Difficult times often lead to great innovations - after all, necessity is the mother of invention.

So, if you are feeling the pinch in your purse, now is the time to capitalise on your creativity. Alison Motluk explains how

1. Embrace your inner grouch

It's hard to stay upbeat when your penny-pinching bosses are counting paper clips and coffee grains, but here's some good news: workplace discontent may just be a vast, untapped source of creativity

2. Let your mind wander

A wandering mind may allow your brain to search more widely for connections that could trigger a "eureka" moment

3. Play the piano

Music may provide more than just a brief respite from life's stresses – it may help you to think with both sides of your brain at once

4. Colour your world blue

It may be nothing more than an association with big skies and the open seas, but beholding the colour blue makes you more creative

5. Seek out creative company

The best ideas are forged not in moments of solitary genius, but during exchanges with trusted colleagues

6. Live abroad

The idea that living abroad spurs creativity has been in the popular psyche for eons – and now science backs up the idea

7. Be more playful

When times get tough, many people turn serious, but some researchers believe that horsing around may be better in the long run than hunkering down

8. Raise a glass

Many of the most creative pursuits – jazz, for instance, and poetry – are associated with heavy boozing, but can a dram or two really help?

不同的时间经常能产生不同的创新。总而言之，需要是创造之母。如果是这样的话，只要你想你的钱包里有钱子，那么你现在要的事就是将你的创造力转化为钞票。

让我们来看看创造力是如何激发出来的吧！

1．挖掘你内心的牢骚

在看到的抠门的老板斤斤计较着办公用品和咖啡粉的开销时，你肯定心里很是不爽。可是，这个时候，也有些好事情出现：办公室里的不满情绪也正在是一种巨大的，难以压抑的创造力之源。

2.发呆

发呆的时候，你的大脑的思维是无限发散的，随时可能出现“灵光乍现”一刻。

3.弹钢琴

音乐可以让人暂时摆脱生活的压力，同时也可以让你的左右脑同时进行思考。

4.将你的世界涂成蓝色

没有什么将广阔的天空和大海相联系更好的事了，当然，身处于蓝色的世界也可以让你更富有创造力。

5.人以群分

最妙的主意不是来处于一个人独处时候，而是在与可靠的同事一起交换想法里蹦出来的。

6.　身边它乡

身处异乡会激发出人的创造力，这种想法已经得到了大众心理学的肯定，而科学也证实了这个观点。

7.更会玩闹

当工作压力越来越大的时候，许多人会一筹莫展，而有研究表明，骑着马四处溜达一下比长时间的呆坐在椅子里有效得多。

8.　喝一杯

许多最有创意的东东，如爵士乐和诗歌，都是在有几分醉意的时候创造出来了。可是，喝个一两扎啤酒能弄出这些东东吗？