Discover the full collection of #ThinkfullyHabits
When was the last time you were bored; when those little moments and tiny cracks in the day were left unfilled – while waiting for the lift, queuing for a sandwich or arriving early for a meeting? Do you allow boredom to creep in, or are spaces quickly filled with snippets of news, a quick text or a catch up post?
We crave stimulus and it’s only when we can’t find it externally that our minds tend to create it internally; sparking innovative ideas and solutions.
Read MoreIt may sound cliché to talk about getting your best ideas in the shower, but there’s a lot of evidence to suggest it’s a great habit for your mind. Did you know that 72% of people get their best ideas in the shower*.
Stepping away from a difficult problem and creating space for solitude distracts the brain just enough to give it a chance to stop thinking deliberately about your challenge and daydream a little.
Read MoreNew ideas can come at any time - the week or weekend, day or night, at work or at leisure. Our brains do not make a clear work-life balance distinction in the same way as we might.
Be prepared for helpful ideas to happen at any time. Get into the habit of writing down your ideas in the moment and capture them before they slip away!
Read MoreIn our hectic, busy schedules we often miss the gap or fail to make the small spaces in between activities for our thoughts to percolate and settle. But this is incredibly important.
It’s often in the small gaps where ideas can develop, different solutions can evolve and our brains can find the space to whirl away on a problem in the background.
Read MoreAristotle, Einstein and Salvador Dali all made use of the 'micro-nap'; the tiniest of moments between being awake and asleep.
Dali would sit in his armchair with a key in his hand hovering above a plate and doze off. The idea was that just before falling into deep sleep, the key would fall and loudly land on the plate and he would wake with a sudden jolt of inspiration*.
Read MorePeople who take naps are twice as likely to solve complex problems than non-nappers*!
10 to 20 minutes is the perfect amount of time to nap to measurably boost your energy and alertness. NASA found that pilots who napped for 26 minutes improved their task performance by 34% and alertness by 54%, compared to pilots who didn't nap**.
Read MoreWhen tackling complex problems or chunky pieces of work – don’t binge it in one go. This means avoiding the temptation to procrastinate and then work like crazy to hit a deadline. Equally it means not getting something done and dusted early in one go. Instead, plan your work differently. Start early and then deliberately build in time part way through where you step away. Then come back for a second bite.
Read MoreIt can often feel like we’re chasing the clock, constantly rushing to meet never ending deadlines. However, it can be incredibly helpful to not just momentarily step away and come back to a challenge, but to go away and actually 'sleep on it'.
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