How to Stimulate Imagination

The word "imagination" is a complex one. Sometimes it refers to someone's ability to be creative or think outside the box, such as making a beautiful piece of art. And sometimes it refers to someone's ability to conjure up images and perceptions mentally that are not observable in the physical world, such as imagining the sun on a cloudy day.[1] In either case, you can develop your ability to spark your imagination.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Giving Your Brain Space to Imagine

  1. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 1
    1
    Allow yourself to relax. Imaginative ideas cannot always be forced out of your mind through discipline and training. In many cases, you have to allow a problem to incubate for a while before your great idea emerges.[2] This is why so many people have great ideas in the shower: their brains and bodies are relaxed enough that their thoughts could incubate properly, giving rise to a great idea.[3] Remember not to force your imagination. Instead, let yourself relax every once in a while. To relax, you can:
    • Take a shower
    • Go for a walk
    • Cook your favorite meal
    • Exercise
    • Meditate
  2. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 2
    2
    Encourage a state of "flow" in your mind. Scientists found that very imaginative people--such as improvisational jazz musicians or freestyle rap artists--are able to silence their inner critics and simply create new musical arrangements.[4] Practice turning off your Executive Attention Network (or the part of your mind that critiques and evaluates your actions) and simply let yourself create. You can critique your own work when you're in the editing stage; resist the urge to do so during the imaginative phase of your work.[5] Some excellent ways to achieve a state of "flow" include:
    • Set a timer for 20 minutes. Resolve to create imaginative art for all of that time. It could be music, knitting, writing, or painting: whatever medium you use to express your imagination.
    • Allow your instincts to guide you: simply create your artwork without second-guessing, deleting, or erasing any of it.
    • Close your eyes when you write so that you can resist the urge to edit as you go along.
    • If you begin to question yourself, tell yourself that you cannot worry about what you are creating until after the 20 minutes have passed.
    • After your timer dings, you can decide whether you would like to continue making your art or whether it is time to take a step back and evaluate what you have done, editing or revising when necessary.
    • A state of flow is more likely to occur in a field where you are an expert, not a novice. If you are learning a new skill, you might need to practice the fundamentals for a while before you are able to reach a "flow" state.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 3
    3
    Take risks. Your imagination should not play it safe, and neither should you. Don't be afraid of criticism or to color outside the lines if you wish to be truly imaginative. Break a few rules, do the unexpected, and throw off arbitrary constraints. You might find that you have your best idea by pushing boundaries.[6] For example, you might:
    • Use unexpected colors. If you are painting a forest, perhaps you might try incorporating a surprising mixture of colors in addition to dark green: red, yellow, or purple--while unexpected--might spark something in your imagination.
    • Stretch the rules of poetic form. Many poetic forms, like the sonnet, have rules about the meter, rhyme scheme, or number of lines. You will learn a lot by adhering to these rules, but you might also consider breaking some of these rules. You might find that your poem is more powerful and meaningful.
    • Combine two genres of music to make something new. Experiment with bizarre, unexpected combinations of sounds and genres to discover what you like.
    • Write in an unpopular genre. Some people worry that the stories they write might not be marketable. Rather than write for a specific audience, however, try writing for yourself. What genre would YOU like to read? Write what you are passionate about, even if it is not very popular at the moment.
  4. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 4
    4
    Do a fun activity. People are at their most imaginative when they are happy. Boredom, depression, sadness, and anger all stifle the imagination.[7] To keep yourself happy, optimistic, and upbeat, you should take breaks every now and again to do a fun activity and keep yourself happy. For example, you could:
    • Listen to your favorite comedian
    • Meet a friend for drinks
    • Walk to your favorite coffee shop
    • Read your favorite poem
  5. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 5
    5
    Let yourself daydream. It is true that most imaginative people have the discipline to learn a field deeply and to write down their ideas. however, allowing your mind to wander is just as important as focusing deeply on a task.[8] Let yourself get distracted every now and again, and let your mind work freely--even if you should be accomplishing another task. Give your mind the space to solve problems on its own.
    • Daydreams are most effective when they involve you imagining your own successful future, and they are least effective when they involve you thinking about being criticized, harmed, or insulted.[9] Try to keep your daydreams positive and goal-oriented, and resist the temptation to daydream about negative, harmful things.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Training Your Brain to Think Imaginatively

