
Start writing the next great novel.
Call your besties and head out for a night of fun karaoke.
Do repairs around the house. Yes, not super fun, but while you're making sure that picture's hung right, you'll get your mind thinking in other ways.
Toss clutter and clean your home, revealing open spaces and empty corners.
Meditate.
Watch the sunset, or wake up early and enjoy the sunrise.
Switch things up with a 10-minute workout.
Sketch a beautiful dress.
Go for a long walk at night and stargaze.
Learn how to make origami shapes.
Enliven your tea with fruits and fresh herbs. Drink it instead of coffee in the morning, or during the day, for a fresh new look on things.
Go to a candy store and sample all the amazing flavors.
Head to the beach, or your local swim spot, and enjoy the natural surroundings.
Try a new look and do your hair differently or go a day without makeup.
Learn how to play an instrument.
Take some selfie snaps.
Do something you used to love doing as a child, like building a fort with blankets and pillows.
Eat ice cream for breakfast and sausage and eggs for dinner.
Check out the best hikes in your area and pick one to try.
Search for adorable pet videos on YouTube.
If you're right-handed, use your left for the day.
Take a nap.
Sign up for free dance lessons.
Go climb a tree and sit in the branches for a different perspective on things.
Try nail art.
Grab a notebook and pencil and design your dream house. Even if you aren't an architect, simply listing all the things that you'd love in your perfect home is a fun way to get your creative juices flowing.
Put fruits that are slightly unripe to good use by making homemade jam.
Check out Etsy and, if you're crafty, start your own shop.
Learn how to knit.
Create a thinking spot in your home to sit and ponder things.
Check out Airbnb. Even if you're not traveling, looking at other people's spaces might spark your imagination.
Talk to a stranger.
Rearrange your furniture. Need inspiration? Call a friend to come over and tell you how she thinks things should be positioned.
Take your dog for a long walk. Don't have a pet? Look at cute pictures of kitties.
Use your phone to make a short video and then share it with family and friends.
Go to an art opening. Along with showcasing new artists, art openings often offer free snacks and drinks.
Head to your local home goods store, pick out a selection of paint samples, and use them to do a fun project.
Dress up in your favorite outfit and go for a walk. Even though you're not a celebrity, act like you're one.
Get out your favorite pictures and create a unique photo wall in your home.
Go through your clothes and make a stack to donate.
Deep-clean your bed for a better night's sleep. This way you'll feel refreshed and ready for anything tomorrow.
Join a local sports league in town and make new friends while being active.
Go to a book reading.
Browse for free things on Craigslist.
Learn how to make a new cocktail from bottles hiding in your liquor cabinet.
Clean out your email, reading old correspondences before deleting.
Invite friends over for a fun game night.
Learn how to watercolor.
Spend your Sunday looking at open houses in your community. Along with getting a chance to see the interiors of homes, take inspiration from how furniture is arranged or the view from the kitchen window.

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Don't just sit there waiting for inspiration — break boredom and get creative with one of these great ideas.

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This article is from POPSUGAR Smart Living of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

25 Ways to Boost Creativity

Mikey Rox — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:00:31 +0000

Even those who go, go, go all day long can run into creative walls every once in a while. And once you’ve been knocked down, it can be hard to get back up again — despite what 90s annoyance Chumbawamba professes. So to help you reclaim your creativity in the event that you’re at an intellectual impasse, here are 25 tips on how to boost your creative brainpower. (See also: How Less Creativity Can Make You More Creative)

1. Listen to Music

Turn on your favorite tunes and get lost in melody. Don’t just listen to the music though. Hear it. Digest the lyrics and imagine in your head the scenes they set.

2. Meditate

Turn down the lights, power off your devices, and become one with yourself again. Meditation helps increase creativity by creating a condition for insight, easing artistic anxiety, and improving attention and concentration, among other benefits.

3. Doodle/Draw

Even if you’re not a particularly good hand artist, you can doodle endlessly and without a real purpose to help clear your mind of some of the clutter that has accumulated.

4. Daydream

This is one of my all time favorite pastimes. Daydreaming allows us to escape the burdens we carry and facilitates open-mindedness. There are no restrictions when daydreaming, which is why this tactic can be useful when you need a creative boost.

