Covid has put all of us in an unhealthy state of mind. Our normal life is put on “hold”. We can’t move forward with our plans, but we also get no rest, no time to reconsider what we really want from life.

That’s bad, because without a real break, we can’t make any progress.

One of the most surprising learnings that I remember from University is this:

Creativity requires boredom.

Our brain feels uncomfortable if it’s not busy. (I know this goes contrary to what we experience every day – people who seem to hand back their brain at the end of their lives in the original packaging, unused.)

If we deny our brain all input, then it tries to fill the vacuum.

First comes all the trash that has piled up. Fear. Guilt. That’s when we feel the urge to “just quickly” check our email or twitter or something, anything – just to avoid being alone in our room with our own brain. (We fear we might have nothing to say, since we never engaged that much with each other.)

Withstand that urge. It will pass.

Let your mind get quiet. Embrace the boredom that creeps up on you.

Boredom is gold.

Now your mind starts to wander. Images appear from the past. Smells take you back to memories long gone. Moments that are precious to you. Your true wishes have been pushed back and abused for so long. Now they shyly raise their hand. Say nothing. Just smile encouragingly and hope they come closer.

Your memories and thoughts form a new union – and an idea is born.

This is creativity. This is progress. This will move your life forward.

Let it happen. Get bored.

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I am on vacation till 1. July 2021. Then we talk again.

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