A few years ago, I attended a talk with Dr Rangan Chatterjee where he shared the importance of the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN) in our thinking, and it’s stuck with me ever since.
As he described it, when we ‘switch off’ from active brain tasks and let our minds wander (and don’t automatically pick up our phones…) the DMN system switches on. This is often when we come up with our best and most creative ideas and might explain why thinking gets sparked when we’re in the shower, cleaning our teeth or on a walk or run
Image: Patrick Tomasso, unsplash
But our typical ways of working frequently put us under pressure to be constantly connected, produce immediate results and make quick decisions. Although these ‘rapid response’ mindsets can be useful in crisis situations or fast-moving, operational environments, in the long-term they can often come at the expense of deeper and potentially more quality thinking.
But when things might feel frantic, how do we make the space for this ‘idea settling’ time? Here are five ideas that could help…
Make time, however little – dedicate specific times in your day or week for just this. It might be a 10-minute walk outside, a radio-free drive to work or finding five minutes with a cuppa in the morning. The key is to find regular and intentional breaks from active thinking
Mindfully disengage – hobbies that allow your mind to wander like exercising, walking, flying a kite or even knitting can give you a space for subconscious processing
Delay responses – where it’s possible in your work life, take just a few seconds to work out whether you can delay your responses to something that feels like it might be a complex issue or emails that need more consideration.
Be more patient – not every problem needs an immediate reaction. Sometimes, the best solution is to wait, see what shakes out and what direction things might take.
Write things down – this can be a powerful way to process and reflect on things. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to see how your thinking evolves over time.
We’re in an age where speed often equals efficiency and success but there’s a huge benefit to letting ideas percolate and settle. By slowing down like this, we can actually speed things up and at the same time, allow space for more creative thinking and better decision-making.
So, the next time you’re faced with a problem that you think doesn’t need an immediate solution, remember that it might just be worth parking it and letting your DMN take the reins.
I’d love to know how you get on.
If you’d like to chat about ideas like this that can improve your wellbeing and particularly in times of change and uncertainty, let me know.