A recent study conducted by the University of Arizona reveals that individuals with higher levels of creativity tend to utilize their idle time more effectively by allowing one idea to naturally progress into another. Researchers discovered that participants who displayed greater creativity exhibited lower levels of boredom when placed in solitary environments.
This finding gains significance when considering the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which extended periods of unstructured time were commonly experienced worldwide. Notably, creative individuals demonstrated heightened levels of engagement with their own thoughts during this challenging period.
“I am particularly interested in creativity because we wanted to know what’s going on in the mind of creative individuals, especially in situations where nothing constrains their thoughts,” the researchers explain.
Alone with our thoughts
Throughout history, numerous accounts abound of renowned scientists, artists, and philosophers who derived great satisfaction from solitary contemplation, harnessing their idle moments to cultivate remarkable ideas. It is often amidst such periods of quietude that these notable figures have produced some of their most groundbreaking and innovative concepts.
“In today’s busy and digitally connected society, time to be alone with one’s thoughts without distraction may be becoming a rare commodity,” the authors explain.
To conduct their study, the researchers implemented a two-part approach. In the initial experiment, each participant was instructed to spend 10 minutes alone in a room devoid of any digital devices, free from external distractions. Absent specific prompts, the participants were encouraged to vocalize their thoughts spontaneously and in real time. Subsequently, the audio recordings from a total of 81 participants were meticulously transcribed and subjected to rigorous analysis.
Creative aptitude
In order to evaluate the participants’ creative aptitude, the researchers employed a “divergent thinking test,” a verbal assessment conducted within a controlled laboratory setting. This test aims to gauge an individual’s capacity to think beyond conventional boundaries.
Notably, those participants who excelled in the divergent thinking test displayed a remarkable fluency of thought, with ideas effortlessly intertwining and drawing connections to one another. Such cognitive fluidity was often reflected in their discourse, evident through phrases such as “this reminds me of” or “speaking of which.”
“While many participants had a tendency to jump between seemingly unrelated thoughts, creative individuals showed signs of thinking more associatively,” the authors explain.
The initial experiment not only revealed that individuals with higher levels of creativity demonstrated increased engagement with their thoughts when devoid of distractions like cell phones and the internet, but also prompted the researchers to delve deeper into the subject, exploring the impact of prolonged periods of solitude during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Covid creativity
In the subsequent phase of the study, the researchers expanded their scope by leveraging the unique context of the pandemic, wherein many individuals found themselves frequently alone with their ruminations. To gather data, a smartphone application named Mind Window was employed.
More than 2,600 adults participated in this phase, answering a series of questions aimed at gauging their levels of creativity. Notably, those who self-identified as creative individuals reported experiencing reduced levels of boredom throughout the pandemic.
“As we become more overworked, overscheduled, and addicted to our digital devices, I think we need to do a better job in our homes, our workplaces, and our schools to cultivate time to simply relax with our thoughts,” the researchers conclude.
