Off the Canvas
Finding creativity in your day-to-day
Creativity isn't limited to sketchbooks, paint brushes, and design. If you believe being creative is something you’re “born” with or hold onto the idea that creativity is a prize to be won, it is time to reconsider what it really means to be creative.
Finding creativity in day-to-day
Whether you are looking for ways to unlock the artistic form you feel you've lost — or claim to have never had — discovering art in daily routines will reveal it. From the moment you wake up, you are creating your day, which might be starting to feel a bit repetitive; however, from how you make your coffee in the morning to the first interaction you have, you are building a routine unique to you.
We all get tired of the same old day-to-day routines, repetitive and exhausting, they begin to suck every ounce of life out of us. So, let's shift our mindset about these things we are already doing and add a bit more life and intention into our minds.
Right when you wake up, you are unknowingly sketching the blueprint of the rest of your day, shaping it piece by piece by setting the tone in your mind, and approaching your morning routines. A silent narration forms in your head about what you want your day to look like. Over the years, you have developed morning rituals unique to you. The ones that always start your day off right, and the occasional shifts when something no longer suits you.
This is creativity in motion — art forms we have failed to recognize, yet living in the thick of everyday.
Creativity in routines
The creativity is hidden in your bathroom habits — a morning and night routine that no one gave you a step-by-step guide for. Maybe you prefer brushing your teeth before your face, or you can’t function before taking a shower first. Does your hair need to be done before dressing, or is the fit prioritized? Nobody taught you what order to do it all in, yet you’ve created something because it's what works for you.
Creativity in communication
It lives in how we communicate. Communication is not always thought of as an art form, but it's shaping every relationship we have. The way you notice tone changes and how you adjust yours to defuse tension or to make others feel comfortable or to crack a joke. You communicate differently from person to person to meet them on a personal level, deepening trust and creating a bond that is unique to you and a certain individual.
That's art. Your art. It's how you keep each relationship alive and avoid distancing; you’re creating space, trust, and building intentional relationships without even noticing.
Creativity in environment
It shows around your home, giving insight to every newcomer an idea of who you are, in the way you decorate and organize. Those coming may see a home with multiple different personalities changing from room to room because you can’t decide which style you like, proving indecision, but also the chaotic and fun nature of your personality or they may see a home that is evenly flowing and predictable throughout, demonstrating that you may not welcome change easily, but you are grounded in your ways and have established your style.
It's living in the specific way you’ve organized your belongings, in the scents you've chosen for your home and the ones you can’t stand, in the music you pick to listen to in your home vs. on a drive, in the way a different route home every once in a while makes you feel. It's living in the particular way you like your bed made, a foundation you've formed that supports the beginning of your day. It's an art that's not just about looking good but feeling good. Creativity is practical; there to make your day continue smoothly.
There can be creativity and comfort
Stick with what has brought you comfort, but don't be afraid to keep creating and add some diversity into your routine. Rearrange the furniture. Add a spice to your coffee. Change the lighting. Listen to a different genre. Take a new route to work.
Small creative changes awaken bigger ideas.
“Nature morte en trompe-l’oeil” by Cornelius Norbertus Gysbrecht, public domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.
