It is a common misconception that creativity is like some sort of creature from alternate dimension that needs a proper summoning.
In reality, it comes naturally.
In fact, several times an hour, your brain switches into creative-mode without even being polite enough to ask permission.
But how can an overachiever BEST access their creativity for the purpose of [insert whatever here]?
Here's the simple recipie:
- Shut your peepers
- Deeply relax (you can hack that by yawning, and/or fake yawning, 10 times in a row)
- Invite your brain to roam freely in the realm of daydreaming
If you spend 60 seconds every hour doing that, your natural creativity will flourish.
Emotions and ideas will flit around erratically.
That’s creative mind-wandering at work.
Observe this process without interruption as it is your brain’s way to solve the issues you’ve been tackling. Then, resume whatever it is you were doing with renewed energy.
If you pay attention, you’ll notice increased productivity and lower stress levels.
Neuro-Tip
Before taking a 60-second break for daydreaming, pose a question to your brain that needs solving. Allow your imagination to run free.
Then, ask your intuition for an insight or two.
Listen to the ideas that come from your imagination.
They just might be ingenious.
Dive Deeper
The Richness of Inner Experience: Relating Styles of Daydreaming to Creative Processes
Claire M Zedelius 1, Jonathan W Schooler 1. Front Psychol. 2016 Feb 2;6:2063. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02063. eCollection 2015.
Mind-wandering as spontaneous thought: a dynamic framework
Kalina Christoff 1 2, Zachary C Irving 3, Kieran C R Fox 1, R Nathan Spreng 4 5, Jessica R Andrews-Hanna 6 Nat Rev Neurosci.
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