On some days, we are thriving in the morning, burned out in the evening. On others, we are barely able to come up with two sentences in the morning yet write nuestra best work at night. Chances are, you too are familiar with the experience of going through inexplicable shifts between being on top of your game and feeling uninspired. So, the question is: at what time of day are people at their most creative? And perhaps more importantly: how can you take charge of your creativity niveles to make the most of every day? Let’s explore.
What is creativity exactly?
Creativity is, basically, the skill to come up with something that’s new and adequate for its purpose. To find freedom even in the limitations. To see the bigger picture when routine and bias are blocking the view. To find the easiest solution to a seemingly complicated problem. Do you have a different definition of creativity? Yours probably has truth in it too.
Fact is that creativity is extremely multifaceted. It is present in all of us even when we don’t realize it. Sure, some people are born more creative than others. But the time of day at which we call upon our creative skills plays a crucial role as well. And, contrary to what most scientists believe, that time of day is not the same for everyone.
Morning people and night owls
The scientific consensus is that most of us are at the peak of their creativity in the morning, as studies confirm that the prefrontal cortex – responsible for planning complex cognitive behavior, personality, decision making, and moderating social behavior – is most active during the morning hours.
Yet there are a lot of other factors that influence creativity and productivity every day. For example, the circadian rhythm or sleep-wake cycle. Depending on your circadian rhythm, you might be at your most productive in the morning and describe yourself as a ‘morning person’. Your inner clock urges you to wake up early, and as soon as you’re awake you’re good to go. Meanwhile, many people get more done in the evening or deep into the night because their circadian rhythm is shifted a little backward. Additionally, edad y estilo de vida can also have an influence on creativity.
Relaxation sparks creativity
It is good to note, however, that feeling your most alert and focused is not necessarily the time when you are at your most creative. On the contrary, a study about creative problem solving by Mareike B. Wieth and Rose T. Zacks, published in the journal Thinking & Reasoning in 2011, concluded that your non-optimal time for focusing and analyzing might be your optimal time for creative thinking. Have you ever been caught off guard by an amazing idea while taking a relajante shower before going to bed? Or solved a problem you’ve been working on all day while dozing off on the couch in front of the television? This might be the reason why.
Creativity is a state of mind
‘Morning person’ or ‘night owl’, the time of day may have some influence on your creativity levels, but what’s perhaps most influential is your state of mind. Entering a state of relaxed enfoque might be the key to mastering your creativity. If you strive to learn and achieve more, neurofeedback sessions (brainwave biorretroalimentación) are a very accessible method to efficiently train your brain to act a certain way and to improve your dormir, mood, attention span, productivity, and creativity. For instance, Neuro Linguistic Programming, or the panel simply known as the NLP in OMNIS is a perfect means to work on stress profiles while boosting creativity.
Take a chance and make the most of it. You won’t regret it.
Sobre Andreea Taflan
Andreea Taflan es consejera delegada y cofundadora de QX World. Estudió Dirección de Empresas y Marketing y tiene un máster en Relaciones Públicas y Comunicación. En 2005, Andreea fue nombrada mano derecha del desarrollador original de la tecnología de biorretroalimentación y desde 2012 ha asumido el liderazgo en el desarrollo ulterior de la tecnología. En la actualidad, dirige el departamento de software y hardware de QX World y está considerada una de las mayores expertas en el campo de la biorretroalimentación.