If you were to visualize a productive day, how would it look? Would it start with getting up early, checking off items on a to-do list, then taking a triple shot of Bulletproof coffee before powering through a substantial piece of work? Now, how about a creative day? Do you picture long stretches of reflection, pen cocked and loaded as you gaze dreamily into the air? Few would imagine both scenarios looking the same. And unfortunately, we’ve created a dichotomous choice between the two.
Don’t Let Your Obsession with Productivity Kill Your Creativity
When we spend our work days focused on barreling through a to-do list, it can be hard to create the right conditions for creativity. And, yet, being innovative is a critical part of so many jobs. The author shares a time-tested approach – that’s also quite simple – for generating creative thought. First, gather raw materials as stimulus. Draw together ideas related to your area of interest by reading articles or books. Next, mentally digest that material. You might fill in small index cards with notes and seeking to draw connections between the elements, as if you’re trying to solve a puzzle. Shuffle between the physical cards looking for connections. Then, and this is the most important part, do nothing. Find a way to disengage the mind to allow unconscious processing, whether that’s by taking a walk, listening to music, watching a film, or even taking in the shower.