5. Keep a Notepad by Your Bed

I often wake up in the middle of the night — either from a dream or for a bathroom break — with something on my mind. If I don’t write it down immediately, I will likely forget it by morning. To preserve these creative surges, even when I can’t or don’t want to do anything about them in the moment, I keep a notepad next to my bed to jot down those dream filled ideas, words, and thoughts for later.

6. Skim Through a Magazine

Visual aids can often help in the creative process, so skimming through a magazine relevant to what you’re working on may help. For instance, if you’re looking for design inspiration, page through a home improvement publication. If you want to make a delicious meal for houseguests, look through a cooking magazine. There are magazines for virtually everything you can think of, so you should be able to find something that piques your creativity rather easily.

7. Have a Cocktail

Some of my best ideas have come after a few glasses of wine. In fact, if it weren’t for alcohol, famous writers like Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald would have never had a hit. To inspire your creativity, throw a few back (in moderation) and wait for the ideas to start flowing as freely as the moderately free flowing booze.

8. Take a Nap

When you’re overwhelmed and overworked, it’s hard to be creative. Sometimes all you need is a nap to get your mind back on track.

9. Visit a Museum

Museums burst at their seams with creative excellence. Take a leisurely stroll through an art gallery or educational facility to see what those who have come before you have created to ignite ideas of your own.

10. Browse the Internet

If your brain is drained, spend 30 minutes browsing funny videos, reading articles, looking at pictures, or otherwise searching for the most outlandish things you can find. Just don't overdo it.

11. Play Video Games

Another great way to relax your noggin is to engage in a round of video games (or board games even). Some games can energize their players (especially Wii or Kinect games that make you move), and they can assist in improving your problem-solving skills.

12. Make a List

Whenever I have to come up with creative taglines for advertising copy, I take out a sheet of paper and write down all associated words and words that rhyme with those words, and I search for idioms that have relevance to the concept at hand. This technique unlocks ideas which lead to more ideas that I never would have thought of otherwise.

13. Decorate to Inspire

If you have an extra room in your house, decorate it to inspire you. Paint it a bright, energetic color; hang artwork that evokes emotion; and keep within reach those items you need when you need a creative insurgence — like coffee and your iPad.

14. Brainstorm With Another Creative

You know the old saying — two heads are better than one. When yours is running on empty, join forces with another creative to get your brain back in the game.

15. Get a Massage

Take a load off your back and your brain with a soothing massage that will help you relax. While you’re lying there for those 30 to 90 minutes, let you mind rest and wander.

16. Read a Book

You can’t help but visualize people and places when you read a great book. So when you feel like you’re experiencing a block, pick up your favorite story and escape to where your imagination and the prose take you.

17. Exercise

What else do you have to do on the treadmill besides watch the clock? Use that time to think about your projects and how you plan to approach them when you’re all buffed up. Thinking while working out also helps the minutes go by a little faster, which for someone like me, who hates the gym, is a blessing.

18. Eat Brain-Boosting Foods

Want a sharper mind bursting with creativity? The answer may be in what you eat. Put down the burgers and donuts and instead stuff your face with healthy, brain boosting foods like fish, soy, greens, and berries.

19. Follow Your Curiosity

The only way your creativity will know no bounds is if you let your curiosity run wild. One of the ways I expand my horizons is through Wikipedia. It never fails that when I look up one topic, I click on 20 other related links until I’m so far from my original topic that I forgot what I searched for. The result, however, is that I’ve just learned a ton of stuff that will influence my creativity, even if I don’t know it yet.

20. Set Aside Time

Sometimes you have to schedule time to think. If you find that you don’t have enough time during the day and your creativity is suffering as a result, it’s time for a break. Schedule a half hour where you can put all your distractions aside and relax. This brief respite will help you destress and think more clearly when you return to work.

21. Take Risks

When you take risks, you open yourself up to new experiences — and new experiences contribute to your overall creativity. So the next time you go back and forth in your mind about "should I or shouldn’t I," just do it. You’ll thank yourself later.

