hacking the creative brain - web directions 2015
TRANSCRIPT
/* Denise Jacobs Web Directions | Sydney, Australia 30 October 2015 */
>> Work Better, Create More
Who: @denisejacobs
Where: @webdirections #wd15
What: #hackcreativity
Want the Slides? Creativedo.se/wd15-htcb
SXSW 2006! h!ps://www.flickr.com/photos/robweychert/113351226/
After writing this…
I had an epiphany
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44085287@N05/4055814772/
Creativity: powerful and empowering
http://www.flickr.com/photos/assbach/267598910/
Photo by Derek Kearney
Shifted my focus to what I love
Why I do what I do http://TheCreativeDose.com/
Intro The State of the Union
What’s our most important tool for creating? http://www.flickr.com/photos/drachmann/327122302/
This one!
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APSM_V14_D495_Side_view_of_the_brain_and_spinal_cord.jpg
Managers
Bureaucracy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/4749431435/
Clients http://www.flickr.com/photos/clairity/154640125/
Time pressures http://www.flickr.com/photos/indraw/4857101224/
Mentally overwhelmed http://www.toonpool.com/cartoons/__62375#img9
Oppressed
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johannahobbs/2412291551/
“Houston, we have a problem…” http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S70-34902.jpg
When we are in the creative flow
http://www.flickr.com/photos/myfear/289257055/
We are alchemists http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Faust_image_19thcentury.jpg
“Creativity is newness produced.” Sir Ken Robinson, Out of Our Minds
It feels like
http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/2761300969/
“Creativity is magical, but it is not magic.” Dr. Charles Limb, Your Brain on Improvisation TED talk
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kosmotesto/3794445313/
“Creativity is all about making connections and seeing patterns.” Bruce Nussbaum,Creativity Intelligence
Our Goals
1
Emancipate
2
Adjust
3
Practice Discipline 4
Generate & Execute
1 Emancipate
Mass hypnosis
https://www.flickr.com/photos/yxelle/5806302053
Habits and thinking to quit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/meddygarnet/4170136164/sizes/l/
Distractions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicksherman/529178002/
Multitasking is multi-taxing http://www.flickr.com/photos/daquellamanera/3041235238/
Zeigarnik Effect
http://www.psychwiki.com/wiki/Zeigarnik_Effect
Communication addiction
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andersdenken/2082816707/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jepoirrier/422469526/ | http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristoferbjorkman/6910216819/ | http://www.flickr.com/photos/foreignoffice/2671039488/
Intermittent reinforcement
Internalized the critical voices
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeapalooza/553545517/
Become monsters in your head
http://www.flickr.com/photos/epsos/4887528060/
Instead of Creativity
Source: Flickr
Destructivity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevygee/3265941065/
All due to Your Inner Critic
https://www.flickr.com/photos/acerriteno/3484093813/
( p.s. *Everyone* has these thoughts) Photo: Denise Jacobs
“If your demons are such that they fill the room the instant you contemplate creating, your studio will be too dangerous a place to enter.” Eric Maisel, author of Fearless Creating
How to ID your Inner Critic http://www.flickr.com/photos/lambdachialpha/203904103/
“I should have done more by now…”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/automania/126698126/
“They’ll find out I’m a fraud”
vs. “NAILED IT!”
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-drummond/3946893897
“It needs to be FLAWLESS”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/diepuppenstubensammlerin/7648792510/
“I’ll do it tomorrow…”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/
Fears! https://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_lin/3193080175/
Fear of failure
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/2717325940/
F.E.A.R. =
http://cdnpix.com/show/imgs/7a361666e107cd36656d5a66ea2e4e80.jpg
Or…
https://twitter.com/Phishtitz/status/474661495935365120
“Fear is not real. It is a product of the
thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand
me. Danger is very real. But fear is a choice.”
- character of Cypher Raige, After Earth
http://culturecatch.com/files/images/after-earth.jpg
Hack >> Become a Fear Alchemist
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_Wright_of_Derby_The_Alchemist.jpg
“The goal is to manage anxiety so that our energies are used for the productive and satisfying (act) of creating, rather than the destructive and debilitating art of self-torture.” Clare Warmke, Idea Revolution
Banish Your Inner Critic!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/31505964@N08/4691019168/
“The parts of your brain that are responsible for self-monitoring are literally turned off during creative endeavors….Creative people have mastered the art of turning off [the inhibitive] part of their brains to let their ideas flow more smoothly, unleashing their imagination.”
