MSNBC has an interesting article titled “Meetings make us dumber, study shows“. Here’s the point that really drove it home for me:
“The researchers speculate that when a group of people receives information, the inclination is to discuss it. The more times one option is said aloud, the harder it is for individuals to recall other options…”
Alone time is uber-important for those wanting to be creative. And I don’t just mean alone from other people. Dealing with multiple inputs at one time is a sure-fire way to squash any creative process too. TV’s, radios, IM, other people… they all take part of our mental juices to follow.
I’ve found that if I really want to get into that creative state, I step away from the computer and go into my room with just a tablet of paper. There’s something about a blank pad and endless oppourtunities that really open up your mind…