Chasing Your Own Tail

It's been a long time since I've posted anything on my blog. I was simply overloaded with work and there was not enough time for blogging pleasures.
Now, when looking back, I can see that burying yourself in the work, stops the creativity. Instead of being hit by good ideas, you are hit by deadlines and stress.
I am aware that deadlines are the inseparable part of our work, but what I don't like is the level of control they have over the working process. If you want to meet deadlines, in many cases you are enforced to compromise the quality of work. No matter what we do, we have only 24 hours available.
Of course, deadlines must exist, but in my perfect world, there should be the longer time span between being briefed and idea execution. I prefer working under more peaceful condition, not living on a volcano.
We are living in the information society and we participate in brain wars. We compete on how much and what do we know. We compete on creativity. We have to prove how good we are, prove that we are better than others, fight for our position. We are under pressure and I was wondering, whether the modern world and the modern companies create the conditions for their employees that allow them to be competitive in the creative field?
I leave that question without an answer and instead look at the brain activity and what makes it works best. You will find the answer yourself.
Relax is the remedy. Relax that is the state of mind and body, that increases the level of concentration and imbibing abilities of our brain and that is characterized with relatively low frequency of brain waves, so called alpha waves. Their frequency range from 8 Hz to 12 Hz. It is simply a relaxed, alert state of consciousness, when the cooperation between two spheres of our brain increases. This is so called relaxed concentration. The state when your brain works best and is able not only to learn more but also create more.
Neurobiologists has found that creative innovation requires "coactivation and communication between regions of the brain that ordinarily are not strongly connected". Highly creative people have high level of specialized knowledge and ability of divergent thinking.
Those abilities doesn't develop when we are chased by deadline. Deadlines and constant pressure of competition and earning more and more money, causes stress and even though stress is a healthy and necessary part of our life, it can also cause a very serious damage, not only to our physical health, like increased risk for stroke or affecting our mood. Stress hampers also our learning and suppress the growing network of brain neurons.
Stress isn't good for your creativity and your brain at all.
Personally I have a hard time being very creative under stress. My best ideas emerge while I saunter on a beach, take pictures or just enjoy a glass of good Chardoney, just doing simple things that lets me to achieve the relaxed concentration state.

We should all learn to respect our brains and don't take for granted its abilities - when no taken care for, they vanish!

Tags: Work, Creativity, Brain, Neurobiology, Ideas, Stress