Tina Seelig, InGenius
Hack >> Say NO to Comparisons http://www.flickr.com/photos/suvodeb/2559017400/
“You cannot compare your insides to someone else’s outsides.”
(Btw, this your new mantra…) http://www.spunkysapphire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/photo-1-e1406074730116.jpg
Hack >> Know the Impostor Syndrome Paradox
http://www.flickr.com/photos/x1brett/2279939232/
You will only experience impostor syndrome when you are competent and skilled.
(re-read this as many times as necessary.)
Breaking the loop
Hack >> Reassign duty
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shavawnmarie/1326123397/
Hack >> Amp up empathy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrote/2646295354/
Hack >> Maintain perspective
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daikrieg/1294053038/
Hack >> Reframe #FAIL & mistakez
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/4498817330/
“Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” Henry Ford
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thirteenthnile/4546397775/
Change your body language, change your mind
“Our bodies change our minds, our minds change our behavior, and our behavior changes our outcomes.” Amy Cuddy, Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are TED talk
Hack >> Cop a Power Pose
Stand up. Assume a pose that embodies a sense of defeat, can’t do it, it will never work, “I suck/I’m no good/an impostor”, etc. Make yourself as small and powerless feeling as possible.
Then, strike a power pose. Imagine yourself as a superhero looking off into the distance seeing your destiny of major creative butt-kicking.
Alternate several times. Hold the power pose for as long as you can so that you can feel the change.
#Exercise: Power Pose
2 Adjust
Adjust: Train Your Brain
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiarescott/3211540197/
Left v. Right brain?
http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=left%20brain%20right%20brain&order=9&offset=48#/d10qlpq
Right hemisphere
h!p://www.flickr.com/photos/lorelei-ranveig/2294885580/
Left hemisphere
h!p://www.flickr.com/photos/smi!enki!enoriginals/4451172538/
Instead: Left + Right brain = Creativity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47691521@N07/4639590640/
What are our brains constantly producing?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cblue98/7254347346/
Know your Brainwaves
13-30 cps/Hz Waking alert conscious thinking, external sensory focus, concentration. Computing, arranging, organizing, make sense of external world. Prolongation of beta can lead to exhaustion, anxiety and tension.
Beta
8-12 cps/Hz Alert and lucid but relaxed thought, daydreaming, light meditation, internal focus, receptive state, visualization, creativity, accelerated or super-learning, increased serotonin levels.
Alpha
4-7.5 cps/Hz High states of creativity, subconscious creativity, deep relaxation/meditation, intuition, long-term memory, vivid visual imagery, creative inspiration, free idea flow, REM dream and deep sleep.
Theta
0.1-4 cps/Hz Intuition and insight, transcendental meditation, physical rejuvenation and healing, expansive awareness. Most often found in deep dreamless sleep and unconscious states.
Delta
31-120 cps/Hz Hyper brain activity and alertness, aha moment, super clarity, above average integration of sensory information, euphoria, sometimes anxiety.
Gamma
Alpha: the gateway to creativity
Close your eyes and relax. Breathe through your nose. Now place your tongue at the roof of your mouth,
turn your eyes towards the ceiling underneath your eyelids.
Take several deep, long breaths. As you relax, you are changing your brainwaves from
Beta to Alpha.
#Exercise: Enter Alpha
Explains everything
Hack >> Breathe to refocus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guiniveretoo/1573049301/
Hack >> Be prone
https://www.flickr.com/photos/travalicando/125934143/
Hack >> Showers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/3761878381/
Hack >> Space out/Daydream
h!p://www.flickr.com/photos/frinthy/4680321558/
Hack >> Get physical
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguel77/2728104156/
Makes a HUGE difference
“When your brain is supposedly doing nothing, it’s really doing a tremendous amount.” Marcus Raichle, Neurologist
Intend Alpha
http://uniteunderfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Brain-waves.jpg
3 Practice Discipline
Exercise Discipline
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bizz0k0/3432638748/
Focus on meaningful tasks
http://www.43folders.com/2008/09/01/what-are-you-doing
Show up everyday
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8064533288/
And really commit to it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deathtogutenberg/2976274920/
Hack >> Delegate
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/3645313261/
Freed me up
Delegation works
Clean-up habit fields
http://www.flickr.com/photos/risager/3452272176/
Habit what?
