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Jul 19, 2021

5 Ways to Rekindle Your Creativity This Summer in Japan

    Even if your job does not require a great deal of creativity, odds are you've come to this part of the pandemic with some degree of burnout. If you're looking for a way to get your creative energy flowing again despite the oppressive humidity, here are some Covid safe tips.

5 Ways to Rekindle Your Creativity This Summer in Japan photo

Drink Some Green.
    Green tea is known to contain antioxidants that aide in brain function and be a great and hydrating beverage anytime of the year. Drinking it cool in summer is a great way to spice up your fluid intake while also giving your brain a treat. A nice bottle of green tea from the convenience store or a pitcher of home brewed in your fridge can provide ample hydration and the antioxidants to keep your brain moving while you ramble through uncomfortable heat and humidity.

5 Ways to Rekindle Your Creativity This Summer in Japan photo

Plant Some Green.
    One way to increase creativity and help stave off depression is caring for plants. Even a small seedling that you pick up from closest DIY shop can provide a little bit more in the way of comfort whether you keep it in your house or on your balcony. Tending for one little plant, as long as you do it regularly, can be a great source of positive motivation and studies have shown that just looking at the plant can help bolster brain function in adults.

5 Ways to Rekindle Your Creativity This Summer in Japan photo

Get Out in the Green.
    Plants are healthy, but if you don't have your own green thumb, maybe you can borrow the same effect from someone else's hard work. If you're near a good park or any green space, spend some time among the oxygen-giving greenery and you're likely to find your brain opening to new possibilities. While the greener is the better in this situation, if you're stuck in a concrete jungle, even a couple of trees growing along your street can helpful for this. If all you do is get out of your house for a minute and take a walk around something natural and growing, the change in atmosphere is likely to do some good for your creative processes.


5 Ways to Rekindle Your Creativity This Summer in Japan photo
Embrace Your Weird.
    Back before the pandemic, Felicia Day wrote this great workbook for better finding and appreciating your own unique take on the world. With activities in the book ranging from real life anxiety-fighting advice to goofy but fast-paced drawing and writing challenges, this little book really packs in a lot of ways to find your own creative voice and run with it. Some of it will likely make you feel silly at the time, but doing these things will likely still guide your mind into new creative territory. There are so many different techniques that it feels like a great value in addition to a fantastic creative journey. You can get it with free shipping to Japan from Book Depository though it's also available on Amazon. I listened to the whole thing the year it came out and enjoyed it but didn't have time to complete all the activities on the accompanying PDF, so I am going back through it to revitalize my brain's natural creative forces. This will be important in a few weeks for what is happening next.

5 Ways to Rekindle Your Creativity This Summer in Japan photo

Utilize Your Weird. I have mentioned the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt before and yes, it is happening again this summer. The hunt has done well to adapt to the pandemic, offering short hunts at different points during the year and keeping many of the items social-distance and mask friendly. If you have never joined the hunt before and are looking for a splash of creativity during the first week of August, you should see about signing up. You don't have to have a team or even any idea what you are doing. The massive list of creative challenges never fails to spark my imagination and send me into uncharted territory. The biggest reason I am still doing GISH after all these years is it always gets my creativity worked up. I feel encouraged to branch out and find new ways to solve problems. The creativity marathon uses a bit of energy, but I always find it to be worthwhile. For more information, see the website. Signup ends about a week before the end of July.

How are you going to get your creative juices flowing this summer?


JTsu

JTsu

A working mom/writer/teacher explores her surroundings in Miyagi-ken and Tohoku, enjoying the fun, quirky, and family friendly options the area has to offer.


2 Comments

  • genkidesu

    on Jul 19

    This spoke to me a lot - I've found that the last few months I've really been lacking motivation and feeling meh, and I do think the pandemic is to blame. Going to try and incorporate these tips into my life a bit more, the tea is the easiest one for me to do!

  • JTsu

    on Jul 20

    @genkidesu It's a great (and cost effective!) way to start. Getting out into some green spaces (preferably in the morning or afternoon) could also be beneficial when you have time, but you already know this. Glad to help!