Why making time for quiet contemplation can help you be more creative
It’s not surprising that when we’re bombarded with a constant stream of information and stimulation, we find it harder to think clearly or come up with ideas. Moshe Bar, a renowned neuroscientist and author of Mindwandering: How It Can Improve Your Mood and Boost Your Creativity (Bloomsbury Tonic), likens it to an engineering term known as ‘signal-to-noise ratio’ – “Basically, the less noise there is the more salient the signal” and explains why improving your chances of getting a clear signal for your creative thoughts to reach your conscious mind is so important: “Hidden inside the space that is our thoughts are the new ideas, insights, clear decisions and other mental treasures thrown at us from the subconscious,” he says. “And it’s much harder for us to notice them when they’re embedded in cluttering noise.” It’s not only external noise but the internal chatter of our minds. “A quieter mind is clearer in that it lets us see the fruits of our thinking better,” explains Bar, acknowledging that when we suddenly try to do nothing, we often find the mind starts racing – and not necessarily with helpful or positive thoughts. It’s perhaps unsurprising then that people often turn to distracting activities rather than sitting quietly. “So much attention has been paid to ways to unplug from the bustle, but the greater challenge can be freeing ourselves from the distractions within which disrupt our attention and intrude on the quality of our experience even when we are in a perfectly quiet place.”
Enjoy pockets of silence
A bit like being bored, silence is something many of us find uncomfortable and resist by watching TV, playing music or avoiding being on our own. The mind responds to stimulus so if you’re always surrounded by noise, it’ll be harder to focus – try doing some mental arithmetic while loud music is on or in a busy restaurant and see how much longer it takes than when you’re in a quiet environment. Introduce pockets of quiet into your day – you don’t have to be alone, you can spend time with others without talking or watching or listening – perhaps reading a book together or walking together silently.
This blog is an extract from our feature ‘Do Less, Think Better’ by Rebecca Frank, in our January issue. Turn to page 14 to read the rest of the feature. Rebecca is also the editor of our new Bookazine, which we’ve called Flourish. It’s a beautiful, season-by-season guide to nourishing your body, feeding your mind, thinking positively and appreciating the simple joy of rest. You can buy Flourish from our online store, Pics and Ink, now.
