Everybody has the potential to be creative, even those who claim they are not.
Alice Flaherty, a neuroscientist researching creativity, asserts that the reward chemical in the brain, dopamine, is very important for creativity. An increased release of dopamine is linked to an increase in creativity.
"People vary in terms of their level of creative drive according to the activity of the dopamine pathways of the limbic system," said Flaherty.
Doing things that make us feel good and relaxed, such as taking a warm shower, exercising, etc, are typical triggers for dopamine release, which subsequently increases the chances of having creative ideas.
Another important factor is distraction, which can be a good thing and a bad thing.
It can be good to be distracted from being fixated on an ineffective solution. However, creative ideas themselves tend to be conceived when there is no distraction around to take your mind off the potentially great idea. In other words, a relaxed mind is crucial for creativity.