22. Think Outside the Box — Literally

It may sound like a cliché, but sitting outside a physical box has shown to enhance creativity.

23. Have Fun With Children

Who better to help you open your mind that children? Children have no stress; their lives are simple. So it only make sense that their imaginations run wild 24/7. Get in on some of that action by having fun with a few of the kids in your life so you can free your mind like one again.

24. Ponder the Future

What’s great about thinking about the future is that it’s yet to be written. In your version, you’re the author, which means there are endless possibilities. Tap into your creativity by thinking about life 20 years from now. And think big, for goodness' sake. Your future will be what you make it.

25. Manage the Mood

Is your environment preventing you from being as creative as you’d like to be? Change that. Remove those distractions and make your thinking space conducive to creativity. Maybe that means turning up the music or opening the windows or shutting off the lights. Whatever you need to do to think clearly, do it.

What do you do to boost your creativity?

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

14 Things You Should Spend More Time On

Kate Luther — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:24:41 +0000

In our rush-rush, hurry-hurry world of multitasking and automation, we’ve managed to cram more into an average day than ever before.

But there are some things that shouldn’t be left to an app, condensed to an audio book, or squeezed in between yoga class and clearing out your DVR. Yes, you heard me…there are still some things that require your full and undivided personal attention.

Now, things such as your health and your money go without saying, and I doubt that you need any convincing on those points. For that reason, the obvious priorities have been left off this list — instead, you’ll find aspects that are easier to overlook. (See also: 25 Healthy Changes You Can Make Today)

1. Your Teeth

We’re all aware of the importance of having a bright and shining smile, but the cosmetic benefits are only the tip of the iceberg. And according to a 2009 survey of dentists, we’re not taking the care we should when it comes to our teeth.

A healthy mouth prevents bad breath and tooth decay, but it also helps prevent gum disease, the leading cause of tooth loss and a contributing factor in heart attacks and strokes. To get the benefits of a healthy mouth, however, you need to spend at least 10 minutes a day practicing good oral hygiene and make regular visits to your dentist for a deeper cleaning.

2. Your Home

They say that your home is a reflection of what’s going on in your life, so if things seem chaotic or “out-of-sorts,” that sensation is then mirrored in the design and decorating in your house.

But sometimes, the opposite is true. Your home also influences your mood, so if your study is cluttered and messy, for example, you’ll likely feel frustrated and agitated whenever you enter the room. Likewise, an unorganized kitchen can make cooking a pain, encouraging you to eat something fast but less-healthy to avoid spending time in the room.

And now, new studies show that clutter isn’t the only factor to consider. Dubbed neuroarchitecture, research shows that lighting, color, space, and general décor have the ability to actually enhance our mood and even improve our performance.

So, the next time you’re feeling stressed or blue, take a look around at your environment…it may be time to redecorate.

3. Family and Friends

While there’s much to be said for alone time (see #5 below), we are still very much social creatures at heart and our relationships are an important component of our self-esteem.

Unfortunately, our busy schedules can make quality time with family and friends difficult to achieve, meaning that you have to work at it if you want to see some positive results.

And if an improvement in mood and outlook aren’t enough to motivate you to connect with others, check this out — a 2003 Study at Ohio State University (PDF) suggests that illness and injuries actually heal faster when we’re surrounded and supported by those we love.

4. Learning

A while back, I wrote about ways to improve your memory and possibly stave off dementia and other degenerative diseases of the mind. Since that time, I’ve added daily lessons of Spanish and French in my household (as well as my mother’s), and I’m also relearning algebra as well.

The results are noticeable. Nevermind that I feel a little smarter; I’m also finding it easier to recall information and talk intelligently without struggling for words along the way. And what I realized was this — we spend our school years cramming and memorizing and studying a wide variety of subjects, but once we enter the “real world,” we tend to specialize in our profession and that constant challenge of learning new things seems to stop.

Is it any wonder, then, that our minds begin to deteriorate?

Now, the good news is that you don’t have to restrict yourself to language and math. You can memorize the presidents, study geology or history, rekindle that love of science, or dive into the crazy world of politics. The point is to keep learning…and the more you learn, the more new pathways your brain will create.

