From ‘mind wandering’ to manifestation: 5 women on the daily routines that help boost their creativity

Whether it’s back-to-back meetings or the endless to-do list of household tasks, I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I have little time or space for creativity in my life. After a day sitting at my laptop or an evening spent folding laundry when I’d much rather be journalling, finding a moment to let myself switch off and relax can feel difficult.

But – it doesn’t need to be this way – and we all know how important it is to make space in our lives to let our creativity flourish. In fact, studies have found over nine in 10 of us believe that having the freedom to be creative benefits our wellbeing – so why are we struggling to find the time in our days to let our imaginations run wild and how can we start doing this?

The answer? Factor creativity into your daily routine. By doing this, you can make sure that you get time to yourself to let your mind wander and create – and it won’t eat into your other activities, either.

I spoke to five women about how they make space for creativity in their daily routines. Their suggestions are helpful, eye-opening and practical – so go forth and let your creative side shine.

“When I was feeling particularly creatively zapped (I was working 60-hour weeks in a care home), a friend bought me a book that sets an art task to do every day. I’d sit down with my book and a coffee in the morning and do that day’s task.

“Whether it was turning paint splodges into animals or drawing using a stick and ink, the aim was to take something mundane, like a dab of paint, and turn it into something new and exciting. It only takes a few minutes at a time, but I still start my day like this every single morning to help me channel my inner creative self.” Ash, 27

“I started practising manifestation a few years ago. Honestly, I’ve never looked back. I know it’s not for everyone, but it’s really helped me focus on my goals and has given me clarity in how I can work towards achieving them.

“Every evening, I sit down and put aside at least 15 minutes to imagine the person I want to be by focusing on what my hopes and desires are. Then I ask myself positive questions about how I’m going to achieve that, like ‘what does my ideal day look like,’ and ‘what do I enjoy the most about my friendships’. By being kind to myself, I open the door to all kinds of creative thoughts, and I love that.” Aisha, 32

“Yes… before you say anything – I’m a firm believer in showering in the evening, rather than the morning! It feels much less rushed and gives me a moment to think and reflect.

“As I have more time in the evening, the shower is where I have some of my most creative thoughts, especially when I’m washing my hair. I massage in a shampoo that feels truly decadent, like method®’s Simply Nourish moisturising shampoo – as it quite literally feels like it’s nourishing my hair and my mind. I pair it with a body wash that encourages relaxation and calm to get my mind into its best creative state – as when my body feels refreshed, my mind does, too. method®’s Pure Peace body wash is a brilliant option for this, creating a restorative and harmonious feeling.” Anna, 35

“As a child, I was always told at school that ‘daydreaming’ was a bad thing – but as an adult I’ve realised that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“At work, we all know the benefits of taking regular screen breaks to give our eyes and our bodies a rest – but what about our minds? When I take breaks from my laptop, I don’t just do a few stretches – I also practise ‘mind wandering’. This involves actively shifting my thoughts away from tasks at work and focusing on thinking about something different – whether that’s allowing myself to enter a meditative state or thinking about what inspires me. It’s such an easy way to channel creativity as I can seamlessly slot it into my working day.” Sylvie, 44

“When I say I put time aside every day to learn a new language – I don’t mean that I just sit on an app. Instead, I challenge myself to speak that language for 10 minutes every day – even just to myself!

When I get up in the morning, I’ll dedicate 10 minutes to saying what I’m doing out loud in Italian. From making a cup of coffee to watering the front garden, I’ll challenge myself to narrate what I’m doing in the language I’m learning. This really gets my brain working and allows me to feel much more alert by the time I sit down to start my working day.” Tina, 66

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