Why We Should All Work Less

You'll Be More Creative

By Minda Zetlin | Posted 6/14/23

There's a reason for the old cliche about people getting great ideas in the shower, and a reason so many people have "aha moments" when they're hiking, fishing, or otherwise relaxing.

Brain science tells us that when we take our minds off work for a time, something called the default network in our brain makes connections between its different functions, and those connections help spark new ideas and innovation.

An exhausted, overworked brain that spends all its time trying to solve immediate problems or be productive has no opportunity to activate the default network or make those connections, and little time to think about the larger issues because it's too busy dealing with day-to-day problem-solving.

Think of the times you've had your most creative or most powerful ideas, and when you've come to clarity about a difficult decision you had to make.

I'm willing to bet that many of those were times when you were away from work and away from the distractions of modern life, walking, doing yard work or house cleaning, on vacation, or — yes — in the shower.

Whenever that happened, it was a demonstration of the power of your default network. You can harness that power more often, but only if you give your overworked and overstimulated brain a chance to turn off.

Career Self-Care

Minda Zetlin is the author of Career Self-Care: Simple Ways to Increase Your Happiness, Success, and Fulfillment at Work. …