Travel is most commonly thought of as a recreational activity, something people do for fun. So sure, it can definitely be a blast, but as it turns out, seeing new places is also crucial to keeping your brain full of creative ideas.
Travel experiences increase both cognitive flexibility (the mind’s ability to jump between different ideas) and depth and integrativeness of thought (the ability to make deep connections between disparate forms).”
The connection between an increase in creativity and travel comes when you head to an unknown destination and actually immerse yourself in the culture. So while chilling at an all-inclusive resort in the tropics may help you to unwind, it probably isn’t going to do much in the way of helping expand your cognitive flexibility. Instead, head to a destination where you can mingle with locals, check out small markets and eat where the city’s residents eat. The experience needs to be immersive.
Another factor to consider is to avoid choosing somewhere too dramatically different from what you know. The researchers say an especially different place might come with an overwhelming intimidation factor, and keeping to yourself blocks out crucial experiences that come with increased creativity. That being said, if you’re an extroverted, fearless kind of adventurer, this could also have no effect on you.
While this is great motivation to finally splurge on that international trip you’ve been considering, an adventure abroad is obviously not a possibility for everyone, but it doesn’t have to be. You can still reap these creative benefits by making subtle changes in your daily life: take a new route home, explore an unfamiliar part of town or maybe volunteer with an organization totally different from what you’re used to. So long as you can keep those cultural blinders off, the new ideas will keep rolling in.
Travel experiences increase both cognitive flexibility (the mind’s ability to jump between different ideas) and depth and integrativeness of thought (the ability to make deep connections between disparate forms).”
The connection between an increase in creativity and travel comes when you head to an unknown destination and actually immerse yourself in the culture. So while chilling at an all-inclusive resort in the tropics may help you to unwind, it probably isn’t going to do much in the way of helping expand your cognitive flexibility. Instead, head to a destination where you can mingle with locals, check out small markets and eat where the city’s residents eat. The experience needs to be immersive.
Another factor to consider is to avoid choosing somewhere too dramatically different from what you know. The researchers say an especially different place might come with an overwhelming intimidation factor, and keeping to yourself blocks out crucial experiences that come with increased creativity. That being said, if you’re an extroverted, fearless kind of adventurer, this could also have no effect on you.
While this is great motivation to finally splurge on that international trip you’ve been considering, an adventure abroad is obviously not a possibility for everyone, but it doesn’t have to be. You can still reap these creative benefits by making subtle changes in your daily life: take a new route home, explore an unfamiliar part of town or maybe volunteer with an organization totally different from what you’re used to. So long as you can keep those cultural blinders off, the new ideas will keep rolling in.
(Copied and pasted from an article I'm unable to remember now)
