Harnessing Your Creativity

Twice a day your creativity goes into over­drive, and you may not be taking advantage of it.

The moment you wake up in the morning and just before you go to sleep at night your brain is sleepy and pliable and, most importantly, creative. This state is a scientifically proven phenomenon called hypnagogia.

According to Wikipedia: “Hypnagogic cognition, in comparison with that of normal, alert wakefulness, is characterized by heightened suggestibility, illogic and a fluid association of ideas. … Many artists, writers, scientists and inventors — including Beethoven, Richard Wagner, Walter Scott, Salvador Dali… [and others] — have credited hypnagogia and related states [i.e. hypnopompia — the same state, only when you are falling asleep] with enhancing their creativity.”

It is for this reason that writers are encouraged to write “morning pages.” But it’s not enough to simply sit down and write after you’ve had your coffee and read the news. If you do that you will have missed your moment. No, you need to write the moment you wake up, before you even get out of bed while your brain is still sleep befuddled.

The same holds true for writing at night. After a long day, your mind is ready for a little down time and, strangely enough, when the logical side of your brain calls it quit for the day, it gives your creative brain space to roam and stretch itself.

Try keeping a notebook and pen next to your bed and write first thing when you wake up, and last thing before you go…