Are you searching for tips to reignite your creative spark and get your eLearning project back on track? In this article, I’ll share eight tips that can help you enhance your creative skills, even if your well of ideas and inspiration is running dry.

How to Boost Creativity in eLearning

Creativity is usually associated with painters, poets, and other individuals who create works of art on a daily basis. However, the simple truth is that we all need a bit of creativity in our lives. This is especially true for creativity in eLearning, as eLearning professionals have the opportunity to produce powerful eLearning experiences that inspire, enlighten, and engage our audience. Unfortunately, this opportunity can sometimes cause a great deal of stress and frustration when a creative block prevents us from getting the job done. The good news is that there are eight tips you can use to boost creativity in eLearning, starting right now.

1. Mindmap your way to success. 
   Mindmapping can work wonders for eLearning professionals who are short on creativity. To get started, simply jot down an idea or concept in the center of the page, then build off of it by writing related thoughts or opinions that branch out from the middle. The branches can even have secondary branches, and so on, until you have a complete mindmap. You can even take it to the next level by using a different color for every branch or adding graphics and images that illustrate the point.
2. Schedule a daily brainstorming session.
   Set aside some time each day for a brainstorming session so you always keep the creativity flowing. Start with a 5-minute round and focus on jotting down your thoughts and ideas, then progressively increase your time based on your creative thought output. For example, you may find that 20 minutes of brainstorming is the perfect amount of time for you to come up with new ideas.
3. Go outside your comfort zone.
   In many respects, creativity in eLearning is all about venturing outside of your comfort zone and trying unfamiliar things. If you need a bit of a creative boost, why not try something completely new and exciting that makes you a little nervous? This isn’t to say that you should terrify yourself, because that would be counterproductive. But as an example, trying out a new eLearning authoring tool may be just what you need to boost your creativity in eLearning course design.
4. Take a break from everyday life.
   There are times when the worries of everyday life can start to take their toll on your creativity, which is why it’s a great idea to take a break from time to time. Just find a quiet spot and do some breathing exercises or read a good book. Let yourself be present in the moment and focus on the task at hand. Most importantly, make sure that you remove any and all distractions that may cause stress. This is your time to ponder the what if’s of life and forget about your worries.
5. Try another creative endeavor.
   One of the most effective ways to increase your creativity in eLearning is to switch gears and immerse yourself in another creative online project. If you are struggling to design your eLearning course layout orfind the perfect images, then try something completely unrelated like writing a short story or painting a landscape. You don’t have to create a masterpiece. The point is to do something that triggers your right brain and opens you up to new ideas and thoughts. If you can’t come up with any creative endeavors off the top of your head, then do some research online and see what piques your interest.
6. Indulge your curiosity.
   We are all curious, to some extent, but most of us suppress our curiosity rather than indulging it. However, every now and then it’s good to let your curious nature take control. If there is a subject you’ve been wondering about for quite some time, put everything aside and start doing some research. Try to find new solutions to everyday challenges, or do a bit of self-reflection in order to learn more about yourself. Let your curiosity get the better of you and see where the path leads.
7. Look for inspiration everywhere.
   If you really give it some thought, the world is fascinating. Everywhere you turn there are new ideas to be explored and new experiences to be enjoyed. However, you will only notice them if you are willing to look. Sometimes we can become so consumed by a project or task that we lose sight of the big picture. This is when it’s time to step back and search for inspiration in everything around you. For example, simply going for a walk and examining the buildings and people can help you out of your creative rut. You might get inspiration from the architecture of the nearby structures that you can use for your eLearning course design. This approach does, however, require a resourceful mind that is able to look at things from different perspectives.
8. Find your own brand of creativity.
   Everyone is creative in their own way. For this reason, it’s essential to find your own creativity and define what that truly means to you. You cannot compare yourself to others or try to mimic their version of creativity, because that is a great disservice to yourself and your talents. Instead, explore creativity on your own terms and determine which creativity-enhancement exercises work best for you.

Creativity in eLearning may be elusive at times. However, you can use these tips to get the cogs turning and achieve the inspiration you need to create amazing eLearning experiences, even if you don’t consider yourself to be an innovative individual.

In addition to creativity, time management is also another crucial eLearning skill. Read this article 8 Ways Busy eLearning Professionals Can Improve Their Time Management Skills to learn how busy eLearning professionals can make the most of every minute and increase their productivity.