5. Solitude

There’s nothing wrong with craving the company of others, and if you read #3 above, then you know that I’ve already established the importance of reinforcing and nurturing those human connections.

But solitude is important too…so much so that several recent studies suggest that there’s definitely some benefits to going solo on a regular basis. That alone time allows you to clear your head, balance emotions, process and memorize information, and even tap into your own “meaning of life.”

6. Your Beliefs

One of the things I enjoyed about my college debate class was that my professor often asked us to argue the opposite point of view.

This forced us to set aside our own personal belief systems and — to the best of our abilities — find a way to justify an opposing opinion. Granted, some topics were easier than others, but the result was always the same — we found that we understood more about the other side than we might have previously been willing to admit.

Now, imagine what kind of progress we could make if we employed that tactic all the time?

7. Your Wardrobe

In the corporate world, it’s widely known that what you wear can have a direct effect on your confidence level. People tend to take you more seriously when you’re dressed for success, and the mere knowledge that you look good is enough to make you feel empowered.

So why should that practice begin and end with the boardroom?

Like our homes, how we dress is a direct reflection of how we feel, meaning that t-shirts and sweats are OK, but if they make up the majority of your wardrobe, you’re doing your self-confidence an injustice.

No, power suits aren’t required for everyday attire, but some bright colors can do wonders for your mood and more importantly, your self-esteem, both of which can improve your negotiating skills, productivity, and outlook on life.

8. Your Memories

I’m a genealogy junkie. What started as a curious search for my great-grandmother’s birthplace has turned into a full-blown obsession to discover everything there is to know about my ancestors and their lives.

This obsession, however, has also made me realize the importance of preserving the memories I’m creating along the way…not just photographs, but stories and thoughts that will tell my grandchildren (and their grandchildren) exactly who I was and what mattered to me the most.

Creating a scrapbook of your life also allows you the opportunity to take those walks down memory lane and discover some life lessons you might have missed along the way. It’s therapeutic, it’s comforting, and it has the potential to be eye-opening.

9. Creative Expression

We spend quite a bit of time doing what has to be done, whether it’s paying bills or washing dishes or going to work.

Making time for creative expression gives you the chance to use a different part of your brain and focus on something that comes from deep within your own psyche rather than our usual day-to-day grind. Studies show that regularly dabbling in something artistic improves problem-solving skills, relieves stress, and lifts your mood — three good reasons to make art class high on your list of priorities.

10. Your Manners

We’re all quick to talk about morals and values, but whatever happened to manners?

Somehow, it’s become acceptable to be indifferent (or worse, downright rude) if it serves our cause or ensures our success. I see kids acting in ways that I would never have behaved growing up, and I see adults acting with the same belligerence and discourteous mannerisms that we used to chalk up to the younger generations who didn’t know any better.

Now, don’t get me wrong…I’m all for a good debate, and I’m the first in line when it comes to standing up for a good cause. But I think we lose something very vital to our society when getting our way means that we forget our manners.

Call me old, call me out of touch…just be sure to say please and thank you when you do.

11. Your Dreams

When you were young, what did you want to be? A firefighter? A doctor? An astronaut? A princess? It’s easy to have big dreams when we’re little because there was nothing to force us to think otherwise.

Of course, as we grow older, reality sets in and we learn to settle for something that will pay the bills rather than seek out that thing that makes our heart sing.

But your dreams are your dreams for a reason — they represent your passion, that thing that makes you tick, and if you don’t give them some attention now and then, dreams tend to wither away and die.

The good news is that you don’t have to quit your steady accounting job in order to explore your notions of becoming a cowboy. Small steps and small changes are often all it takes to revive those dreams and set you on a new and potentially more satisfying path.

12. Your Fears

I recently wrote an article about getting things done and noted that “fear” was actually our biggest motivator and also our biggest obstacle. Fear makes us behave in ways that are unbecoming to such an intelligent species, and it also keeps us from pushing the envelope and discovering what we’re really capable of achieving.

The bottom line — if your life isn’t exactly what you want it to be, look at what you’re afraid of. Chances are, fear is holding you back from your true potential.

