One of my favorite insights from Neil Gaiman’s writing routine that applies to anyone who wants to come up with innovative ideas or have creative breakthroughs—he’ll sit in a room with just a pen and notebook (no other distractions), and tells himself:
“You don’t have to write. You have permission to not write, but you don’t have permission to do anything else.”
This is powerful because he creates an environment of boredom. Without constant stimulation or distraction, his mind begins to entertain itself with stories, which he writes down.
This is part of his writing process, and I love the simplicity of it. He’s not forcing himself to write, he’s just removing any other option.
This same approach applies to innovation and creativity.
If we want to have our deepest insights (to tell better stories, to have creative breakthroughs, or find a solution to a nagging problem), we have to find a way to embrace boredom.
But maybe “boredom” doesn’t resonate with you.
Instead, think if it more as “cultivating stillness.”
Our best insights come when we’re in a proactive mindset, but most of us spend our entire day in reactive mode—jumping from one distraction to another or putting out endless small fires.
We never make the time or space to just think, without outside pressure pulling at our attention.
And even if we have the autonomy to do this, it’s still hard because we’re so used to seeking constant stimulation.
Stillness looks like boredom at first.
So by avoiding boredom, you avoid stillness.
And when you avoid stillness, you avoid the insights that only emerge through stillness.
So the next time you need to have a breakthrough, try to embrace boredom, try to cultivate stillness.
Sit in a room, alone, with just a pen and notebook. And see what happens. It can be for 15 minutes, an hour, or more. Find what works for you as long as it’s long enough for the mental static of the day to subside and boredom/stillness start to kick in.
You don’t have to write. You have permission to not write. But you don’t have permission to do anything else.
You’ll be surprised what’s been hiding in the depths of your mind, waiting for the ripples to quiet enough to emerge.
Read Next: How to Make Something Truly Remarkable—Lessons from Rick Rubin on Creativity
