One of the things that a creative journal can be used for is so-called creative warm-ups. They aim to develop creativity in a relatively narrow area consistently, but this can simultaneously spill over into other areas of human creativity. For example, practising writing or working with associations, the two most common warm-ups linked to different areas of human thought, may seem helpful in only one small discipline, but the effects can be pretty significant.

The essence of warm-ups is the regular repetition of a creative activity or technique at a clearly defined time over an extended period. Some people spend their whole lives with warm-ups, and some devote only a month to them. Warm-ups are different from a regular creative journal precisely because they are the same, regular, and do not address innovation or invention, the world around you, or stimuli. They are only about training creativity, not about its complex manifestations.

Warm-ups are referred to as such primarily because they are typically performed in the morning. Besides developing creative competence, they help kick-start creative processes or creative thinking. This does not preclude doing them in the evening; one loses the benefit of "warmed-up thinking". At this point, we would like to mention two warm-ups that are probably among the most well-known and familiar.

The first is to write quickly - ideally before breakfast; spending twenty minutes writing in the morning is recommended. (Some say to write one page of text - whether you write by text or by characters is up to you, but characters are understandably more demanding and exact). The topic can be chosen freely and should not be complicated or intellectually demanding. A short story or a description is ideal - a picture from a calendar, a randomly selected image from Google Art, or even a view from a window.

The purpose of this method is threefold. Firstly, it helps one practise the writing and gain regularity in it. Very quickly he will find that this method can remove the blocks from the beginning of writing, but also from the inability to formulate an idea or a fluent text. The second level is creative - it forces us to work with words and associations, formulate sentences, and put the mind on paper. By repeatedly writing about a similar topic, one has to look at it from a different perspective. There is another dimension to creativity that may be neglected - persistence. You write even when you don't feel like it when you don't feel inspired when you're not in the mood. The ability to go beyond this limit of appetite is essential. And it also gets a person to read regularly because you can't write without it.

The second warm-up is more leisurely both in terms of time and freedom. Choose any item in your environment and try to consider its different uses. For example, a brick could be used for building a wall, hammering nails, or in place of a stool, etc. It's not about the reality of the use but about training your imagination, associations and ideas. Give yourself five to ten minutes to write. Writing while doing so is necessary, not just practising in your head. Gradually, you should get better at generating more ideas faster and with less effort.

But of course, you can think of more warm-ups - you can start the day with a mind map or perhaps with an association series. It's up to you. We recommend a minimum duration of one month for creative training.

A topic that has been intensively addressed and which is also essential for the creative journal is the relationship between what we might call self-care and creativity. Self-care can then cover self-reflection, self-development, information or psychological hygiene and many other activities. It also includes the ability to perceive and accept oneself, perceive oneself realistically, and feel happiness.

Creativity does not stand outside the self but is a manifestation of the relationship between the personality and the external world. Understanding ourselves and our inner world is thus the fundamental pillar of creativity. It is based on the inner life of each individual, which is why exploring it is crucial in this respect. This is why, for example, a creative journal typically focuses not only on creativity but also greatly emphasises self-reflection and describing the world around us. The development of creativity, which at first glance may seem in some respects to be something beyond the pale, should thus be an activity of interest to everyone.