Creative block? Try the Flying Trapeze!

Twenty meters above the ground, my heart races. I can barely make out the directions my instructor shouts at me, so intense is the pounding. Gingerly, I step on the edge of the trapeze platform, with nothing beneath my toes save for empty space. I stretch out my arms, taking the swing into my hands –

– and jump. Taken by my momentum, I soar through the air, as if I were riding a thousand roller coasters. Then I let go and landing on the net, stretching it out. I’m exhilarated and terrified all at once.

A few days later, I do it again.

Trapeze has nothing to do with my career; I’m not a professional acrobat, and unlike Pippi Longstocking, I haven’t run away to join a circus. Yet trapeze, or more specifically new experiences, have been key to my personal and professional growth. Branching out and broadening my horizons isn’t just a fun, occasional activity; instead, doing so on a regular basis has provided real, tangible benefits. And apparently, my experience is not an isolated one.

Variety boosts creativity

Variety might well be the secret fuel for creativity. For an easy, effortless way to supercharge your creativity, try new things or go new places.

This insight isn’t new, either. For centuries, successful writers, musicians, and other artists have traveled abroad in search of inspiration – to the point where a foreign journey has become a rite of passage, and something of a cliche. Some cities even have reputations as havens of creative thought and expression. Bangkok, for example, was visited by a whos-who of famous writers, from W. Somerset Maugham to Graham Greene to Pico Iyer. For their part, the Beatles traveled to an ashram, or spiritual retreat, in the northern Indian town of Rishikesh; their eight weeks in this Himalayan town broke down their creative blocks and yielded a huge trove of songs.

From personal experience, I’ve found that new environments stimulate new ideas – especially when you don’t actively look for inspiration. When I was on a small sampan on the South China Sea, the idea of a coming-of-age novel seemingly came to me out of nowhere. Years later, I still do not know whether I will ever write it, but then again, that’s not the point. Instead, I’m pleasantly surprised by how ideas can come to me unprompted in such a setting. This is a memory I will cherish forever.

Interestingly, the positive effect of novelty on creativity is backed up by science. Exploration is linked to dopamine, a neurotransmitter that serves as a reward chemical – and plays a key role in learning and lateral thinking. For this reason, researchers Scott Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire have concluded that openness is perhaps the strongest predictor of creative achievement in the arts and sciences, as new experiences can shift perspectives and inspire creative leaps. In their groundbreaking work, Kaufman and Gregoire note that there are three forms of cognitive engagement that made up openness: intellectual, which sought the truth; affective, which focused more on emotions, compassion, and empathy; and aesthetic, which explores fantasy and art.

Moreover, they discovered that the desire to learn and discover was more important to achievement than measures of pure cognitive ability (such as IQ). A rush of dopamine, brought on by novel experiences, powers psychological plasticity, a tendency to think deeply and more flexibly. For example, if you’ve ever tried out a new workout – and come home buzzing with a newfound high – you’ll understand what I mean. It’s as if every brain cell is firing at full capacity, and your mind is racing, making a thousand new connections and conclusions that you hadn’t seen before. I warn you, this can become highly addictive!

This is the power of dopamine. And what better excuse for a vacation than to supercharge your thinking?

Variety also has economic benefits

In addition to increased creativity variety or disrupting routine can have more unexpected benefits. As writer Annie Murphy Paul points out, the default morning routine (rush out of bed, rush into the shower, and rush out the door) isn’t exactly conducive to creativity. For one, forcing yourself into wakefulness abruptly rather than slowly can reduce creativity; when you’re slightly sleepy, your mind can wander more, you can search your knowledge network more easily, and thus, create solutions more efficiently.

Murphy even goes so far as to recommend that readers re-engineer their mornings in the interest of maximizing creative problem-solving capabilities. Changing your routine to benefit from this moment may require additional effort from your willpower muscle – since many people need to overcome a deep reluctance to experiment.

For me, it has been worthwhile. When I was doing my daily 10,000 steps challenge, I experienced this often. I had to get up earlier in the morning to get my dose of steps, and I often found myself wandering sleepily along the Danube or Rijn rivers. Surprisingly enough, I not only felt more awake, but also more creative and alert during the day. From this challenge, I gained the habit of getting up extra early, especially on days that really matter.

Therefore, there are hidden benefits to variety – expected or not. For one, dealing with the surprises that life throws our way can generate economic rewards. In an article in The New York Times, economist Sendhil Mullainathan lays out a compelling case for breaking out of your comfort zone and seeking variety and diversity, citing a study on “forced experimentation”. In 2014, following a strike on the London Underground which closed several tube stops, commuters were forced to seek out different routes. Interestingly, about 5 percent of those commuters who found new routes managed to cut almost 7 minutes from their commute (previously about 32 minutes). If the strike had lasted longer, Mullainathan wonders, would commuters have found even more efficient routes?

This ties into the greater theme of strategic selfishness, which I discussed in my earlier article about exercise. By using this lens, interesting insights – and real improvements – can be added to your life.

Along the way, it can also be fun! Think about it this way: What is not to like about this approach? You can take trips to new destinations, try out new foods and restaurants, or sample different activities for the first time, from Latin dance to Pilates. On top of it all, you are rewarded by bursts of inspiration and energy. Who wouldn’t want to take more vacations for creativity’s sake?

By seeking out new, enjoyable activities, you can spur yourself to newer heights. That is the crux of strategic selfishness: focus on yourself (in a calculated manner), cultivate your life, and reap the benefits.