If you ever have to solve problems or do creative work of any kind, here's some help from Roy Williams' MondayMorningMemo: 5 Ways to Solve Problems Creatively.
Here's what you do: First, fill your head with information about your project. Then stop analyzing. Stop thinking about the project. Do one of these things:
- The Arts. (Listen to music, look at art, read poetry)
- Humor. (Laughter helps you see better and think more clearly)
- Time Pressure. (Give yourself not quite enough time)
- Play!
- Recovery. (Work after you've done something difficult or stressful)
Your unconscious mind is a lot smarter than your conscious mind. If you don't allow it to tackle the problem, you'll never move beyond what you know and think already.
These off-center ways of letting the unconscious mind roam are the way to do your best work.