What Creative Activity Should You Try Today?

Are you feeling a creative itch but not sure how to scratch it? You’re not alone. Many of us yearn to express ourselves creatively but may feel overwhelmed by the options or unsure where to start. The beauty of creativity is that it’s boundless, offering myriad ways to enrich our lives and well-being. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a curious beginner, there’s always something new to try. Here’s a guide to help you decide what creative activity to dive into today and resources to get you started.

Nature journaling might be your perfect match if you love spending time outdoors and feel inspired by the natural world. This practice combines observation, drawing, and writing to create a personal record of the landscapes and details you encounter in the natural world.

Get Started: Grab a notebook and a pen or pencil, head to your nearest park or nature reserve, and start observing. Sketch the patterns of leaves, write about the movements of birds, or describe the colors you see at sunset.

Resource: Check out “The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling” by John Muir Laws for inspiration and tips on getting started.

Looking to inject some fun into your day? Doodling is a fantastic way to loosen up and let your inner child play. It’s less about the outcome and more about the joy of creating.

Get Started: All you need is paper and a pen. Let your hand move freely across the page, creating shapes, characters, or abstract designs. There are no rules—just let your imagination lead the way.

Resource: “Doodle Art and Exploration” by Sarah Skeate offers a collection of fun doodling prompts and exercises.

If you are passionate about storytelling, why not try flash fiction? This genre involves writing concise stories, usually under 1,000 words, making it a manageable project to tackle daily.

Get Started: Choose a prompt (it could be a word, an image, or a sentence) and write a complete story that fits within a single page.

Resource: “Flash Fiction Forward: 80 Very Short Stories” edited by James Thomas and Robert Shapard is a great source of inspiration and examples of the form.

Music has a unique way of expressing emotions and stories. Creating a themed playlist can be a deeply personal and creative activity, allowing you to convey a narrative or mood through songs.

Get Started: Pick a theme or story you’d like to explore. It could be a journey, an emotion, or a season. Then, curate a playlist that reflects this theme, arranging the songs in an order that tells your story.

Resource: Spotify and Apple Music are great platforms for exploring music and curating playlists. Look for playlist-building tips on their blogs and help sections.

Cooking is an art form that allows for endless creativity. If you enjoy experimenting with flavors and ingredients, set yourself a challenge to create a dish using only what you have in your pantry.

Get Started: Pick a few ingredients from your kitchen and brainstorm how you can combine them into something delicious. Don’t be afraid to try unusual combinations—the goal is to have fun and explore new flavors.

Resource: “The Flavor Bible” by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg offers insight into flavor combinations and can inspire your culinary creativity.

Creativity doesn’t have to be complicated or require special skills. It’s about exploring, experimenting, and expressing yourself in ways that bring you joy. Whether you’re drawn to the calm of nature journaling, the spontaneity of doodling, the narrative power of flash fiction, the emotive potential of music, or the exploratory nature of cooking, there’s an activity out there for you. So, what will you try today?

Remember, the most important thing is to start. Pick an activity that sparks your interest and see where it takes you. Happy creating!