Creative individuals find inspiration from different things all the time. Maybe you get inspired by music or even certain people. Sometimes, though, especially when you’re in a creative rut, the best thing you can do is look at the world around you and let it inspire you in new and unique ways.

Using the world around you as inspiration for your art can get your creative juices flowing. It can make you excited about creating something new. After all, it’s a great, big world with countless things to see and experience.

But, if you’re telling yourself it’s not that simple, you might be right. Sometimes, it’s not enough to just step outside and expect inspiration to strike at any moment. Thankfully, there are things you can do to find inspiration in everyday life and learn how the simplest things can supercharge your imagination.

Step Into Your Community

There’s no question that nature is a great healer. Some of the biggest benefits of spending time outside include:

• More energy;
• Less stress;
• Reduced blood pressure;
• Improved focus;
• Boosted immune system.

Being in nature can also boost your creativity. Whether it’s the beauty of colorful falling leaves or the crunch of snow beneath your feet, you’ll always find something inspiring about nature. Take the time to get outside at least once every day, and you’ll experience the wonderful benefits that come with it.

You can also find inspiration from your local community. Even if you don’t live in a rural area, take the time to get out and spend time in your city/town. There’s a growing interest in walkable communities throughout the country. More people want spaces where they can feel safe, improve their health, and experience culture in their own backyards. Walkable communities provide more social interaction, accessibility, and engagement. Whether it’s visiting a unique coffee shop or talking to a stranger at the park, you could find inspiration simply by putting yourself out there in your neighborhood.

Connect With People You Love

Social interaction can make a big difference in your mental well-being. It boosts your mood and improves happiness while reducing stress. If you’re feeling burnt out, creatively, talking to people you care about can help you relax and regain your focus.

Connecting with family members and friends can also stir up emotions that inspire you. Maybe you haven’t seen your parents in a while and a visit with them brings up feelings of nostalgia. Or, maybe reconnecting with an old high school friend reminds you how much you care about them. Sometimes, just venting over a cup of coffee with your sibling can help you get rid of negative feelings and stir up more positive ones.

Art is often an outward expression of internal emotions. You might find that after connecting with people you love, it’s easier for you to create something new that’s a true reflection of what you’re thinking and feeling.

If your schedule doesn’t allow for a lot of interaction or your loved ones live far away, consider getting a four-legged friend to be your trusted companion.

Pets are known to reduce stress and improve your overall happiness, but they can also get you out of the house more often and inspire you with anything from a goofy expression to a playful, wagging tail. Loneliness and isolation can not only dampen your mood but can also lead to a lack of creativity. A pet is a built-in companion that can help with those issues and inspire you every day. Plus, you’ll learn new things from them all the time. You might even end up learning more about yourself as you navigate the waters of taking care of another living being.

Find Inspiration From Other Creative Outlets

No matter what kind of artist you are, you can likely appreciate the work, time, and effort anyone puts into a creative outlet. Musicians have to practice countless hours before producing music that means something. Painters have to understand the importance of shading and layering colors. Photographers need to learn how to compose a photo properly. While art might seem random and free most of the time, it often takes a lot of work and dedication.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that artists can get burnt out or hit creative blocks sometimes. While there are plenty of ways to overcome those blocks, one of the best things you can do is check out other artists at work, especially those who have different outlets.

Pulling inspiration from music, for example, can be extremely effective in getting you to feel new emotions. Listening to music has many mental health benefits, including:

• Reduced anxiety;
• Reduced aggression;
• Increased focus;
• Better sleep.

All of those things can make it easier to spark creativity within your mind, and create something completely new and original. If you’re struggling with stress or anxiety over not being able to create anything, music can help to declutter your thoughts and fears and help you break that vicious cycle.

Movies, theater, poetry readings, and art galleries are also all great ways to seek inspiration from other artists. Sometimes, it takes stepping out of the familiar areas in your life to appreciate other forms of art and find inspiration from them. It’s worth traveling somewhere new to check out art and observe different artists at work.

Consider talking to other artists, as well. You’re not the only one who’s ever experienced a block in creativity or a lack of inspiration. By learning what other people do to stay motivated and inspired, you can use some new techniques and build up your network of creative colleagues all at once. You might even end up meeting the next love of your life and muse, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

The world has a lot to offer creative individuals. Sometimes, you just need a change of scenery, a change of pace, or a different perspective. Step outside, go somewhere different, and socialize with new people. You might be surprised by how quickly the world around you can inspire your next great project.