The science of daydreaming (and why it is absolutely necessary)

There was an interview in New Scientist a couple of weeks ago with neuroscientist Daniel Levitin about how to negotiate an age where we are bombarded with information. The big take-away I got from his message is that it is essential that we allow ourselves time to daydream.

Why is it important to daydream?

Here’s the theory: Our brain essentially works to two modes, our ‘executive’ mode and our ‘daydreaming’ mode. When one is switched on the other is off.

Our executive mode helps us negotiate and engage in our everyday activities- from remembering to buckle the kids in the car, buy milk on the way home, to fulfilling our office and work tasks throughout the day. It’s our busy state, the ‘think on your feet’ state that is so important in every activity.

Our daydreaming mode is our default brain setting. It’s leaving our thoughts to float and not actively paying attention to one thing. Kind of like our ‘stand-by’ mode.

Because we are bombarded by so much to think about; home life, work issues, social media, social interaction, every day problem solving, it’s easy for our brain to get locked in executive mode. ‘Why is that bad?’ I hear you say. ‘I’m getting so much done!’

You may be juggling a huge weight of tasks but it doesn’t allow you to work out the BIG problems or ideas. We need our daydreaming time to work through issues that need more time than just a fleeting thought. Our daydreaming mode helps restore our mind and allows our thoughts to connect in ways other than the obvious.

Have you ever noticed that you get your best ideas when taking a shower, putting on your favourite album or going for a walk? Felt inspired when you’ve wandered though a beautiful garden? You can ‘turn on’ your daydreaming mode by listening to music, connecting with nature or just generally relaxing. Though you may not realise it, your brain is still busy in the background, beavering away, turning over possibilities and outcomes.

Give yourself time to daydream, it’s great for your creativity and your soul.

Links

• Here’s the article in New Scientist
• Daniel Levitin has written a book called The Organized Mind, which looks like great reading for anyone overwhelmed with too much to do. Let me just add that to my reading list.
• You may also like our post on how exercise can boost your creativity
• Or this one on the Six Thinking Hats creativity tool

 

Reading fiction can make your more creative

I’d suggest most writers are avid readers. They love stories. They love to see a craft in action (and sometimes despair that there’s will be as good!)

But it turns out, reading fiction is good for just generally being more creative whether you’re a writer or some other sort of ‘creative’.

Why?

People who have just read a short story have less need for ‘cognitive closure’ – and thus they are more comfortable with disorder and uncertainty.

The psychological term ‘cognitive closure’ describes the human desire to eliminate ambiguity and arrive at definite conclusions – sometimes irrationally – which can result in poor decision-making and snap judgements.

The study notes that the need for cognitive closure results in ‘”seizing” on an early statement in the process of acquiring knowledge, “freezing” on the seized idea, and remaining impervious to additional information’ which impedes rationality. But of course, this also limits creativity.

For the study, 100 participants were divided into two groups. One group was given an essay to read from among eight choices by respected writers such as George Bernard Shaw. The second group was given a short story to read, by equally illustrious writers of fiction.

After reading, their need for cognitive closure was assessed. As hypothesized, when compared to participants in the essay condition, participants in the short story condition experienced a significant decrease in self-reported need for cognitive closure. The effect was particularly strong for participants who were habitual readers (of either fiction or non-fiction). These findings suggest that reading fictional literature could lead to better procedures of processing information generally, including those of creativity.

Putting the science aside, this all intuitively makes sense too.

One blogger I came across, Robert Bruce, put it well when he said “Working in a creative field and only reading nonfiction is like training for a marathon by doing pushups and curls. You’ve got to work out the creative part of your brain.”

The very best advertising, for example, has characters we remember. I saw a presentation this week from the head of the agency who’d developed the AAMI “Rhonda and Ketut” campaign. Apparently each of those characters has full page bios created, before the ad concepts were developed and shot.

Even in product development, stories of what a product might do can help shape how it’s created, and its likelihood for success.

Reading fiction helps us learn power of the unexpected, and how a familiar tale can be taken somewhere you never expected it to go.

And isn’t that what the best ‘creative’ work does?

(Wondering what fiction to read? Check out posts like ‘15 books to change your life‘ and ‘What to read next‘)

 

•  Read the research/the study
• Image source: Bookshelf Porn

 

A spot of science on a surprising way to boost your creativity

I’ve long been an avoider of exercise. Not because I’m not an active person, but because exercise for exercise’s sake just seemed like a waste of valuable work/reading/crafting/writing/learning/relaxing time.