13. Your Strengths

Self-improvement experts have always taught us that we need to work on our weaknesses if we want to improve them.

But instead of spending so much time focusing on the things we despise and don’t do well, why not spend more time focusing on areas in which we excel?

Using this mindset, we’d spend more time doing things we love, things that come naturally to us and that we have a talent for mastering. Imagine what a wonderful world we’d live in if everyone spent their days doing the things they love the most?

14. Your Unchartered Territory

I’ve already mentioned fears, dreams, and beliefs, but I want to take things one step further before we call this article “done.”

Taking risks and venturing out into the unknown is something we don’t like to do…and we don’t like it because it requires us to change. But if there’s one thing constant in the universe, it’s the fact that everything is changing and will continue to do so, regardless of whether we’re changing with it or not.

So if there’s one thing you take away from this article, let it be this — you don’t know what’s out there until you look. You don’t know if you like something until you try it, and you don’t know if you’ll succeed unless you’re willing to take a chance with the possibility that you’ll fail.

Life is what you make of it. Choosing to live it inside a safe but predictable bubble won’t get you to where you really want to go, and you’ll never know what kind of amazing surprises were waiting for you in that unchartered territory.

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This article is from Kate Luther of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How Less Creativity Can Make You More Creative

Annie Mueller — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:24:07 +0000

Creativity doesn't always just happen.

In the Western world especially, where processed and packaged stuff is available everywhere all the time, it's much easier to consume rather than to create.

Let me give you a simple example.

Breakfast of Champions

I can...

Stand in front of the refrigerator looking for something amazing
Rummage through the pantry looking for something amazing
Flip through a cookbook searching for inspiration
Find a recipe for a frittata and another one for creme-filled crepes
Spend 1 1/2 hours cooking up an amazing frittata and creme-filled crepes
Eat
Spend another 30 minutes cleaning up the kitchen

Or I can...

Get the frozen pancakes out of the freezer like I always do
Heat up a stack of pancakes in two minutes
Eat
Spend two more minutes cleaning up

Both are essentially the same in this — it's food, and I ate it. Done.

But the two are essentially different in this — in the first example, I had a lot of creative input in the food that I ate. I created it from the raw materials I had on hand. In the second scenario, I didn't. I ate what had been produced and packaged for me.

There are times — many, many times — when using what has already been produced is much smarter than trying to create your own version. I don't want to build my own house, I just want to live in it. So let me be clear — we're not on a mission to be creative all the time, in every aspect, in every possible way. Quite the opposite, in fact.

It behooves you, if you want to be more creative, to find some key ways to be less creative.

Wha-aaa…? Looks of confusion around the room.

Let me sum up.

The Sum of Your Days

Your day-to-day life is a series of tiny decisions and repetitious acts.

You wake up every day, get dressed, eat breakfast, get in your car, and drive to work. Or you wake up every day, get dressed, snuggle with some cute little kids, come up with breakfast for you and the cute little kids, clean the house, and do some work. Whatever your life consists of, chances are you repeat a lot of your actions day after day.

Am I right?

Yes, I am. Let's continue.

So you do a lot of the same things every day. You either make the same decisions over and over again, or you do these same things out of habit.

You put a few habits in order, and you have a routine. Routines get you through your repetitious daily tasks and save you from making the same decisions over and over again.

And when you're not using your time and energy to decide (again) what you'll wear or whether you'll wash your hair or when you'll work out, you can use your time and energy for other stuff instead.

Stuff like being creative.

The Power of Mundane Routines

Consider this — you deal with thousands of decisions every day. You know from experience that your mental energy is limited. All of us can process only so much before our brains go on auto-pilot or shut off completely. If you know your mental juice is limited, why do you want to waste it on the stuff that isn't so important?

Put some of your life on auto-pilot so that you have more of your mental capability to put into your creative passions.

The routines you build may seem to give you less room for creativity, and they do in a certain sense. When you have routines, certain parts of your life are already decided; all you have to do is follow the routine, and the results will follow without any real creative effort. But putting those routines in place gives you the freedom to be more creative in other areas.

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This article is from Annie Mueller of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

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