  1. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 6
    1
    Tell yourself that you have the power to imagine. Many people believe that only born geniuses can be creative and imaginative. However, everybody has the potential to come up with a brand-new idea. The trick is to recognize that you are capable of such imagination so that you do not dismiss your own ideas out of hand. Tell yourself that you have the potential to do something new, creative, and different: this way, you will be on the lookout for your most promising ideas.[10]
  2. 2
    Improve your visual working memory. When it comes to imagining, we are ultimately employing our visual working memory which we all can improve in such a way that we can hold more items in our mind's eye at once and for a longer duration. To improve visual working memory, practise Dual N'Back, if you can for 20 minutes a day over a period of several(8-12 weeks). You can find the working memory game online; there are also several apps available.
  3. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 7
    3
    Be flexible. Recent studies indicate that the ability to imagine is not located in one specific area of the brain. The notion that some people are naturally "left-brained" and some people "right-brained" is a myth: the entire brain works together in order to develop new, creative images.[11] This means that there isn't one simple key to stimulating imagination: any number of activities and creative exercises might help spark your imagination.[12] Be flexible and versatile as you explore your interests and skillsets.
  4. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 8
    4
    Practice your craft. Even the most famous "eureka" moments in history were not accidental: those who had eureka moments spent years and years studying and training in their respective disciplines. No matter what field you wish to be imaginative in--whether it is math, science, literature, or the visual arts--you will have to take the time to study and practice your craft. Only after a great deal of discipline will your most imaginative ideas arise.[13]
  5. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 9
    5
    Seek out problems without clear solutions. By challenging your brain to develop solutions to difficult problems or puzzles, your brain will be forced to compete multiple ideas against one another.[14] This will help your brain practice imagining a variety of approaches to various tasks and will force you to consider the implications of each of these competing ideas. You can practice this by finding puzzles that others have created (such as cryptic crossword puzzles) or developing your own problems (such as considering the rules of a new language you create).
  6. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 10
    6
    Write everything down. By jotting down your favorite ideas whenever you come up with them, you not only preserve these thoughts for future use but you are also training your brain to continue developing new, imaginative thoughts.[15] Keep a notebook and pen with you at all times--including those times when you do not necessarily expect to have a good idea. Often these times (such as when we are exercising or showering) are when our best ideas come to us.
  7. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 11
    7
    Seek out new experiences. Get out of your comfort zone by pursuing a new set of thoughts and ideas. This will help you get out of an imaginative rut or creative blockage. Many of the world's most imaginative people are polymaths, meaning that they are well-versed in multiple disciplines.[16] Try out a new skill, artist, or topic that you haven't encountered before. You will learn to approach problems differently and will add more arrows to your imaginative quiver.[17] For example you could:
    • Visit a new exhibit at a museum
    • Take a seminar in a subject outside your area of expertise
    • Learn a new craft at an artists' collective
    • Listen to a musician you've never heard before
    • Read about a country you haven't visited
  8. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 12
    8
    Be resilient. Even the most imaginative people fail all the time: their ideas do not pan out, they are wrong, or they are rejected by others.[18] In order to become (and stay) imaginative, you must be able to persist even through your failures and humiliations. Tell yourself that your imaginative pursuits are worth doing, even when you are unsuccessful.[19] In order to be more resilient, you must:
    • Tell yourself that failures are part of the learning process.
    • Resolve to continue creating and imagining, even if you receive negative criticism.
    • View failures as important lessons on how to improve your craft.[20]
    • Take care of yourself physically and emotionally. See your friends, eat well, exercise, and take breaks. The healthier you are, the more you will be able to continue imagining brilliant things.[21]
    9. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Creating an Environment Conducive to Imagining

