Daily Rituals of the Most Innovative People
Throughout history, people from all walks of life have used rituals to improve their focus and creativity. Some of the world's leading entrepreneurs, sportspeople and artists swear by their daily creative rituals, while monks of various religions structure their days around habits they believe clear the mind.
And with good reason, because research backs many of the most popular behaviours up.
One study by Stanford University confirmed that a person’s creativity could increase by 60% during a walk (no wonder Steve Jobs held walking meetings). Going to bed according to a set sleep schedule has been shown to encourage better ideas. And keeping a journal can improve your physical and mental wellbeing.
“Physical strength is as necessary as artistic sensitivity” — novelist Haruki Murakami.
Not every technique works for everybody, and there’s no one perfect daily routine. But here are some methods that have done the trick for very successful people.
First up? Avoiding emails and social media in the morning.
We know this sounds like an impossible feat (after all, people do need to contact us for work occasionally), but research shows that being connected all the time can make you feel anxious. So, try avoiding your inbox for the first few hours of the day. It works for CEO of Thrive Global Arianna Huffington. “When I wake up, I don’t start the day by looking at my phone,” she explains. “Instead, once I’m awake, I take a minute to breathe deeply, be grateful, and set my intention for the day.”
Which brings us to another healthy habit — meditation.
Like intense exercise, stern focus for long periods can drain your energy and reduce the quality of your performance, but mediation has been proven to help you cope.
A study conducted by Dr Amisha Jha of the University of Miami, Florida, found that athletes who practised mindful meditation found it easier to focus and resist stress. Perhaps that’s why Lebron James has been known to meditate mid-game?
If you’re new to meditation, why not turn to an app like Headspace for guidance. Jake Knapp, Ex-Partner at Google Ventures, uses it before work, explaining, “It seems I get more done even when I take the time to meditate.”
Of course, that’s after he exercises — a habit he shares with countless creatives.
Spanish painter Joan Miró turned to boxing and gymnastics when he needed to replenish his creative juices. Then there’s entrepreneur Richard Branson who works out daily, explaining, “Exercise and family time put me in a great mind-frame before getting down to business.”
See what he did there? He mentioned downtime — spending time with his family. Research indicates that detaching from work can actually enhance your creativity, so Richard’s on to a good thing.
Indeed, even the most successful people in the world can’t work relentlessly. So nor should you.
“Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration” — Thomas Edison.
If you’re having trouble finding this balance for yourself, why not take a cue from the pros by incorporating a few workouts into your week? Or give meditation a go?
When you find something that helps, keep it up. You might just find that better, more focused work becomes a daily habit along with it.
