The Art of Relaxation: Lessons Learned from Feeling Stuck #WeeklyLearning
Have you ever felt stuck in a project, feeling like you’re not creative enough to come up with a new thought? I know I have, and it’s not a fun feeling. This week, let me share some learnings about creativity that changed the game for me.
❓𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬?
Showering? Jogging? Commuting? I don’t think anyone says ‘𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠’.
We’re constantly under pressure at work, and we often hear ourselves say, “I don’t have time to think!” The moment we relax during our commute, though, the big ideas just pop into our heads.
❓So, how do you get into that relaxed brain state on demand?
1️⃣ Let go of trying to “make yourself” come up with something creative.
Instead, try telling yourself something like, “I’m going to see what happens,”
“I’m going to explore this possibility,” or “I’m going to play around with some ideas.”📌
2️⃣𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. This is like when your brain takes a break and just starts wandering and daydreaming. It’s when your mind is relaxed and not focused on one thing.
For example, during your commute, you start imagining what it would be like if you were an astronaut exploring a new planet. Your brain is still working, but it’s not trying to solve a specific problem. This helps you come up with new ideas or a fresh perspective on the problem you’re trying to solve.
3️⃣𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. This is when your brain is really concentrating on one thing.
❤️For example, if you’re trying to write an essay on “Love ” and you’re stuck on the introduction, this is focused thinking.
Here, you could take a break and go for a walk outside. While you’re walking, you might start thinking about a coffee or a butterfly or some pick-up lines (who knows ;-) ).
You might come up with a new angle or a different way to structure your arguments.
☕Maybe while you’re thinking about coffee, you remember a story about how a couple fell in love over a cup of coffee, and you realize that this would make a great anecdote to start your essay.
🦋Or maybe while you’re thinking about butterflies, you realize that the way they undergo metamorphosis is a great metaphor for the way love can transform people.
🎈Alternatively, while you’re thinking about pick-up lines, you might come up with a humorous or witty way to introduce your essay that will engage your reader and make them more interested in what you have to say about love.
To maximize the benefits of these in-between times, avoid multi-tasking and let your mind explore a particular idea.
0️⃣After all this, if it’s still blank. All you want to do is 𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭, it’s more difficult but not impossible to experience your breakthrough.
So, let go of the pressure, let your mind wander, and see where your creativity takes you!
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨-𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲?
Share in the comments!❤️