  1. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 13
    1
    Design a creative workspace. Being surrounded by creative, interesting objects can help us imagine new ideas and scenarios. Create spaces in your home or office where you can display interesting souvenirs, works of art, books, maps, and curios. If you hit a creative block, you can turn to these objects for inspiration and new ideas.[22]
  2. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 14
    2
    Surround yourself with natural light and materials. Studies show that people think more imaginatively and effectively when they are surrounded by natural materials. Use sunlight instead of fluorescent bulbs, and use natural wood instead of drywall if at all possible.[23] Seek out spaces with these natural materials for your creative pursuits. If you cannot find one, consider working out-of-doors when the weather is nice: you will feel less stifled.
  3. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 15
    3
    Spend time with imaginative people. Having creative, intelligent people in your social circle will help keep you inspired, invigorated, and imaginative.[24] Maintain friendships with highly imaginative persons. You can spend time with them in purely social scenarios (such as dinner parties), or you might wish to design specific activities that are rooted in creative pursuits (such as forming a writing group).
  4. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 16
    4
    Share your ideas with others in a low-stress way. People are more creative when they work together in groups. By building off of one another's ideas, they are able to push their own ideas further and come up with imaginative solutions to difficult problems. However, people might also be intimidated and fearful of rejection. To keep members of a group from silencing one another, it is recommended that everyone write their ideas down and share them anonymously. The group will be more imaginative as a whole, and nobody will be too fearful to share their own thoughts.[25]
    5. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using Physical Habits to Stimulate Your Mind

  1. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 17
    1
    Get regular aerobic exercise. Many people report coming up with their best ideas while engaged in vigorous aerobic activities such as running, swimming, hiking, or biking. We're not sure exactly why this is the case: perhaps it allows your brain to continue working on creative solutions to a problem, perhaps it serves as a kind of meditation, or perhaps it is simply a way for you to get into the outdoors. But in any case, moving your body for at least 20 minutes is an excellent way to allow your brain to imagine new things.[26]
  2. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 18
    2
    Perform a menial task. Studies have shown that people who perform an undemanding, repetitive task could come up with more imaginative uses for an object than those who performed a demanding task that required a lot of focus.[27] Consider developing a hobby that will allow your mind to wander and imagine. For example, you might try repetitive, un-focused tasks like:
    • Knitting
    • Walking
    • Doodling
    • Paper-folding
  3. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 19
    3
    Sleep on it. If there is a particularly difficult task in front of you, resist the urge to pull an all-nighter. Instead, consider the problem before bed, then fall asleep. The next morning, your brain will be better equipped to find new, creative, imaginative solutions to the problem. The more difficult the problem, the more likely it is you will have to sleep on it before imagining a solution.[28]
  4. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 20
    4
    Foster the dream phase of sleep. During the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase of sleep, your brain recombines your thoughts, memories, and experiences into wildly creative dreams. You are more likely to enter into REM sleep if you have been active throughout the day and allow yourself enough time to sleep each night.[29] By getting a good night's rest and living a healthy lifestyle during the day, your brain will be at its most imaginative during sleep.
  5. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 21
    5
    Keep a dream journal. Don't let these imaginative dreams slip away: hold on to them by keeping a dream journal. Keep a blank journal and working pen or pencil by your bedside, as well as a soft light that will allow you write in the evening hours. Whenever you wake up and remember a dream, write down as many details as you can remember. This will help prevent you from forgetting these important imaginative tools.
  6. Image titled Stimulate Imagination Step 22
    6
    Shake up your routine. Many routines are helpful and healthy. However, it is good for your imagination to change your routines every now and again. Studies report a short-term boost in creativity during times when you have altered your daily routine.[30] In order to get out of a rut, you can try:
    • Biking to work instead of driving
    • Jogging down a different street
    • Eating a different breakfast cereal
    • Waking up at a different time
    • Listening to a different playlist during your workout
    7. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