But over the past few months, I’ve had a change of heart. I’m training for a 50km fundraising walk and I’m exercising at least five days a week. And I’m not just feeling the physical effects, but also the mental effects. I feel more focused, more energised, in the hours after exercising. I wondered if this was just me – a placebo effect or a way of patting myself on the head! – or whether there might be some science to it?

And it turns out, according to some exploratory scientific research, it’s likely I am actually more creative post-exercise. According to this study, immediately afterwards – and then for up to two hours afterward – subjects were judged more creative (based on the use of several tests: Figural’s tests A & B and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking). So there were immediate and residual effects to the exercise on creativity.

Does this mean all creatives should become gym-bunnies?

Not at all – it’s only an ‘exploratory’ study after all. But like with the effects of music and creativity, it does give you another creativity tool to help generate ideas should you be in need of a boost. And if you already exercise, perhaps this suggests you should schedule your most creatively demanding work challenges post a morning walk or gym visit rather than spending the first hour of your workday checking emails.

Today’s creative challenge: Seek inspiration in the mundane, the every day

We often wait for inspiration – or only expect it from the unusual – a new city, a new artist, a new project.

I wonder, however, if this means we’re missing opportunities. Does it mean we’re not always looking, always seeking, always ready to be inspired? And does it mean we’re missing opportunities to create something that will be truly valued – if not today, in the future?

I came across the work of Melbourne artist and photographer, David Wadleton, who has been taking photos of his home suburb of Northcote since the 70’s. He was part of the recent Melbourne NOW at the NGV, with a series on Milk Bars. His photos of Northcote homes adorn the tram above.

His pictures of daily life are truly made fascinating by the passing of time – they are great images elevated by the curiosity and intrigue of ‘is that what it really used to look like’? (Check out some of his images on his Facebook page Northcote Hysterical Society.)

So look around you today. What are you not seeing? What are you looking past? What are you not appreciating? What might not be completely special today but might be special one day?

I took a brief work around one of Melbourne’s inner Western suburbs with this mindset – and found a little bit of ‘beauty in the every day’ that I’d normally have walked straight past.

 

Tram image source: Melbourne Art Trams – Yarra Trams

 

 

Happy Birthday to us! Top ten posts from the last year

Today Daily Inkling turns one- it’s been a year since we first started posting regularly. Let the frivolities begin! Here are ten of our favourite posts from the last twelve months.

Top ten favourite posts

1. Creative entrepreneur interview: Michelle Matthews, Deck of Secrets

Our first interview with a powerhouse of publishing. Michelle started with one simple (but brilliant) idea. From that first Deck of Secrets box grew an empire. The Deck of Secrets series has now spread all over the world.

2. How to get a book published by a major publisher (series of three)

Kimberly and I first cemented our creative partnership in a book project. From concept, to content, to market analysis and publishing – our little project was picked up by Penguin and now sits proudly on our shelves.

3. 52 ways to generate ideas on demand – Tips from 14 creative people

At the heart of this blog is understanding creativity. To get to that great idea you first need a spark; so with the help of fellow creatives, here are some tips to get you started.

4. Eight trends, themes and observations from SXSW 2014 – The Wrap

Kimberly went along to SXSW this year and all of her posts on the sessions she attended are worth a read – here’s the wrap-up of her experience along with lots of great pics.

5. Great book cover designs and designers

I love a great book cover as much as I love a great book – and yes, I do judge. But is it as simple as great books deserve great covers?

6. What’s the best soundtrack for creativity? 10 ways music can impact your creativity

I know I have specific playlists for different projects I’m working on. For some it has to be silence. What works to bring out your creative best?

7. How to evaluate ideas? For a new business, concept or novel

A great checklist to help you separate the truly great from the maybe mediocre.

8. How to pick the perfect colour for your brand or business

Colour options leap out at us at every turn – from the colour of our underwear to what we put on our walls; what packaging we prefer to remembering our parking level. Picking the perfect colour for your brand or business is one that has to be right.

9. Books that changed our lives

Both Kimberly and I shared our lists of books that have had an impact on us, and I feel like it made me evaluate what it was about these stories that stuck with me (as well as spending hours agonising about which ones to include or leave out. Talk about killing your darlings).

10. Idioms – how many ways can you kick the bucket?

We’ve done a lot of wordy posts, but this one is my favourite – one day we’ll all park our slippers.

Top five popular crafty posts

Our most popular posts have usually been the crafty ones – so here are the five most popular for makers and doers everywhere

1. How to make cute reversible placemats using an A4 template

2. Weekend creative project – Colourful and simple giant granny square baby blanket

3. DIY Washi tape Christmas baubles

4. Great gift idea – teacup succulents with Washi tape

5. Make you own re-usable shopping bag from an A4 template

 

 

Creativity tool profile – Six thinking hats

When you need to come up with, or evaluate, ideas, a creativity tool can come in handy.

