While computers and automated machines are replacing many jobs that humans have done for decades, the creative jobs that many people do are still in demand. It’s easy for a computer controlled robot arm to do most repetitive motion jobs, and those jobs really aren’t good for us, anyway. However, it’s now more important than ever before, that us humans keep our creative edge. So here are some great ways to stay alert and stay creative at your job.

Real Physical Exercise Is Really Good For Your Brain

It’s been proven in study after study that real physical exercise is great for your brain as well. Now that a huge portion of the population works while sitting down at a computer, many of our brain cells have begun to stagnate as well. The first thing that nearly everyone needs to do is start a short exercise program at work for just a few minutes every single day.

The easiest thing to do, is get up and take a brisk walk, the first 10-15 minutes of your lunch break are perfect. This will get the blood flowing, heart beating, and oxygen moving to your brain cells. It is good for your heart, digestive system, lungs, legs and abdomen in addition to being great for the brain. If at all possible, you should find a way to walk in the morning, lunchtime, and evening for at least 10 minutes. If you can stick to that for 10 days to develop the habit, you’ll live longer, be healthier, have a better sex life, be less depressed and you’ll notice that you’re far more creative at work

Get A Time Management Program, They’re Free

There are a lot of these programs that can be downloaded and installed on most computers for free, that make it easy to get up and stretch several times per day. This is separate from your daily walks and serves to give you a creative boost at least once per hour. There are lots of studies that show, even though getting up from your desk takes time away from your work, most people show enhanced productivity and creativity.

There are more than a dozen of these free programs that will easily install on most computers. Find one that fits your workplace, whether you have room to do some squats, sit-ups, pushups, or jumping jacks will determine the right program for you. They are adjustable, but most of the research says 5 to 10 minutes at the top of each hour, stretching or deep breathing, will increase focus and enable you to redirect yourself when you sit back down.

Add Special Ambient Music To Your Workplace

This is something that will require you to do some research on your own in order to find just the right sounds, music, or ambient noise that will make you more creative. For some people, it’s the sound of ocean waves crashing on the beach, while others like babbling brooks. There are white noise tapes, hard rock music audios, and soft jazz music that each person needs to find on their own.

You can Google search the phrase “ambient noise to be creative by” and you’ll get hundreds of different options to choose from. Then, visit some forums of like-minded people to see what they’re listening to in order to give themselves a boost a couple of times per day.

Watch Your Processed Sugar Intake To Avoid Depression

Different people handle sugar in different ways, and the amount that you are exercising also can have a profound effect on your sugar conversion into insulin. When you consume a sugary drink, something like a soda, first the blood sugar levels will spike, then your body releases insulin to help the cells take in the sugar. During that time, your brain can be on an emotional roller coaster, first feeling a rush, then depression, as the body converts the sugar.

As you sit at your desk, you’re using some sugar just breathing and thinking, but if you’re drinking a soda, that’s way too much. Try switching to coffee, with very little sugar, no sugar at all, milk only, and various other sweeteners to see which combination gives you the long-term creative boost without the letdown at the end. You might also try keeping a pile of carrot sticks, celery sticks, or other vegetable near your desk to see how that changes how you feel throughout the day.

Nobody Is An Island, People Are More Creative Together

Connecting up with other creative people, whether they are in the same building or online, can help increase creativity. This can be a bit difficult depending on the type of creative work you do. Luckily, with the internet being nearly everywhere, it should be possible to find others in your field to connect with. You’ll need to avoid jumping on Facebook and wasting time there, but instead find forums where people of like-minded pursuits hang out.

You’ll also need to let loose with the idea that only you can create whatever it is you’re trying to create. Most likely, what you’ll end up doing is gathering a variety of different ideas and combine them in a new, innovative product or service. Many of the solutions that people are looking for have been discovered partially by dozens of other people and all that really needs to be done is connect the dots to make the theory become a reality.

Don’t Forget To Change The Lighting

Just recently, a study was done with rats where they were run through a maze under different types and intensities of lighting. The rats in the study were a measurable amount more intelligent under some kinds of light and really slow in dark situations.

That’s not to say that humans would be exactly the same, in fact, we’re more likely completely different under different light situations. However, it would pay to try non-fluorescent lights, dim lights, and incandescent lights to see how it changes your creative ability. Others in the same room could have be affected differently as well, but it’s something that’s being studied and does have some merit.

When it comes to increasing your creativity, there are dozens of things you can try. Some things, like exercise, diet, and taking breaks, have been shown to work on most people. Other things, like ambient noise, lighting, and sugar intake could work quite well on an individual basis, you’ll just have to do some research and see what works best for you.