Unlocking creativity through travel.
I've recently returned from a two-week holiday in New Zealand (where, for the record, it rained for the first 13 days...). Regardless of the weather, it was a great reminder of the importance of taking time out to reflect, recharge, and reset.
After only a few days I could feel my creative and curious juices start to flow again.
There is nothing like being in an unfamiliar environment to broaden your perspective, stimulate your mind, and think more creatively.
One of the aspects I love most about travelling is being able to try new foods, meet new people, have unexpected and fascinating conversations, and explore places that are so very different to what I'm used to.
Curiosity is an essential part of being human. Or it should be. When we are curious we have a more active mind. We are more observant. Curiosity opens up new worlds and possibilities and it adds excitement to our lives.
Francesca Gino suggests that when our curiosity is triggered, we think more deeply and rationally about decisions and come up with more-creative solutions.
Curiosity allows us to gain more respect from our followers and inspire our employees to develop more-trusting and more-collaborative relationships with colleagues.
According to Gino, when we are curious at work, we have better business performance. This is because when we are curious, we have:
improved decision making because we become less susceptible to stereotypes and confirmation bias
greater employee engagement and collaboration
creative problem solving in the face of uncertainty and pressure, leading to strengthened organisational resilience.
Travel allows us to explore our curiosity:
asking questions and visiting new-to-you places can enhance cognitive flexibility and original thinking
try new foods and drinks and different experiences – I always choose local beers and wine, and eat the local foods when I’m in another country
take time to learn – read a book or watch a documentary set in the city or country your visiting, learn about the culture and the history, especially if it’s different to what you are used to
immerse yourself in the local customs, traditions, and practices
changing your routine can lead to a fresh perspective on familiar situations – taking email off my phone on a holiday three years ago was a game changer, and I’ve never put it back
gain inspiration from nature and the people you meet and the stories you hear
embrace mindfulness and be present in the moment, so you can appreciate your surroundings in a way you may not have time for when you’re caught up in the day to day.
While travel can fuel your creativity and curiosity, there is nothing stopping you from taking time to have some of these experiences at home too.
Can you get your coffee from a different café? Cook a new-to-you recipe or with an ingredient you haven’t previously tried? Take a different route on your walk or bike ride? Explore a local national park, visit an art gallery, read a book in a genre that is new to you?
How can you stimulate your creativity and curiosity by changing up your routine, opening your mind to novelty and exploration and seeing new experiences?