  • Question
    What's a good group creativity exercise?
    Dan Klein
    Dan Klein
    Improvisation Coach
    Dan Klein is an improvisation expert and coach who teaches at the Stanford University Department of Theater and Performance Studies as well as at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. Dan has been teaching improvisation, creativity, and storytelling to students and organizations around the world for over 20 years. Dan received his BA from Stanford University in 1991.
    Dan Klein
    Dan Klein
    Improvisation Coach
    Expert Answer
    Try some improv theater games with a friend! For example, pretend you’re old friends with the other person and try to recall a fake shared memory. Someone starts with, “Hey remember that time we did...?” Whatever they say, you accept what they suggested and add something relevant about what you "remember" next. It's a fun way to get creative juices flowing!
Advertisement

Warnings

  • Feel free to share your ideas with others. However, be aware that sometimes people take credit for ideas that are not their own: take reasonable precautions to protect your intellectual property.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Make a Mind Map
How to
Make a Mind Map
Be Creative
How to
Be Creative
Improve Your Imagination
How to
Improve Your Imagination
Brainstorm
How to
Brainstorm
Have Creative Ideas
How to
Have Creative Ideas
Increase Creativity
How to
Increase Creativity
Develop a Creative Mind
How to
Develop a Creative Mind
Imagine
How to
Imagine
Be Creative in Graphic Design
How to
Be Creative in Graphic Design
Be a Creative Thinker
How to
Be a Creative Thinker
Use Your Imagination
How to
Use Your Imagination
Come Up With Ideas
How to
Come Up With Ideas
Share Your Ideas
How to
Share Your Ideas
Develop Both Hemispheres of the Brain
How to
Develop Both Hemispheres of the Brain
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-science-imagination/201207/what-imagination-is-0
  2. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201202/the-neuroscience-imagination
  3. ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/07/secrets-of-the-creative-brain/372299/
  4. ↑ http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/the-real-neuroscience-of-creativity/
  5. ↑ http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/the-real-neuroscience-of-creativity/
  6. ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/07/secrets-of-the-creative-brain/372299/
  7. ↑ http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2009/01/creativity.aspx
  8. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201402/dreams-glory
  9. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201402/dreams-glory
  1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-wise/201402/the-science-creativity
  2. ↑ http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-09/how-imagination-works
  3. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/17/imagination-brain_n_3922136.html
  4. ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/07/secrets-of-the-creative-brain/372299/
  5. ↑ http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2009/01/creativity.aspx
  6. ↑ http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2009/01/creativity.aspx
  7. ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/07/secrets-of-the-creative-brain/372299/
  8. ↑ http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2009/01/creativity.aspx
  9. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201202/the-neuroscience-imagination
  10. ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/07/secrets-of-the-creative-brain/372299/
  11. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/overcome-obstacles-resilience
  12. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/overcome-obstacles-resilience?page=2
  13. ↑ http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2009/01/creativity.aspx
  14. ↑ http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2009/01/creativity.aspx
  15. ↑ http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2009/01/creativity.aspx
  16. ↑ http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2009/01/creativity.aspx
  17. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201202/the-neuroscience-imagination
  18. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201402/dreams-glory
  19. ↑ http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2009/01/creativity.aspx
  20. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201202/the-neuroscience-imagination
  21. ↑ http://elitedaily.com/life/culture/routine-killing-your-creativity/1007405/

About This Article

Dan Klein
Co-authored by:
Dan Klein
Improvisation Coach
This article was co-authored by Dan Klein. Dan Klein is an improvisation expert and coach who teaches at the Stanford University Department of Theater and Performance Studies as well as at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. Dan has been teaching improvisation, creativity, and storytelling to students and organizations around the world for over 20 years. Dan received his BA from Stanford University in 1991. This article has been viewed 41,757 times.
6 votes - 83%
Co-authors: 21
Updated: September 4, 2022
Views: 41,757
Categories: Creativity
Advertisement