When people think of creativity, it is often cast aside as only useful for things like art. Creativity is written off too often, even though it is behind every solution to a problem, not just creating something artistic. There is research showing that companies who employ creativity in their everyday practices are more productive and innovative than companies who do not. One such study being titled Positive Impact, Creativity, and Innovative Behavior at Work, which can be found on the National Library of Medicine website.
It has been seen repeatedly in schools, office buildings, and the like, that when you make room for creativity or employ creative solutions to problems, you are able to get longer lasting and more effective solutions. According to The Center for Conscious Design, when some companies had problems with lack of productivity in the latter half of the day, having a napping, meditation, or focus room in the building available for those who need it increased productivity.
Some places have found that having creative, colorful decor, or furniture instead of the clinical white, grey, black, or beige seen in most modern interior design can vastly improve your mood. An article titled In the mood for creativity: Sunshine-induced mood, inventor performance, and firm value from Science Direct says that improved mood often leads to increased motivation, productivity, and creativity.
Creativity is often taken out of learning in favor of a cookie cutter monotonous approach where memorization and regurgitating information is more important. School does not have to be somewhere children feel they have to call a prison but can be a place of innovation and exploring new ideas.
In a study done by Crayola, 92% of children who were polled said that creativity boosted their confidence. It is more important than ever to include creativity in your daily life.
Creativity has long been an outlet for many people seeking to release their pent-up emotions, positive or negative, and has been adapted into various methods of therapy to treat mental illnesses in all age groups. Music therapy, art therapy, dance/movement therapy, etc. are all notable examples of this.
Innovation and productivity start with creativity and end with creativity. Sometimes having a creative career, however, can lead to something called burnout. This happens when you have pushed yourself too hard without taking a break to rest can make you feel tired emotionally, feeling negative towards everything around you, and a significant loss in productivity or motivation. It affects more than just artists or writers; people like office workers suffer from it too.
When society decides to devalue the skill of creativity, it raises the question of everything we lost. Some argue it is not worth your time to invest in creative skills, but when it is decided it is not worth our time, we lose valuable crafts and trades that once supported our society.