8 unusual habits that reveal your creative side

People often think of creativity as making art, writing poems, or composing music.

But there’s so much more to creativity. You can be a creative person with untapped talent, and not even know it!

Here are 8 unusual habits that creative people share, and that reveal your creative side. 

1) You wake up early

Did you know that most creative people are early risers?

Benjamin Franklin, Howard Schultz, and Ernest Hemingway for example all had the habit of waking up early.

Of course, this will not apply to everyone. I’m considered a pretty creative person, and I’d rather not get out of bed until 9 or 10 if I could get away with it.

But there’s something to getting an early start to the day that gets the creative juices flowing.

For one thing, you have much fewer distractions so early in the morning, as many others are still sleeping and things are more quiet. Thoughts can come to you with greater ease.

And also, you yourself are not yet caught up in the cycle of running from one appointment to the next.

Though I don’t usually get up early, I must admit that I don’t usually have a good feeling about sleeping in. The day has just begun for me, yet it is also halfway over. 

So getting up gives you a sense of progress and like you have plenty of time, which helps you think in a more relaxed and creative way. 

2) You take naps 

Creative people get up early, but that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy sleep! Another surprising habit they have is taking frequent naps.

Unlike the last point, this is something I can definitely get behind.

There’s a good reason for this habit too. Have you ever racked your brain to solve a problem, and then after a good night’s sleep the solution seemed obvious to you? 

That shows how enough sleep is crucial for your brain to function properly. 

So there’s no need to feel embarrassed if you regularly catch some Zs in the afternoon. On the contrary, it shows your creative side. 

3) You follow a regular routine

This habit might seem a bit unusual for creative people, as they are known to go with the flow and think of new ways to do things.

But one thing they also do is stay consistent and maintain good habits. 

This means having a regular, perhaps even strict, routine.

Psychologist William James explained that having a routine “frees our minds to advance to really interesting fields of action”. 

In other words, if you automate actions that are regular for you, you no longer have to spend mental energy thinking about them, and you can dedicate your thoughts to thinking creatively instead.

Don’t confuse this with refusing to think outside the box, though. Creative people can and do reevaluate their routine to find better and more efficient ways of doing things.

But when you find something that works, you stick to it consistently. 

4) You enjoy “me time” 

Do you know those people who think it’s embarrassing to go anywhere alone?

Whether it’s lunch, a mixer, or a hobby meetup, they always look for someone who can tag along with them.

As a highly creative person, you do enjoy the company of your close friends. But, you definitely also appreciate having moments of solitude.

I’ve done plenty of things alone, from eating at restaurants to traveling abroad, and attending festivals and concerts. 

I’ve never felt uncomfortable in that situation, and sometimes it’s the very reason I had such a good time because I was free to do whatever I wanted, and I was much more open to talking to and meeting new people.

This habit extends past activities though. As a creative person, you also don’t mind hanging out with yourself at home, reflecting on your thoughts. 

This is one of the best ways to discover creative ideas, and allow your brain to process things. 

5) You keep creativity and work separate

Some people might assume that creative people dedicate their whole lives and careers to thinking creatively.

And some certainly do. Mozart, for example, wouldn’t have been able to create such incredible works of music if he spent his days waiting tables.

But it doesn’t always have to be the case.

Creativity flourishes when it has freedom. If you’re trying to be creative because you have to, or a client is breathing down your neck, or you have a tight deadline, the juices won’t flow as easily. 

You might also be influenced by what your colleagues, boss, or clients want you to do, rather than giving free rein to your imagination. 

On the other hand, if you have a job that’s very straightforward and structured, you can save all your creative energy for your own projects. 

6) You reflect on your mistakes and failures

Let’s face it — failure is never pleasant.

But if you can be honest with yourself and take a hard look at what went wrong, you can grow much more.

Every creative endeavor is sure to have some failures, big or small. You’ll try things out and they go wrong, unexpected problems come up, or you discover things you forgot to take into account.

When you reflect on these things, you learn how to do it better next time. It means you don’t give up at the first sign of trouble, but use that experience to come up with an even better idea.

The most creative people are aware of this secret weapon, and use it to their full advantage. 

7) You’re comfortable working anywhere and anytime

You surely have a place where you’re used to working. It could be an office, a desk at home, or maybe even a little corner in the living room.

But the truth is, you’re able to work any place and any time.

Inspiration can strike at any moment, and if you don’t jump on it, you might miss out on a really great idea.

Creative people are always prepared to jot down and flesh out an idea when it comes to them, and are able to hunker down and get to work practically anywhere.

I once had a great idea come to me at a party. Of course, I couldn’t whip out my laptop to start working on it.

But I did quickly slip away to the bathroom in order to furiously type it out on my phone. 

There are plenty of more inspiring examples of this too: Steve Jobs started Apple in his mother’s garage, and JK Rowling wrote the first ideas for Harry Potter on a napkin while on the train. 

8) You conserve a playful side

Remember how as kids, we used to play all the time?

Well, actually, as a creative person, you still find opportunities to play. Who said becoming an adult means becoming boring?

I know a couple where the girlfriend has incredible memories of Easter egg hunts as a child. So she and her boyfriend continue to organize mini egg hunts for each other, using riddles as clues to make it more challenging and interesting.

Some might be embarrassed to admit that, but they absolutely love the experience, and laughed gleefully when they told me.

I really admire this about them, because it shows they’re still willing to let loose and have fun, and they’ve clearly used their creativity to find ways to inject their life with more joy. 

Final thoughts

Now you know 8 habits you might identify in your life that reveal your creative side.

This might also help you notice creativity in other people around you — it isn’t always as obvious as people like to think!