When do ideas happen?
April 9, 2013
Recent
research, aimed at finding specific triggers that result in good ideas,
better solutions and bouts of creativity, has confirmed my own
favourite times when stuff happens. Here are a few:
When
we step away: Focusing at your workstation doesn't always work,
particularly if you do too much of it. Leave your cubicle or studio and
step into a new environment. Great stuff is ready to grab out there,
floating in the ether.
When
we're in transition: Waking up, falling asleep, showering, tubbing or
going to the bathroom are hot times for new ideas. We need to trust the
possibilities of fleeting brain waves at these times and take the
trouble to knock them down for further study.
When
we're drinking: Moderate drinking gives confidence and gusto. A 2012
study at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that students who
drank enough to raise their blood-alcohol level to 0.075 performed
better on tests of insight than sober students.
When
we're doing chores: This may be one of the reasons why so many artists
prefer to have their studios at home. I absolutely don't want this sort
of information passed around, but I personally find stimulation in
washing cars, taking out the garbage, and helping our gardener move bags
of manure.
When
we're satisfied: A relatively fulfilled life calms the mind and
enriches the ground for idea growth. I've tried frustration, anger,
disappointment, tiredness and misery, and they all work to a degree, but
joyous satisfaction and a sense of élan work best.
When
we're daydreaming: It turns out that daydreaming is one of the most
valuable things that creative people do. Even the fantasizing of chicks
that bedevils a lot of men apparently hastens bubble-up ideas from the
subconscious that have nothing to do with women. What women need to
fantasize, I'm not sure.
When
we see green: Green surroundings, whether green-painted walls or the
green outdoors, suggest new growth, rebirth, fertility and renewal--just
one of the reasons why a walk in the park can be so fruitful. Feeling
non-creative in the studio? Squeeze out some green.
Best regards,
Robert
PS:
"When students were given creativity tests, those whose test-cover
pages had a green background gave more creative answers than those whose
pages were white, blue, red or grey." (Sue Shellenbarger, reporting in the Wall Street Journal)
jean's comments:
- an additional place, in the transition category, is while driving. i can't tell you how many times i get a good idea in the car.
- i don't drink alcohol, but i am sure that research has shown that coffee provides a lot of inspiration. i'll research this and post my findings later.
- i would change the word satisfaction to acceptance. even if you can't make yourself be joyously satisfied with how your life is going, if you just make it to acceptance that frees up your mind to be creative.
- he doesn't know what women daydream about....silly man....food.
- the thing about green is what made me re-post this column. i was just thinking about green yesterday and how i have always been drawn to green. i could bore you with many anecdotes about green, but i will refrain, because this is way too much to be writing for one day. now get out there and daydream and be creative.
And earth....working in my garden, working my hands into the dirt can be a creative wellspring. With the hands occupied, the mind can soar.
ReplyDeletehow interesting.... i remember how much i loved playing in dirt and mud as a kid and i have heard other artists describe how much they enjoyed playing in dirt. maybe it was cleaning up after the kids that saturated my interest in *dirt.* ;-)
ReplyDeletethank you for the comment
Do most people get an entire finished visual from their inspiration idea? Inspiration comes to me in bits and pieces. Extremely rare that I can visualize a finished product from inspiration.
ReplyDeletefor me, it can be either way. sometimes i get the whole idea. other times there are different parts that fit together. or sometimes there is one part of a project that needs a good idea to resolve the problem.
ReplyDeletethanks for adding to the thread.