What are some examples of mindfulness-based interventions for enhancing creativity in different settings?

Mindfulness is the opposite of multitasking. Multitasking has been shown to radically reduce people’s effectiveness and productivity, not to mention their enjoyment of whatever they’re doing. To encourage a state of flow, there have to be fewer interruptions. In offices, this means offering employees private spaces to focus on projects. Open plan offices, with their cacophony of sights, sounds, smells, and interruptions, are not conducive to creating a state of flow. They may help cross pollinate ideas in different ways, but they don’t encourage an individual’s mindfulness. Distractions can be even more intrusive if working from home. If that’s the case, going to a library or park might help.

It is rare for a workplace to invest both the funding and especially the time for a full MBSR program: 2 1/2 hour weekly live sessions, 45 minutes to an hour and half *daily* practice for two months, plus an All Day retreat. Mindfulness does have a place at work, but may require lighter weight programs, still taught by a credentialed professional with years of training and personal practice. A common stumbling block is to use mindfulness as an avoidance of difficulties, "checking out" rather than checking *in*, facing difficulties and their causes, and making changes to those conditions.

Most people can be supported to cultivate mindfulness via everyday tasks (and without jargon). Attend to one thing at a time i.e. washing up, brushing teeth or anything that tends to be rushed with the mind wanting to be elsewhere! Gently guide attention back to the task until it is finished. Many fear this will result in less productivity but it brings new powers of completion, with more ease and effectiveness. Settling/decluttering the mind of unresolved thoughts and experiences is essential for creating the internal space and quiet for creativity and flow ?? I connect to my quiet place at least once a day. We are all different so exploring what works for us is important. Why not arm yourself with an array of routes to calmness?

Mindfulness is a powerful tool to support personal growth. Being in the present moment allows you to notice things about yourself and your circumstances in a way that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to. Growth can’t happen if there isn’t awareness, and mindfulness is focused on being aware and present.

Mindfulness is a particular way of paying attention. Once you understand how to pay attention in that way you can apply it to anything. The rest is about what happens as a result of paying attention. To understand what I mean, I invite you to read an article I wrote and published on Linkedin titled "Mindful leadership": what is the connection between mindfulness and leadership?" (https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/leadership-mindfulness-what-connection-spradling-phd).