Creativity and introversion often go hand-in-hand. Michaela Chung is guest blogging this, How to Boost Creativity – the Introverted Way. It is commonly accepted that creating art requires a certain degree of introspection and aloneness. We have a romanticized view of painters and poets as sensitive loners or emotional eccentrics. After all, many of the greatest artists in history were exceptionally introverted. Henry David Thoreau used to spend several hours a day walking through the woods alone. Pablo Picasso was adamant that “without great solitude, no serious work is possible.”
But what about the less obvious artists among us? What about the entrepreneurs, computer developers, scientists and advertising execs? Their jobs require creativity, too. And, yet, our society isn’t as willing to accept the introverted advertising executive as it is the loner painter.
Many companies squash introverted creativity by focusing on groupthink and constant collaboration. This is unfortunate because introverts know a thing or two about how best to facilitate creativity. Actually, there are five major ways that embracing introversion can boost creativity.
1. Creative Solitude
“Every kind of creative work demands solitude, and being alone, constructively alone, is a prerequisite for every phase of the creative process.” ~ Barbara Powell
Introverts know that being alone is a necessary component of the creative process. In solitude, we can hear our own thoughts. We have time to turn ideas over in our heads before someone else interrupts us.
The problem with groupthink is that it only represents the ideas of a loud few. This is incredibly frustrating for quiet introverts who have an abundance of creative ideas. You don’t need to be charismatic to have great ideas. As Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, puts it, “There’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.”
When we take some time to step away from the crowd, we realize that creativity is best cultivated when we are alone. Apple co-creator, Steve Wozniak explains:
“I don’t believe anything really revolutionary has ever been invented by committee … I’m going to give you some advice that might be hard to take. That advice is: work alone … not on a committee. Not on a team.”
2. Introverted Play
Most child psychologists agree that children learn through play. Adults are no different. Playing stimulates our imagination and boosts the flow of creative ideas. The types of play that introverts gravitate to (video games, telling stories, making crafts, board games, time in nature, social media) are much more conducive to creativity than going clubbing or hitting up the same bar week after week.
3. Doing More With Less
Narrowing the parameters surrounding our project actually increases creativity. This is great news for introverts who prefer to take a focused approach to their work. If you’re an introverted blogger, this could mean writing specifically about introverted relationships rather than the more generalized topic of introversion.
Another common way that we see narrowed parameters is in limitations placed on us by social media. Twitter, for example, forces us to be innovative with our tweets by only giving us 140 characters to convey our message.
4. Daydreaming
“To give your sheep or cow a large and spacious meadow is the way to control him.” ~Shunrya Suzuki
Introverts are known for being daydreamers. We love wandering through the enchanted lands of our own imagination. In doing so, we are actually creating space for our ideas to flourish.
Creative ideas require an incubation period. Thus, stepping away from the task at hand for a while and letting our mind wander is important. This is why Woody Allen comes up with his best ideas when he’s in the shower. When we give our thoughts room to roam, ideas naturally emerge to fill the empty spaces.
5. Less Stimulation
Introverts are overwhelmed by overly stimulating environments. Crowds, loud noises, and flashing lights drain our energy. Thus, we tend to seek out quiet, peaceful places that don’t overwhelm our senses. This is key to creativity.
Short periods of sensory deprivation boost creative thinking. In her fascinating article, The Power of Shutting Down Your Senses: How to Boost Your Creativity and Have a Clear Mind, Belle Beth Cooper talks about how sensory deprivations tanks have been shown to increase creativity.
The tanks are essentially dark, water-filled pods that you float in while wearing earplugs. As a result, your senses receive almost no input. You are left with only your mind. Your brain enters into a state that is similar to the time just before waking or falling asleep. These moments between rest and wakefulness are peak periods for creativity.
Most of us will never experience full-on sensory deprivation. That’s okay. We can reap the benefits of reduced sensory input by retreating into our introverted shells for a little while, and sitting in stillness.
What are some of your favorite ways to boost creativity?
Michaela Chung is a copywriter, world traveler and introvert blogger. She is the creator of https://introvertspring.com/category/blogs/, a website dedicated to helping introverts quietly revolutionize the way they see themselves. She is also the author of The Introvert Revolution: A Quiet Path To Reclaiming Our Power. Follow her on Twitter at @michaelachung1
I think you are highlighting one of the reasons I work at home. I find I can be more creative if I go at my own pace. If I need to boost creativity, I go for a walk or work in the garden. Then I get back to the computer with some new energy.
Some creative people have a hard time directing their energy, however. It’s never simple, is it?
I work from home as well, Leora, and I find it gives me the space I need to be creative. I also love going for walks and exercising midday so that I can restore my energy before tackling more tasks.
I agree with Leora. I like being alone because I am more creative and productive. I also like to take walks alone and then I come back feeling refreshed.
