Relax to be Creative

Ever got a great idea on a bus? Or soaking in a bath?

Have you noticed your “eureka” moments come to you when you’re the most relaxed? Turns out you can promote a moment of sudden, triumphant discovery, inspiration, or insight by just allowing yourself to relax.

We get a sudden burst of EEG activity in the temporal lobe at the moment the solution to the problem became available, that special A-ha moment. However, stress greatly reduced activity in that part of the brain, blocking our out-of-the-box ideas. It’s well-known that a low-stress environment encourages creative thinking. Build a perfect nest for better problem-solving: move to a sofa and cuddle under a blanket, get a favourite beverage, turn off notifications.

Alternatively, try catching the ideas in the “B-s” of creativity: bar, bus, bath, bed, beach, bicycle. What’s your favourite?