Creative ideas don’t come from nowhere. You need to actively seek them out; don't wait for some muse to strike you with inspiration. Here are a few tips for sparking your imagination when you need to solve a problem or develop something new:

Think when you’re tired. When you’re tired, your inhibitions and inner censor aren’t as powerful, and you might generate something unexpected. Instead of tackling problems first thing in the morning when you’re fresh, let your mind roam later in the day when you’re feeling fatigued.

Exercise. In addition to contributing to your physical well-being, exercise can stimulate your creativity by helping your mental health. In experiments, participants who work out to exercise videos tend to come up with more ideas and solutions to problems than counterparts who merely watch the same videos.

Have a little noise. While silence is best for detail-oriented tasks, ambient noise, such as music or the bustling of a coffee shop, has been shown to enhance creative thought. Don’t play loud heavy metal music or work next to a construction site, but set up an environment where some quiet activity around you will spark your mental muscles.