Focus and creative tasks as neuroscience shows require quite a different approach. One is about eliminating unrelated, the other is about building surprising connections between seemingly unrelated stuff. One requires closing the box, the other throwing the box away and welcoming unstructured input. Brain chemistry also seems to be different, when it comes to dominating neurotransmitters and focused and creative work.
So, how do you set up optimally for creative or focused work according to research? Here are 3 major aspects you want to pay attention to.
1. TIME OF THE DAY
Focused work loves dopamine and norepinephrine. Heightened levels of alertness and drive seem to be great for deep focus, for when you need to crack a task requiring a lot of analysis, systematization, putting a good structure in place of whatever you are working on. When is the best time of the day for that? Your first 8 hours of waking is when dopamine and norepinephrine peak - the ideal chemical cocktail for deep, focused work.
How about creativity?
More relaxed and laid-back approach is desired here. What do we bring to the “table” then? More serotonin! And that seems to dominate when dopamine and norepinephrine get weaker - your second 8 hours of the day.
It’s not all black and white but you might notice that the first 8 hours of waking, the earlier the more - your brain is a bit more analytical and skeptical and it’s not that great for creative work that requires an open, non-judgmental state of mind.
I also recommend having a bit of a refresher before that creative bout - a power nap (20 minutes) or yoga Nidra protocol (here’s a good one by Andrew Huberman).
