Dan Murphy
Hermitage Green

If you’re anything like me, you might have grown up thinking that being creative required some sort of unattainable level of skill or enlightenment. Gifts that were reserved only for the most godlike of artists – the David Bowies, the Thom Yorkes, the Roy Keanes, etc. And not only that, but creativity also seemed to go hand-in-hand with poor mental health. I can  remember listening to the lyrics of Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Diary Of A Madman’ and thinking, “Wow if I’m to give this music stuff a go, I’d better get to work on my criminal record!”

The reality is that creativity has absolutely nothing to do with your IQ, your skillset, or how  wild a rock star you are. The old trope of poor mental health being in some way linked to  creativity is so romantically ingrained in us that it is rarely challenged. When in fact, science is beginning to tell us that being creative can actually have positive effects on our mental health.

This link to positive mental health and creativity most likely exists within the phenomenon  known as “flow”. “Flow” is best described as a state of mind where we become effortlessly focused on something. Time can disappear and the more focused you become, the more energy you seem to draw from this focus. You are immersed. You are in the moment. It feels  great. And what’s more, there is ample research to suggest that being in flow regularly can have enormously positive effects on our neurochemistry.

Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi’s research on flow started in the 1970s, and he has called it the “secret to happiness.” He believes the connections between well-being and flow lie in its ability to  suppress brain activity associated with negative thinking and self-doubt, while increasing brain activity in our reward centres. So, if you’ve ever experienced runner’s high, or that nice feeling you get after a deep and fulfilling chat with a friend; that will most likely be the result of endorphins such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine that are induced when we access flow state.

So how can we access flow? This can be done in a multitude of ways such as playing sport, chess, meditation, and just about any other activity that requires creativity. Creativity is your ticket to flow state, and as I mentioned earlier you don’t have to be Ziggy Stardust to be creative.

Here are some tips that can help you access flow state:  

1. Choose a task you enjoy: Your chances of reaching flow are greater if you’re passionate about the task at hand. Don’t opt for something too easy, or difficult. The task should feel meaningful and give you a sense of purpose while doing it.

2. Use clear goals: By choosing a specific, small step to be achieved during the session, it reduces cognitive load which allows for greater motivation and focus. This is important. Choose bite-size objectives like, “I just want to write the first four lines of a poem; the first page of a short story; the starting chords of a song”, etc.

3. Prepare mentally: Try to eliminate distractions and interruptions as these are the  enemy of flow. I prefer to get out of the house, and I find that going to a specific place to be creative is helpful. Maybe a rehearsal space, café, library, a park, etc.

Give it a try. Once it works you will understand why people like Blindboy Boatclub say they live for the feeling of being in flow. Be patient with it, though, flow can take a bit of manoeuvring and doesn’t happen every time. Experiment with different stimuli, variables, and situations, and pay attention to how these affect the outcome. And remember, you are creative! Babies are creative. Your Nana is creative. We are all creative. As John Cleese  would say, “Being creative is not a talent, it is a way of operating."

• Dan Murphy is a musician with Hermitage Green and lectures in creativity.

Read the full Hot Press Mental Health Special in the current issue of Hot Press: