Name: Too Fast to Think
Rating: 3.8 (50 reviews)
Author: Chris Lewis

What’s in it for me? Time to slow down and get creative.

In the modern world, we move about at breakneck speed. Our food is fast, our communication is instant, and we work in a constant hurry.

Unfortunately, all of this rushing about is not good for us. It leaves us stressed and unhappy. Not only that, but it also destroys our creativity. So what can we do?

These blinks help explain how we can step off this treadmill. They lay out the benefits of giving ourselves and our brains time to be creative. By following this simple advice, we can start becoming happier and more innovative people.

In these blinks, you’ll learn

why social media isn’t good for us;
why universities are harming our creative abilities; and
why we need to find time for sleep.

Constantly checking your emails and social media accounts creates stress, especially for women.

In the last 20 years, the line between people’s working and social lives has blurred. The primary reason for this change is social media.

Frankly, it’s transformed human behavior. Being connected has become increasingly important: how often do you interrupt what you’re doing to check your news feed, emails and other means of communication?

In 2015, Adobe surveyed more than 400 US-based white collar workers aged 18 and older. More than half of the millennials who participated checked their personal email from work and vice versa.

Social media has changed how people think about the world. Thanks to algorithms and targeted news pieces, your feeds are populated with content catered to you. Individuals tend to know little about issues outside their own interests. This is why young people often know more about Kim Kardashian’s life than the candidates in a presidential election.

Interestingly, women are more active on social media. Compared to men, they delegate more time to staying connected with online friends and following brands they support.

In January 2014, the Pew Research Center conducted a survey in conjunction with Women’s Marketing, Inc, and SheSpeaks. The results showed that women are more likely to use social media to advertise their lives and buy products from brands they follow. In addition, the survey found that 46 percent of women look at their smartphone first thing in the morning while 31 percent check their computers.

This increased amount of online engagement leads to more stress. The Pew Research Center noticed that social media allows for a higher awareness of others’ lives, which can promote stressful feelings. As women are naturally more susceptible to stress, social media has a greater effect on them. It’s drastically changed the way that people act and communicate.

Higher education focuses on theory rather than teaching communication and creativity.

As modern life is always rapidly changing, people need to adapt to thrive. Unfortunately, the tools needed to do so are not being taught.

When it comes to higher education, universities and colleges tend to teach the theory pertaining to a subject rather than how to approach it in a constructive, creative way. This practice of focusing on a narrow theory base during teaching means that graduates are often left without the ability to use their creativity in a practical way.

In order to reach your creative potential, let your brain rest.

As you’ve learned, social media can have a detrimental effect on your happiness. But what can be done to combat this?

Nowadays, to achieve contentment, you must understand how your brain works. The brain has two hemispheres which tackle tasks. The left brain deals with processes such as critical thinking, analysis and language, while the right brain manages creative functions like recognizing faces, colors and reading emotions.

Use the Eight Creative Traits to prevent the fear of failure from inhibiting your creativity.

As life is so hectic these days, it’s difficult to find the necessary space and time to allow your mind to wander and strike upon a creative idea.

Everyone’s looking for the game-changing solution, but the fear of failure serves as a roadblock. The ideal conditions for creativity come when the left brain, which is responsible for processing worry and fear, is distracted by routine or habit. This allows the creative right brain the freedom to ruminate.

Key ideas in Too Fast to Think

About the Author

Christopher Lewis is the founder and CEO of LEWIS Advisory Board, one of the world’s most influential marketing and communications agencies. He is also a published journalist and media trainer who’s worked with senior politicians, celebrities and business people.