Creative thoughts often take a backseat during busy working days, especially when one needs them the most. Arnold Schwarzenegger addressed this fairly common obstacle recently with a unique science-backed solution.
In his newsletter, Arnold talked about the ‘a-ha moment’ creative people wish for when working on a project. However, it gets challenging when they get stuck in a mental rut, piled up with work, and refrain from taking a break.
Schwarzenegger called this phenomenon a form of “fixation”, where people hustle away until they reach the brink of their mental capacity. At that point, he revealed that individuals would often face redundant thoughts instead of coming up with new ideas.
A study on the efficacy of micro-breaks offered the perfect solution for this that the star highlighted in the article. Instead of spending more time trying to think of new things, people can reportedly benefit from taking a break.
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“Research suggests creativity, mentality clarity, and “A-ha!” moments are more likely to happen when you step away, distract yourself, and allow your mind to wander.”
Calling it ‘Productive Failure’, the idea behind the contradictory phenomenon is to consciously walk away from the task at hand to get better results. Giving the brain a moment to rest and recover is bound to provide positive results since Schwarzenegger believes it is a fairly common occurrence anyway.
“It’s why you seemingly have some of your best thoughts when you’re not working, whether in the shower or on a walk.”
The key was maintaining a balance between consistent hustle and timely breaks to recharge the brain. Previously, Schwarzenegger talked about this in detail, focusing on the time taken for a break.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Recommended Breaks for Efficiency
In an older newsletter, Schwarzenegger touched upon a similar subject when he revealed how long one should go on a break. Since working for hours could get exhausting and monotonous, it was only natural for the brain to seek a break.
He recommended a 10-minute break for every few hours of work to maximize productivity and output. Letting the mind wander once in a while also boosts imaginative powers that increase creativity. Schwarzenegger is all about setting a healthy balance at work, and he believes that these hacks could help.
