If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you know I love to garden (and if you’re new here, welcome!).
I spend a lot of time gardening because I love growing my own food. I love watching my seeds turn into tiny plants that become giant food makers covered with pretty flowers. I even love to battle the weeds and the bugs.
What you might not know is I consider gardening to be one of the best problem solving tools I have.
Gardening as a problem solving tool?
Indeed.
Guy Claxton, a British psychologist, wrote a book called Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind – Why Intelligence Increases When You Think Less. His insights into Fast Thinking and Slow Thinking are worth paying attention to.
If Fast Thinking is right-brained, rational, logical and linear, then Slow Thinking is left-brained, creative, and smooshy. And we desperately need both.
Unfortunately, our fast-paced, 24/7, always on, always connected lifestyles don’t really allow for us to unleash our Tortoise Mind.
I think my time gardening, traveling and reading allows me to disengage from the Hare Mind and slip into Tortoise mode. And it truly makes me more “thoughtful.”
Now, it’s your turn. Break out of your breakneck pace and your mind will thank you.
- Read a book (but not while checking email, watching TV, or having a conversation)
- Meditate
- Do some exercise
- Take a class (anything out of your “normal routine” will do)
- Garden
- Just sit and watch the world go by
And there’s a bonus to slowing down beyond just giving your mind a break.
You’ll actually be more productive, responsive and creative when it’s time to leap back into Hare mode.
I’m not kidding! Giving your mind a rest allows your unconscious space and time with no boundaries.
In fact, people who have attended my workshops even say, “I loved having time to unplug from my day-to-day routine. I got so many good ideas for my business while I was learning about something else.”
It’s like a creativity light switch. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.
Sincerely,
Angie
P.S. My third book From Chaos to Order: Ten Years of Wisdom Helping Business Owners Get Organized for Success is nearly finished. You’ll be the first to know when it goes live on Amazon.