Start With a Stare at Green
Research from University of Munich revealed that staring at green for 20 to 30 seconds improves your performance across a series of creative exercises by 25%.
Follow on research confirmed this, and another research project tested whether ambient green would have an impact — I painted my office walls green when I learned of this research, for instance, but it doesn’t.
The researchers aren’t conclusive as to why only green has this impact — they tested blue and yellow and red and gray — but figure it’s because green is the color of growth and staring at it might be prompting us, both physically and emotionally.
That makes sense to me. After all the foundational life creating process of photosynthesis creates green.
Recently I’ve learned that we can identify more shades of green than any other color, and that we can focus on green faster than any other color.
I went out and bought myself a green folder when I learned of this research and if you have attended one of my workshops I have given you one, and likely one of the green cards I print to give away.
I make a point of staring at green for 30 seconds twice a day, to get the proven benefit but also as a reminder I will be Intentionally Creative. There’s some fun exercises on our Hub — remember to stare at green before you take one on.
For the research, the blocks of color were shared on a computer screen.
Two more tips for improving your creative performance:
Take a walk. Research from Stanford found that walking integrates the two hemispheres of your brain—when your brain is integrated it is in its most creatively entrepreneurial state. Our 55+ brains are much more likely to integrate it’s hemispheres and this is a great assistance.
Can’t take a walk now? Stand up and tap your left shoulder with your right hand five times. Then tap your right shoulder with your left hand five times. Repeat, but this time tap your knees instead of your shoulders. Repeat both shoulder/knees cycles twice. Maybe have some fun finding a beat. Again, you’ve integrated your brain.
“Exploring Your Creative Genius” takes an expansive view on what it means to be creative and entrepreneurial in an ongoing conversation led by Carl Nordgren — entrepreneur, novelist, and lifelong student with decades of experience growing his own creative capacity and assisting others to do the same in exciting new ways!
You can also find more ways to explore your creative genius in this column’s companion radio program, broadcasting on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and posted here on Chapelboro!
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