Why Try A Spring Clean For Your Mind
As spring rolls around, it’s time to clean and refresh. But not in the traditional sense. We’re talking about spring cleaning your mind as a way to become more creative. In his book Mindfulness for Creativity, Danny Penman argues that mindfulness meditation and other mindfulness practices enhance three essential skills necessary for creative problem solving. Let’s talk about how and why wellness boosts creativity, whether it’s through mental exercises and meditation or by physically clearing out and carving a space in your home designed for creativity.
Reflect & Refresh: Mindfulness meditation is an increasingly popular habit not only used for enhancing wellness, but also boosting brain flow and creativity. Opening doors where there once was a wall. Taking a few moments every day to clear out your thoughts works for many, as the market of mindfulness meditation apps is expected to reach $4.2 million by 2027. This is evident in the recent boom of apps like Calm and Headspace. Often the best mornings are the ones started by centering yourself with meditation, deep breathing or yoga.
Write it Down: Journal. Make to-do lists. Write it down the old fashioned way. A group of researchers at the University of Tokyo found that handwriting triggers more robust brain activity. Ideas and feelings are fleeting, so writing it down allows you to capture them as they come to you. Sometimes simply putting a pen to paper brings your ideas to life. By writing it down, you are making room for your mind to think more clearly.
Ctrl+Alt+Del Distractions: Since the start of the pandemic, global content consumption has doubled. People around the world went from spending an average of 3 hours 17 minutes to 6 hours 59 minutes a day glued to the internet. A digital detox, where you spend a few days actually unplugged can help avoid burnout and clear your mind, opening pathways for creativity. Set time limits on your apps. Marie Kondo your social media apps and remove or unfollow people who don’t *spark joy* in your life. Not sure where to start? One rule to live by: “If you wouldn’t grab a coffee with them, unfollow them.” Some other ways you can press mute on the chaos are turning off notifications, hitting unsubscribe, and clearing email clutter -- see if you can get to #InboxZero.
Every year, we clear the clutter and tidy up our homes to prepare for warmer months ahead. But decluttering your brain is just as important as cleaning your home. Spring cleaning your mind will make room in your brain for a little #FreshThinking and a lot of #GoodVibesOnly, leading to unmatched creativity. Here’s to Spring -- tis the season of new beginnings!
