The Secret Ingredient for Creativity: Sleep
Many notable geniuses across the centuries have credited their inventions, songs or products to a good night’s (or day’s) sleep. It is a common misconception that our brains don’t function as well when we are asleep. Rattner writes that our brain really only rests for about 20 percent of our sleep cycle. “At night we’re no longer bombarded by sensory stimuli, nor are we in conscious control of our thoughts,” Rattner says. “Our brains are freed up to purposefully churn information.” He has a few key tips to accomplishing this state of mind.
CONTROLLING YOUR CLUTTER
• Keeping your extraneous items organized in drawers or hidden behind closed doors prevents overstimulation when you’re getting ready to sleep. Rattner says eliminating “ancillary belongings” and nonessential furniture or technology—like printers or exercise equipment—from your sleeping space ensures healthier sleeping patterns. “The more spare and calming the décor, the less there is to overstimulate the brain before bed,” he says.
KEEPING COOL: COLOR, PATTERN AND LIGHTING
• Be strategic about the colors and materials you use in your room.
Neutral colors and less intense patterns encourage sleep, while bright paints
and bold patterns might shock your nervous system, Rattner says. Use functions like light dimmers and lamps with a restricted range of illumination to lower your lighting intensity about three hours before bedtime, he says.
DON’T RULE OUT A NAP
• Rattner maintains that napping for 10 to 30 minutes a day restores cognitive capacity and renews energy, which boosts creativity. Even famous creatives like Charles Darwin and Franz Kafka carved out time for rest in their day. Rattner says don’t nap in your bedroom, but install a nook—like a bay window—for a midday break, to help your mind distinguish between naps and a whole night of sleep.