Time to go natural

Natural wonders: boost your focus in 40 seconds

Ode to the outdoors

Let nature bring you home

How to Quest best

Why Quests work and how to use them

Experience the extraordinary amongst the ordinary

Get out to get it done

André Jaumotte once cited being present as an important part of play and exploration, things good for creativity, he said.

In his work — the aptly named; On Conditions for Creativity and Innovation — he describes a formula gleaned from his own study of creative people, summarising the journey to a new idea like this;

First, The mind is immersed in the problem

Then, Rest is taken away from the challenge

And then the solutions and ideas emerge

In other words — work, rest, then revelation.

The equivalent of looking for the proverbial keys and then, exhausted, finally giving up and taking a break to do something else, only for those keys to mysteriously emerge when you’re no longing trying to seek them out.

This is Charles Darwin connecting the dots of what would become his theory of natural selection whilst strolling through verdant woodlands and dreamy meadows.

Isaac Newton recognising the law of gravity whilst relaxing beneath an apple tree.

This is 19th century physicist Hermann von Helmholz stumbling upon his award-winning ideas whilst, in his words, ‘walking in the sun on the wooded hills.’

You see what these three all had in common?

They were outdoors, in nature, when they arrived at their best ideas.

Just so happens this isn’t mere coincidence, it’s science.

Spending time outdoors, especially in nature, has been shown to significantly boost wellbeing, and lateral thinking. A specific type of creativity that leads to those sought after ‘aha’ moments we all know and love.

That’s right, you can actually prime your brain for generating better ideas and discovering insights.

But how exactly do we do this? I mean, what are the best proven ways to go about integrating time in nature into your daily working practice?

Learn how in this edition of the Academy.

Time to go natural

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