For most people creativity seems like a natural thing; we are hit with little bursts of inspiration that are good, bad, or downright ridiculous and then we filter them down to find the best ideas. But in a fast paced working environment we often don’t have time to sit around waiting for creative inspiration to strike. So how can we foster and boost creativity to get us through those tricky times?

1) Think like a child. Or even better talk to one.

Children are incredibly creative – partly because they’re less rigid with their expectations. Their imagination is a blank canvas, and that enables them to think of unexpected ideas in places where adults aren’t looking.

Trying to imagine how a 5-year-old would think about a problem can unlock new angles to explore. What would they want to know, how would they perceive the problem?

Even better, talk to a child, see what they have to say, they may just help you see something you missed.

2) “Are you having a laff?”

Laughter is the best medicine. It may not be the most creative thing to say, but in this case, it’s scientifically proven to be effective. One study that people who watch a short comedy video performed20% better at solving insight puzzles. If you’re stuck in a rut fire up the banter bus and hope it takes you all the way to success town (hopefully your banter is better than that).

3) Be blue

Who knew colours could have such an incredible impact? A study found that the colour blue created a more relaxed atmosphere, conducive to associative thinking. The hypothesis is that blue reminds us of oceans, skies and wide open spaces, making us feel freer and more relaxed. Whatever the reason, turn up the Eiffel 65 and embrace a bit of blue in your workspace.

For bonus points munch on a couple of blueberries: they’re super high in anti-oxidants.

4) Throw it in reverse

Creative block can be frustrating, creating stress and blocking creativity. If you’ve hit a roadblock, sometimes it can be productive to just get something on paper. Imagine the opposite of what you want to create, the worst possible idea; that achieves the exact opposite of what you’re aiming for. It will help get ideas flowing and purge all the bad ideas – creating space for good ones.

5) Work the space

When all else fails mix up the space you’re working in. Writing on a notepad as opposed to working on a computer can improve creativity, so can ambient background noise and a messy workspace (Editors note: really Anthony, really?). Embrace the chaos and let the good ideas roll in.

When all else fails, get us to get creative for you – it’s what we do best ;).