In case you need prompting to put more travel on your to-do or wish list, let me share 2 ways travel boosts creativity.
In his book Imagine: How Creativity Works Jonah Lehrer suggests that traveling and getting away from places we spend most of our time is actually essential for creativity. When you are physically near the problem, your thoughts become bound by a more limited set of associations, inhibiting your imagination.
- If you need a reason to fulfill your dreams of traveling abroad, this is it! A study testing practical creative problem solving showed those who had spent time abroad had a greater chance of solving the problem, simply because they could see multiple uses for an everyday object with more ease than someone who knew that object in only one context. Think about traveling “off the grid” and having no toilet paper. You find something that will work, no matter its ordinary function! (Excuse the graphic example, but it makes a clear point.)
- It’s all about perspective. Getting away, enjoying different views, a different pace, different activities, changes your perspective. Suddenly you can see your life in a whole new way. Solutions to problems you’ve been struggling with may suddenly appear. It’s also not uncommon for time away to prompt a different approach—a different set of decisions. You may have been heading toward one set of goals. Your time away may prompt a change. It can also provide “aha” moments. Sudden breakthroughs, like we talked about a few weeks back. Generally travel is a time your mind lets go, you allow yourself to surrender to the moment. That’s the formula for creative breakthroughs. You must first get stuck, then you must give up (surrender), and then allow space. Relax. Get away.
Are these reason enough to schedule the vacation you’ve had on the back burner for goodness knows how long? I’m not talking about the family visits you make when you can afford the time and money, I’m talking about that dream trip. Find out first hand how travel boosts creativity! Choose the geography that’s been calling you, and make a plan to go there.
When you get this, I’ll be in Los Angeles with my business mentoring group getting my own new perspective.
Coach’s Challenge: I dare you to really follow through and schedule a trip—one that’s hard for you to give yourself. One you have a list of reasons a mile long for why you can’t do take it now. You don’t have to go tomorrow, but actually put a date on your calendar, and mark yourself out of town! You may be surprised at the magic that ensues. Leave a comment, let us know…
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