http://alistapart.com/article/habit-fields
Clean up your work habit field by following the suggestions in the article “Habit Fields” by Jack Cheng. Create your equivalent of a “distraction chair” and move to it when you feel like you are inclined to surf the web, email, Tweet, Facebook, or engage in any other computer-related distraction. When you are ready to work again, come back to your desk.
Rinse and repeat until your work habit field is clear again and no longer fuzzy.
Hack >> Habit field reboot
Manage time
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paolocampioni/2168286027/
Single-task
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33498942@N04/6009639079/
Say NO to Distractions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gideon/6582069/
RescueTime.com
HeyFocus.com
Added bonus
Tools RescueTime.com HeyFocus.com
Browser Extensions Google Chrome: Strict Workflow StayFocusd Firefox: LeechBlock Idderall
Aids for digital blocking
Hack >> Pomodoro Technique
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucamascaro/4975166968/
Hack >> Airplane/Do Not Disturb mode
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pieterouwerkerk/699475144/
4 Generate & Execute
Generate: Start the flow of ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/international-festival/3018718331/
Start with what’s there
Everything is a Remix
“Mona Lisa” by Paul Giovanopoulos, http://www.giovanopoulos.com/
Hack>>Get your Remix on!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/4812026355/
Hack >> Create constaints http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielsilliman/4489863368/
Generate ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathb/3933087930/
Capture ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosengrant/3637839874/
Embrace disruption
Photo: Denise Jacobs
Write them down
http://www.flickr.com/photos/caitlinator/2826079915/
Sketch them out
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eoze04/4890376021/
Talk them out (& record it)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamescridland/3641402489/
Gather and curate your ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmanviz/3181410714/
Evernote Pinterest.com Delicious.com
Flickr.com Gimmebar.com
Dropr.com Trello.com
Diigo Tumblr
Vi.sualize.us
Tools to do so
“Creativity is more than a great idea, it’s the determination to see the idea through to fruition.” Clare Warmke, Idea Revolution
Prototype
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindmob/292609444/
Iterate
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deliciousblur/4165405018/
• Observe • Suggest • Tinker • Review • Apply feedback • Reiterate
The d.school production-iteration process
The stage is set for Flow
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgeithner/5290115839/
How do you get there?
• Concept in mind: know what you want to achieve and what it looks like
• Practice in place • Cleared space • Time carved out and distractions eliminated • Necessary materials on hand
All of the previous steps lead you here:
The Flow “Afterglow”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fuzzylittlemanpeach/4633972431/
Epilogue Liberation
Previously
http://www.flickr.com/photos/generated/2084287794/
Moving forward
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulpolux/3317141795/
(Re)Gain Creative Confidence
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44085287@N05/4055807492/
“…the confidence that, when given a difficult problem, we have a methodology that enables us to come up with a solution that nobody has before.” David Kelley of Ideo
What you produce is unique
Hack your habits >> Different Results
http://starchild07.deviantart.com/art/Brainwaves-44238823
Practicing different habits >> Transform your life
“Creativity makes day to day experiences more vivid, more enjoyable, more rewarding. When we live creatively, boredom is banished and every moment holds the promise of a fresh discovery.” Mihali Csikszentmihalyi, Creativity
Let out all of your great ideas http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8156999698/
Get your creativity hack on!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bibi/5448158773/
The End…? (or is just the beginning?)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imuttoo/232100469/
My upcoming book!
Banish Your Inner Critic
DeniseJacobs.com/InnerCritic
26 Effective Techniques for Unleashing Productive Creativity
THE CREATIVE DOSE A Creativity + Innovation Collective
Work Better. Create More. Create Betterness.
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Photo used with permission: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aarronwalter/4629078087/
GET the Slides!
Creativedo.se/wd15-htcb
Thank you!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/4759535970/