Pretty Minds V13 - Create Rituals and The Art Of Mentally Recharging

Pretty Minds V13 - Creative Rituals: The Art of Mental Refreshment

**A newsletter for people who like thinking about thinking. Scaling better thinking and thought processes one email at a time to help you design a beautiful thought life.

Dear Pretty Minded,

Welcome back to Pretty Minds Collective, your favorite newsletter for exploring the beautiful thought lives of cognition and creativity. In this edition, we're diving into the vital practice of creative rituals and the power of intentional breaks in nurturing our creative minds.

Top of Mind

We live in an always-on-demand world and this past weekend I definitely felt the importance of just taking a break and not forcing my creativity.

By the time I got to Friday last week, I was mentally exhausted. I decided to take Saturday and just do nothing. I was in a space where by the time I got to Saturday I couldn't create or push through creatively.

So I decided to honor that feeling and do some of my favorite creative analog hobbies to recharge and reset.

• floral arranging
• day dreaming
• brain dumping
• nature walk
• sunbathing and people-watching
• visual designing, going to AT Home and doing some home decor updates

In our always-on, productivity-obsessed world, we often forget a fundamental truth about creativity: like a garden, the creative mind needs periods of rest and rejuvenation. You litarally have to get your brain a reset just like you reset your phone.

The greatest minds throughout history understood this. Einstein played violin when stuck on complex problems. Maya Angelou took regular walks to spark inspiration. These weren't just hobbies – they were creative rituals that helped refresh and recharge their minds.

Here are some more examples of creative habits from renowned innovators:

• Frida Kahlo would spend hours in her garden, finding inspiration in the vibrant colors and patterns of nature for her paintings.
• Charles Darwin took daily walks on his "thinking path" at Down House, using this time to contemplate his theories. Gordan Parks had a similiar practice butincorporatedd pattern recognition spotting during his walks.
• Romare Bearden practiced collaging in his creative processes
• Steve Jobs was known for his walking meetings, combining physical movement with creative discussion to enhance problem-solving.

When you’re thinking about a creative refresh, what rituals and hobbies do you practice?

Food For Thought

Let’s get into how creative rituals and mindful breaks serve multiple purposes in our mental operating system:

1. Mental Reset: Creative rituals act as pattern interrupts, breaking us out of rigid thinking patterns and allowing us to create fresh pathways and fresh perspectives. When we engage in activities like arranging flowers or solving puzzles, we give our analytical mind a rest while engaging different neural pathways.
2. Sensory Enrichment: Activities like nature walks or gardening expose us to rich sensory experiences that can later inform and enhance our creative work. These experiences act as creative grounding. It’s like planting new seeds from which new ideas grow.
3. Flow State Training: Creative rituals help us practice entering flow states in low-stakes environments. Whether it's building with LEGOs or doing watercolors, these activities train our brains to access the creative zone more easily when needed. The more you can get into a flow state on-demand, the more you can create and become more productivity.
4. Incubation Space: Often, our best ideas come not when we're actively pursuing them, but when we step away and let our subconscious mind work. Creative rituals provide this vital incubation space for creating brilliance and genius ideas.

Learning + Unlearning

Here’s what I’ve been actively learning and unlearning about my own creative process and thinking creatively:

Learning:

• The Power of Ritual: Research shows that rituals, even simple ones, can reduce anxiety and enhance performance. By creating my own specific creative rituals, I’ve been training my brain to enter creative states more readily and enter in and out of flow state on demand.
• The Productivity Paradox: Sometimes, the most productive thing we can do is step away. I’ve been building in more regular breaks to enhance my -solving abilities and creative thinking.

Unlearning:

• The "Always On" Myth: We need to unlearn the belief that constant productivity equals creativity. Innovation often requires fallow periods. Non-productivity" is essential for creative growth.
• The Myth of Linear Creativity: I unlearned the idea that creativity follows a straight path. Creative breakthroughs often come through cycles of engagement and rest.
• The Value of Boredom: I love boedom. I actually never feel bored as an adult. I thoroughly enjoy moments of nothingness and periods of stillness and aloneness. Moments of boredom can be valuable catalysts for creativity, rather than viewing them as unproductive time.

Creative Ritual Toolkit

Here are some creative rituals to consider incorporating into your routine:

1. Nature Connection Rituals Morning garden walks Cloud watching sessions Rock or leaf collecting Bird watching and sketching
2. Hands-On Creation Rituals Flower arranging LEGO building sessions Coloring Puzzle solving time
3. Sensory Exploration Rituals Tea tasting ceremonies Essential oil blending Texture collection creation Sound bath meditation
4. Movement-Based Rituals Dancing breaks Walking meditation Gentle stretching

Thought Experiment Of The Week

Design your ideal "Creative Retreat Day." For the next week, consider:

1. What would your perfect creative reset day look like?
2. Which rituals would you include?
3. What environment best supports your creative renewal?
4. How can you incorporate mini-versions of these rituals into your daily life?
5. What creative activities make you lose track of time?

Document your ideal creative retreat day, then try to implement a scaled-down version this week. Notice how it affects your creative energy and thinking patterns.

Remember, your brain is a precious garden that needs both cultivation and rest. Every moment you spend in creative play isn't just a break – it's an investment in your ideas and thoughts flourishing. When you’re working on your next big project or idea, give yourself permission to embrace these creative pauses, knowing they're not just luxuries, but necessities for a pretty mind.

Stay curious and keep that big brain energy!

Jeneba