Busyness kills creativity!
TO INNOVATE, REFUEL REGULARLY
When your brain is working all the time with no breaks, there are serious energy constraints. The brain stores no fuel, and running on empty degrades performance significantly.
This brain energy constraint can seriously affect the innovation process -- most acutely during the idea generation phase. In the ideation process, generating ideas can come on fast and furious, potentially for an extended period of time.
Those who work in a creative field know that taking regular breaks during this part of the process will yield better results. This is because the pre-frontal cortex -- the part of the brain we 'think' is doing all the work -- is quickly exhausted. When we take a break, we allow the other parts of the brain to take over. These other parts of the brain draw on memories and past experiences and even random events to trigger an unexpected solution or a great new idea. Often this can only happen when the pre-frontal cortex is 'out of the way'.
So what are the best ways to give your pre-frontal cortex a break?
1) Take a walk: Physical activity is energising and inspiring. You might see or hear something on your walk that is the missing piece of the puzzle.
2) Take a nap: Alpha brain waves are present in deep relaxation, when you’re slipping into a lovely daydream or during light meditation. It is an optimal time to program the mind for success, and it also heightens your imagination, visualisation, memory, learning, and concentration.
3) Participate in an activity you enjoy: Feeling relaxed is a key ingredient for generating ideas. When you get lost in a project -- cooking, gardening, painting, anything you love -- your subconscious is free to roam.
4) Eat well: Be aware of how your body reacts to various stimulants. Some people can tolerate caffeine and sugar, but for most the highs and lows that follow can disturb creativity. Try to eat nuts, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables, which help your brain refuel.
It may seem difficult -- or even impossible -- to fold these into a packed work day. No doubt it will take some effort, but if it's innovation you're after, it will be worth finding a way to do so.