Six Thinking Hats is probably one of the most well-known techniques for creative thinking. I’ve only used it a couple of times, but when I have, it was actually a worthwhile exercise. Developed by Edward de Bono, it exists to help you think systematically about a challenge or creative problem – from six difference perspectives.

It’s a tool that was designed for groups, but can also be used by individuals to push yourself out of your ‘default’ way of thinking. Most people have been trained to think rationally and logically but only thinking this way ensures either ‘more of the same’ or decisions that haven’t truly been fully considered.

To really make it fun, I think you need the hats – perhaps inspiration to make a series of paper hats…or is that too much like procrastination?!

Anyway, what follows are the ‘roles to play’ when you’re wearing your different hats!

Like more creativity tools? Check out our posts on mindmapping and brainstorming.

The six thinking hats

The white hat

Just the facts – Wearing this hat you just consider information that is known – or information you still need.

The red hat

Tapping into intuition and emotion – What is your ‘gut reaction’ when wearing this hat? How do you think people will respond emotionally?

The black hat

The critic – Be judgmental and the devil’s advocate when wearing this hat. Think defensively, think cautiously and highlight the weak points of your idea.

The yellow hat

The cheer leader- You should be positive and optimistic when wearing this hat. This hat could be the secret to pushing through!

The green hat

Ms Creativity – Wearing this hat you should dream up all the possibilities, ensuring you think big and wide.

The blue hat

The manager – Driving the creative process, wearing this hat you’re ensuring all hats have been used, processes are being followed and focus is ultimately maintained. Wearing this you’re really thinking about thinking!

 

Image source:

– Kate Kendall’s blog

 

 

Creativity tool profile – Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a term casually tossed around at most offices – ‘Let’s brainstorm some ideas’ is a common cry to action.

But what is brainstorming as it was originally intended? And are we all doing it the ‘right way’?

At its core, brainstorming is putting a question or problem to a group and then listing all the ideas they come up with. And I mean ALL the ideas, not just the ones that you think are good ideas.

You can use brainstorming to answer questions from “what sort of products or services can I sell” to “what should I name a character” to “how can we double our sales”?

So who came up with brainstorming? In 1939, a team led by advertising executive Alex Osborn coined the term ‘brainstorm’. According to Osborn, Brainstorm means using the brain to storm a creative problem and to do so ‘in commando fashion, each stormer audaciously attacking the same objective’.

Osborn posited that creativity is encouraged by not allowing ideas to be evaluated or discussed until everyone has run dry. Any and all ideas are considered legitimate and often the most far-fetched are the most fertile.

In theory, structured brainstorming produces many creative ideas about any given “central question”. Done right, it can tap into our brain’s capacity for lateral thinking and free association.

Brainstorming isn’t good for ranking ideas, or even selecting them. It’s purely a ‘generating ideas’ tool. Some will be good, and some won’t. But, if you try to analyse ideas during the brainstorming session, you will ruin the session.

The problem with brainstorming is that people rarely just list ideas without judging them in some way – or stopping the process too soon.

It has been critised by some as not being able to generate truly creative ideas ‘shouting out’ ideas (rather than reflective) can work against you and reserving judgement and criticism can actually reduce seeking a truly creative outcome.

Some studies have shown that individual brainstorming can produce more – and often better – ideas than group brainstorming.

This somewhat alleviates the lack of ‘rule following’ that occurs, and also means you’re not so busy listening to others that you forget to come up with your own ideas.

However, you may not develop ideas as fully when you brainstorm on your own and you don’t have the the wider experience of the group to keep the ideas flowing.

So….how do you brainstorm with a group the ‘right’ way?

• Make sure everyone understands – and is happy with – the central question or problem before you open up for ideas.
• Give people a minute or two to jot down a few ideas before getting started.
• Begin by going around the table or room, giving everyone a chance to voice their ideas or pass. After doing this a few times, open the floor.
• Remember, the aim of the game is MORE ideas. Encourage radical ideas and piggybacking.
• Suspend judgment of all ideas. Remind others to do the same (even people who put forward the ideas!)
• Record exactly what is said. Clarify later, only after everyone is out of ideas.
• Don’t stop until ideas become sparse. Allow for late-coming ideas.
• Then eliminate duplicates and ideas that aren’t relevant to the topic.

You now have your list of ideas. You can then rank or evaluate them at another time – or keep them handy for future inspiration.

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Interested in more creativity tools? Check out our post on mind mapping or SCAMPER.

Sources:

• Innovation excellence
• Mind tools