What practices do you utilise to help encourage Creativity?

With everything going on the way that it is in this world, I have a real problem with keeping focused on the right things. Distraction is always a factor and I aim to help my community and my friends get on the right track. And by that I mean inventive ways to help our community as a whole and bring awareness to the things that are going on in our country.

In your experience, what have you done to to help encourage creative/critical thinking and ideas?