Creativity and focus are two traits that are essential for success in any field or any project. These two traits may seem admittedly different, but they can often work together for a mutually beneficial relationship.
Creativity
Creativity can be defined as the ability to come up with new and innovative ideas. It is the driving force behind any form of artistic expression and is also a key component in problem-solving and decision making. It is often said that there are stages to the creativity process. Of course, each person is different, and each creative process is therefore different for everyone. According to Master Class, the creative process can be defined as the evolution of an idea into its final form through a progression of thoughts and actions. The creative process involves critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The 5 stages of the creativity process
- Preparation Stage
This stage usually involves working on preparation and idea generation. This can be thought of as the brainstorming stage, where you are looking for inspiration for your ideas. According to Master Class, in this first part of the process, your brain is using its memory bank to draw on knowledge and past experiences to generate original ideas. It may be helpful to include a journal to keep track of your thoughts and ideas.
- Incubation Stage
This stage involves walking away from the first stage, and letting your brain breath for a moment. Although this may seem unhelpful, it actually allows your brain to get a break so you can be more creative when you go to work on your project or idea again.
- Illumination Stage
This is often the moment when you finally “get it”! Your idea or project is now at the forefront of your brain, and you’ve gathered all the information and materials you need.
- Evaluation Stage
This stage is a time of reflection. You are considering the validity of your idea, and might be weighing it against other alternatives.
- Verification Stage
This is the final stage of the creativity process. According to MasterClass, this is the moment when the hard work happens. Your creative product might be a physical object, such as an advertising campaign, a novel, or a song. This is the stage where you are finalizing your design, and bringing your idea to life.
Benefits of improving creativity
You might be wondering what exactly the benefits are of improving your creativity. According to The Bright Water Group, there are quite a few. Some of the benefits of creativity include improving your mood, boosting your self esteem, improving cognitive function, improving your social life, and alleviating stress and anxieties.
Focus
Focus, on the other hand, can be defined as the ability to concentrate on a task for an extended period of time. It’s the mental discipline that helps you to ignore external distractions and keep your attention fixated on the task at hand. A person who understands how to focus well at work or school can channel their attention and energy into successfully completing their work. If a person suffers from not being able to focus, they can become overwhelmed and start to multitask, procrastinate, or both. Without strong focus, a great idea may never even come to fruition.
Even though creativity and focus don’t seem like they go hand-in-hand, they actually do. They can often be developed and strengthened together. Below are a few tips to boost your creativity and focus skills:
- Take regular breaks
- Taking breaks can allow you to be even more productive! Micro-breaks, lunchtime breaks, and longer breaks, have all been shown to have a positive relationship with wellbeing and productivity. Taking regular, short breaks can boost your overall performance.
- Prioritize your tasks
- Although you may feel more productive doing multiple tasks at once, it’s actually taking away from your focus. Our brains are just not built to handle multitasking! Multitasking hampers your ability to concentrate and comprises your overall work activity.
- Get moving
- Physical activity is a great way to boost creativity and focus. Moving your body often aids in focus and concentration. Regular exercise is proven to release chemicals that are key for memory, concentration, and mental sharpness. Individuals who do some form of exercise are more likely to perform better on cognitive tasks.
- Surround yourself with inspiration
- Inspiration can come in many forms. Find something that inspires you, such as music, art, or media.
Some other important tips to help you focus, as stated by Better Up, are tracking your mood, eliminating distractions, paying attention to your sleep patterns, giving meditation and mindfulness a try, setting boundaries around your time, turning off your work at the end of the day, and making time for your social connections.
How Relaxium Focus Max can improve creativity and focus
If you are realizing that you need help with boosting your focus, Relaxium Focus Max can help. Focus Max is designed to promote sharper focus, boost brain performance, all while supplying vital nutrients. Its unique formula provides extra strength cognitive support, which helps to support healthy brain function and memory. It also helps to improve concentration, and support overall sharper focus. Increasing your focus helps you to further your creativity. You may want to be more creative in school, work, or on your own time. Regardless, you have to be focused and able to concentrate in order to get your projects or work done. Whether you are in need of help focusing on a project at work, finishing a deadline for school, or life in general – Relaxium Focus Max can help!
Sources:
[1] How to Improve Creativity (masterclass.com)
[2] 13 Ways to Focus Better at Work (betterup.com)
[3] 5 Big Benefits of Creative Expression (brightwatergroup.com)