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Given the choice between pushing our brains for creative solutions or following time-worn patterns, we tend to fall victim to lazy brain syndrome.

The easiest thing in the world is to let go of your creativity. To say you’ve got a *real* job and give up the creative work that used to matter deeply to you. To find an excuse to prioritize Netflix over your artist’s studio. To find an excuse to stop painting, writing, filming, building, making, crafting and discovering.
That’s because being creative is the hard part. Giving it up forever is terrifyingly easy. But you don’t have to let it all go. You can live creatively and embrace your creativity every single day…

Do it for 30 days and your life will permanently change.

I believe that all human beings are creative, and that creative thinking is a central part of self-expression. Self-expression is a gift we give ourselves and the world. Creativity, therefore, is at the heart of being fully engaged in life and work. Creativity, like any other skill, can be fostered and developed. Under the right conditions, the muse (creative inspiration) will visit each and every one of us in its own unique way.

Rather than just fix what's ailing you, positive psychology looks to actively improve individual and organizational well-being. Here's ho

Teaching creativity, innovation and problem solving needs a unique approach. Follow a group of executives that get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Creativity is a natural process that can be nurtured, harnessed and cultivated.

Although we write about groundbreaking businesspeople in every issue, our annual Most Creative People list highlights 100 all-new subjects who have never before been profiled in the magazine. That forces us to be creative as journalists, to look in new areas, to find new initiatives, to challenge our own assumptions. Could the funeral industry be harboring any standouts? (Yep, see Nos. 45 and 46, as well as No. 72.) What about the refugee crisis? (See Nos. 56 and 57, and No. 79.) Or prison reform? (See Nos. 11 and 77.) Who are the emerging leaders in entertainment, social networking, and digital security? And who is hiding in plain sight at large institutions like Apple and Nike and Starbucks?

Taking the afternoon off isn’t usually an option, but some companies have found some fun and effective hacks for tackling the afternoon slump.

 1. DANCE PARTIES

Employees at the mortgage lender United Shore look forward to 10-minute dance parties held every Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. The idea began as a small gathering of five or six people and became so popular that the company installed a dance floor on the second floor to accommodate a crowd of more than 100.

"We have a lot of team members at United Shore who work from their desks and are focused on hitting their daily goals," says CEO Mat Ishbia. "The dance parties give them a little break to get up, reenergize themselves and get back to their day. That energy helps us stay focused."

Scientific research has already uncovered some surprising facts about how creativity works. And this time of year especially, there's ample advice out there for those looking to adopt new and better habits and keep their New Year's resolutions going strong. The trouble is that much of that advice rests on carefully established routines—daily practices that some people just aren't wired (or simply aren't inclined) to stick with.

When it comes to creativity, though, a little less structure and predictability may actually work in your favor. Here's a look at five habits to improve your creative chops, backed by scientific research, that don't require committing to a specific daily practice.

Sarah Prevette, founder of Future Design School, explains why teaching creativity is as important as literacy and numeracy in schools.

Consider this: Dave Myers, an employee working for Gore-Tex fabric innovator W.L. Gore, was tinkering with some new ideas one workday—taking advantage of the company’s 10 percent daily allotment of creative time—when he wondered if one of their products, normally used to coat push-pull cables, could also be used to make guitar strings more comfortable.

While the coated guitar strings were only slightly easier on the fingertips, they did manage to keep their clear tone longer than guitar strings already on the market. Realizing this, Gore quickly launched its own brand of guitar strings. ELIXIR Strings are now the No. 1 selling acoustic guitar string currently on the market. It was because of the innovative mind of Mr. Myers, and that approved creativity time in his workday, that Gore was able to expand into an entirely new product market.

What could your company do with a little extra creative genius? By establishing a creativity-friendly work culture, the possibilities could be immeasurable. Here are four ways to encourage the best creativity from your employees.

Your company is in a highly-competitive industry. Hard work is not enough to climb a ladder to success. What you need is a small grain of creative thinking

Official site of The Week Magazine, offering commentary and analysis of the day's breaking news and current events as well as arts, entertainment, people and gossip, and political cartoons.

If you want to boost your creativity, learn from innovator David Kelley. He invented Apple's first mouse! Techniques to power your innovative gene

Creativity isn't something you're born with; it's a skill that can be learned and improved upon. Learn 11 ways to jog your creative thinking.

Meetings can be a drain on everyone, or an invigorating session where creativity flows freely. While it's tempting to view every meeting as a waste of time spent hearing reports that could have been summarized in an email, the truth is getting a diverse set of perspectives on a problem and a collection of brains thinking together can be just what you're team needs to find a creative solution. As I've studied creative people and innovative companies, I found that  what separates creative teams and people from noncreative ones is mostly just the language we use to describe ourselves and the creative process.