Overcoming Creative Constipation

by Mark S. Fulton

The life of a business columnist is fraught with challenges, not the least of which is coming up with an interesting topic for each column. Sometimes Betty the Business Muse graces me with a wonderful tidbit of wisdom to pass along. Other times she takes a long lunch and leaves me floundering for a subject of substance. That’s when I lean heavily on my own creativity and hope for the best.

Creativity is an essential resource to any individual or business striving to break away from the pack and achieve distinction in the minds of others. Call it imagination, ingenuity, inventiveness—creativity is a force for change that breaks down the walls of conventional thinking and opens doors to new ideas. Without creative thinking, the world would be a dull, monotonous place where experimentation and discovery are shunned and mediocrity reins.

Unfortunately, creativity is a resource that can’t be ordered in bulk from your office-supplies vendor. The good news is that human beings have brains that are hard wired for creativity. Our ability to contemplate concepts and ponder possibilities is a significant reason why human beings rather than hermit crabs rule the world.

Some things naturally spark our creativity, such as a threat to our survival. When I taught high school English, I found creativity in abundance not when my students turned in their weekly compositions, but rather when they attempted to explain why they couldn’t turn in their weekly compositions. Creativity flows when there’s something important at stake.

Nevertheless, the flame of creativity can wane if you don’t fan it occasionally. Like your muscles, your brain can atrophy without proper stimulus. Use it or lose it.

In his book “Jump Start Your Business Brain,” author Doug Hall writes about how to fuel your brain for maximum productivity. He argues that the power of the brain grows in proportion to the breadth and diversity of the experiences we give it. In other words, in addition to your work routines, hobbies, sports and other leisure activities play a vital role in stimulating your cerebral cortex.

Hall cites a 30-year study of 40 male scientists, four of whom eventually won the Nobel Prize, that found a clear relationship between the success of each scientist and the number of hobbies he had. The study also found a significant link between scientific success and athletic activity.

So if you’re experiencing a bit of creative constipation, try feeding your brain a diet rich in assorted mental activities. Here are 10 things that Hall suggests to get your creativity, uh, flowing again:

1. Read something new. Although reading is the ultimate mental stimulus, feeding your brain the same stuff all of the time can leave it craving a new menu. Reader’s Digest is one of my favorite periodicals for just this reason. It’s potpourri of subjects engages your mind on many levels.

2. Exercise you body. Your brain consumes some 20 percent of the oxygen you inhale. Aerobic exercise gives your brain an oxygen boost and simultaneously reduces stress, which is know to kill brain cells.

3. Create a craft project. Look for something that requires skills that are different from those you use in your work. Build a bird house, sculpt a favorite pet, make your own Christmas ornaments. Martha Stewart will be proud.

4. Learn a new skill. Take a class at your local community college. Is there something you’ve always wanted to try? Find someone who knows how to do it and ask him or her to teach you.

5. Cook a meal from scratch. Anyone can follow a recipe, so don’t be afraid to try something out of the ordinary. Choose a dish rich in protein and other nutrients your brain needs to stay healthy.

6. Enjoy music. Try listening to music you don’t normally listen to. Even better, take up an instrument. A year ago I began playing classical guitar and my wife started voice lessons—and our dog has taken up howling. We’re all much smarter now.

7. Experience new people. Engage in meaningful conversations with new people. They may be folks from your church, your kid’s school or your neighborhood. Talking to others gives us new insights on life.

8. Write your thoughts on paper. A personal journal is a great way to capture feelings and ideas for future reference. Writing engages both your artistic and reasoning abilities. Try a free verse poem that expresses your reaction to an experience.

9. Travel to someplace new. Even if it’s just to a part of town where you’ve never been, visiting a new locale can stimulate your imagination. Open your mind and use all of your senses to imagine what it might be like to live there.

10. Visit museums. Hall says this is one of the great untapped business resources. Museums are a feast for the brain. Try different types of museums—art, science, historical. Make it your mission to learn something new.

No thanks to Betty the Business Muse, I think this essay is a rather creative response to the chore of churning out another column. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to practice my guitar.

Copyright 2001 © Mark S. Fulton