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Turn off the TV -

An important step to take in the quest for a more active imagination is to turn off the TV. Watching television is a passive form of entertainment that isn't conducive to creative thinking.

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Turn off the TV -

Use the time that you would normally spend watching TV to explore other hobbies that require more active imaginative input, such as reading or drawing.

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Do nothing -

Sometimes the best way to tap into your imagination is to shut off external stimuli. So tonight when you're relaxing after work perhaps, leave the TV off and do a bit of sweet nothing.

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Do nothing -

If you find it difficult to switch off naturally, which is not uncommon at all, try practicing some yoga or mindfulness meditation to help you along the way.

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Read creative literature -

If you want to boost your imagination, it is important to engage creatively with books. But this doesn't mean that you suddenly need to dive into the most off-the-wall literature available.

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Read creative literature -

Rather it means that you should try to get out of your comfort zone when it comes to choosing a book. For example, if you normally read crime thrillers, choose a sci-fi novel next time instead.

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Watch creative films -

The same goes for watching films: it is important to step out of your comfort zone from time to time when choosing what to watch on movie night.

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Watch creative films -

Rather than opting for yet another rom-com, you might try an independent movie or a foreign language film. Interacting with a wider range of content is great for creativity.

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Listen to music without lyrics -

Listening to music is great for concentration, but music with lyrics requires us subconsciously to focus on the words and ideas that already exist in the music.

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Listen to music without lyrics -

If you don't already, try listening to some genres of music that are mainly instrumental, such as jazz or blues. Think of a lyrical blank state and let your imagination run.

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Write for fun -

As well as being a beneficial therapeutic exercise, writing down your thoughts is a great way to cultivate your imagination. And you needn't start with anything wild, either.

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Write for fun -

At the end of the day today, try writing down what you did during the day. If you had a very standard day, try to think about ways in which things could have gone differently.

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Play an improvisational game -

This one requires you to tap into those techniques you learnt during high school drama lessons. Imagine you have a box full of objects and you're pulling them out one by one.

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Play an improvisational game -

Try to interact with each object that you find and act as if it's real. If playing with someone else, try exchanging items and improvising your reaction accordingly.

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Try visual art forms -

Experimenting with different art forms is great for cultivating imagination, but people often forget about less popular artistic endeavours such as pottery or quilting.

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Try visual art forms -

Why not take a pottery class or a quilting course to get in touch with your creative side and flex your imagination in a way that it wouldn't normally be flexed?

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Learn a musical instrument -

If you have the time to dedicate to learning a musical instrument, it's a sure fire way to kick that imagination into gear. You might like to find a teacher or even teach yourself by ear.

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Learn a musical instrument -

Once you know your way around the basics, you might try writing your own music. Improvisational forms such as jazz are a great way to go.

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Participate in holiday activities -

It may sound childish, but engaging with holiday traditions such as Easter egg hunts and Halloween costumes can be a great way to get those creative juices flowing.

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Participate in holiday activities -

You don't need to make yourself believe in the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus, of course. Simply donning a costume and getting in the spirit is enough to trigger your imagination.

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Decorate your home -

Even if you're happy with your home as it is, redecorating is always a great way to exercise your imagination. Why not add a lick of paint to your bedroom wall or invest in some new plants?

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Decorate your home -

If you're on a tight budget, even rearranging your furniture or belongings involves imagination. If you dare, why not mess up your apartment and put it back together in a new way?

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Creative a narrative for objects -

This one is sort of the inanimate object version of "people watching." Take the objects in your home (the paintings, the vases, etc.) and imagine the story behind them (how they came to be, and so on).

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Creative a narrative for objects -

Don't allow yourself to obsess over the intended meaning behind a given piece. Simply let your mind run free and follow it wherever it may take you.

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Plan a trip -

While some of us have more wanderlust than others, most of us have some place that we'd really like to go. Thinking about or even planning your dream trip is great for the imagination.

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Plan a trip -

Think about where you would go if you had all the money and time in the world, and plan what you would do once there. Considering this thoroughly requires lots of imagination.

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Have a stimulating conversation -

Next time you hang out with your friends, don't involve the TV or a movie. Instead, try starting a conversation about a hypothetical topic and engage with it by asking questions and sharing.

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Have a stimulating conversation -

The topic needn't be serious, but it should be hypothetical. Perhaps a "what if?" question. By brainstorming and bouncing ideas off one another, you exercise your imagination.

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Do something boring -

This may sound counterintuitive, but in fact when we are given mundane tasks to complete, we often try to find ways to make them more interesting and imaginative.

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Do something boring -

For instance, next time you're hungry and you think there's nothing to eat, challenge yourself to whip something up using what's only in the cupboards.

Sources: (WikiHow)

See also: The forgotten art of calligraphy

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