I will concur that as an Introvert I do like to daydream. I do believe this has enhanced my ability to create my images and write my short stories. I would also say that I like to wander around in my own imagination and remember fun things from my past. I do this best when I’m alone, when it’s otherwise, I am too distracted to let my mind roam freely. 🙂
Exactly, Susan! I”m sure that your daydreaming has helped you to come up with some of your best ideas. Our own imagination is a great place to find amusement, while also boosting creativity. 🙂
I have always been more creative when I am alone and in a very quiet atmosphere. Part of this was born from the process that my parents taught me to study. They were both teachers – no radio allowed on, no background noise. I still find it the best way for me to stay focused 🙂
That’s wonderful that you learned the power of quiet at such a young age, Jacqueline. These days, there are so many distractions, it’s hard to make solitude a habit.
Well, I guess I’m the first extraovert to comment. I understand the need for introverts to have quiet time and as an extrovert I also need what I call “along time.” It helps me to recharge. However, I’m at my best in creating new ways to do things when I collaborate with someone else, or in a group setting. I have one friend in particular. We feed off each other when we’re developing a client plan, for example. The ideas are better when we work together. The creative director at my old agency used to say, “two heads are better than one,” “four heads are better than two”, etc. He must have been an extrovert!
I’m so glad that you shared your extrovert perspective, Jeanette. That is great that you know what works best for you. As an introvert, I also find brainstorming with one other person helpful, as long as I’ve prepared some ideas ahead of time and the person is willing to truly listen when it’s my turn.
Michaela — I was cleaning out my old files the other day and thought it was about time I threw out my grade school report cards. I looked at one of the teacher’s deportment comments and she said, “Jeannette is trying hard not to speak out when she feels like it.” That’s an extrovert — I know what you mean about speaking when it’s your turn! We extroverts try hard, but…
It’s amazing how much you can learn about yourself when you unearth forgotten report cards and journals! We all have our communication vices, don’t we. 😉
#2 makes such a big difference for me. When I get engrossed in travel and photography, the surge of inspiration and motivation always carries over to my work.
Absolutely, Jeri. A creative life feeds the creative process. Traveling, dancing and trying new creative activities are effective ways that I find inspiration for my writing.
I am an extrovert and I think team work does go a long way. We can not do everything and when you are able to delegate you free up more time for yourself. Sometimes it helps bouncing ideas off of others. With that said I do like to work alot from home. I like to work from home because I get more done.
I will also say being an extrovert I do not like crowds, loud noises, etc as they are just plain annoying. I do enjoy my quiet time.
Thanks for sharing your extrovert perspective, Arleen. You make a good point about the importance of delegation. It’s also great that you seem to find a balance between teamwork and time in solitude. 🙂
“There’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.” is so true. Am both intro- and extrovert. Frequently get my best ideas when I’m falling asleep or waking up. Or even waking up in the middle of the night and have the idea I had been looking for. Brainstormings is another way of coming up with creative ideas. Provided you are prepared to give ideas that at fist sound crazy a chance.
I used to be more of an extrovert and am now more on the introvert side. Maybe this is why I have become such a massive daydreamer!
Pat hi,
This is a very interesting and stimulating article. All the more so because we have (potentially) contrasting views on the source of creativity. These may not necessarily be contradictory; and the aim of this response is to seek out moments of mutual connection.
As a student, I researched the genesis of creativity; and did so by creating a virtual team, and organization that spanned three centres of excellence; and worked across their respective boundaries. The finding of the research was that creativity was at its strongest as a result of conversations “across these boundaries”, and in the “moment of inter-connection”, which is where “mutuality”, and “reciprocity” reside.
So where does that leave us in response to our respective view points; and what is their point of contact? On the one hand, there is the view point there is a view that creativity is an activity that is performed in isolation by individuals. On the other hand there is the view point that creativity is always the product of some kind of conversation.
So where is their point of contact? I believe that creative ideas do not arise in isolation but as a result on conversation. So where is that conversation occurring? I believe our point of mutual contact is in what you describe as “being in a place of stillness”. Rather than being a place of isolation, it is a place of deep connection, and inter-connection. It is a place where we are at one with our (higher) self, and the universe (the home of all inter-connections). When entering that space we are entering a new form of conversation with our (higher) self … be that contemplative or reflective… in which we can connect with the universe … and very heart of all inter-connections.
The nature of the conversation can also sometimes change … if we start by asking a question of the universe … and await a response .. we are likely to tap into intuition … inspiration … and epiphany; and the deepest levels of creativity.
Do you have a sense of that inter-connection … and how it allows you to deeply tap into your true gift, and creativity through a contemplative and reflective conversation with your (higher) self, and the universe?
Hi Denis and thanks for the comment. I see Michaela isn’t following this blogpost any longer so I’m delighted to comment.
Conversations, whether one-to-one or overhearing other’s conversations can be a source of creative inspiration. Either way, this is an inter-connection. So the inter-connection is with people, reading people’s ideas in articles or books, remembering personal experiences and the list goes on. Indeed, I think words we speak or think, actions we take, are attracting whatever they are resonating with into that creative experience bringing the result into reality.
In the end, the creative result or outcome, comes about like a melting pot of all the ideas taken in via various ways via that individual who delivers it. I think, we agree!
Pat hi,
I agree we agree … Furthermore, I believe we have “gone beyond agreement”. Through “conversation” we have refined the resonance & focus of our respective perspectives, and points of view. Our respective view points draw a closer connection, and understanding between us; and hence, between us, the fire of our respective creativities … and their meeting point … is lit.