How artists can use sleep to boost their creativity
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Tuesday, November 5, 2024


How artists can use sleep to boost their creativity



There is a massive body of academic research that demonstrates the key role sleep plays in supporting our physical health and mental wellbeing.

For creative people such as artists, getting the requisite amount of sleep is a vital component in providing a platform for their creativity to shine through.

However, many artists are guilty of neglecting their sleep as they strive to create the next masterpiece, which can have major consequences on their health.

A recent study highlighted the importance of undertaking relaxing pre-bedtime activities before sleep to improve the quality of shuteye a person achieves.

Mediating was found to be the optimum activity, with participants who practiced this for 30 minutes getting an average of just over eight hours sleep per night.

Establishing a structured sleep routine creates a platform for the three main stages of sleep to take place – namely light sleep, deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

It is the latter stage which is most notable for creative people, with numerous studies showing that it has the power to boost creative problem-solving skills.

Dreams generally occur during REM sleep, and there have been numerous links made with this and the creation of many works of art, innovations and inventions.

Jasper Johns’ first flag painting ‘Flag’ was imagined during a dream, while the melody for The Beatles’ hit ‘Yesterday’ also came to Paul McCartney when he was asleep.

According to leading neuroscientist Matthew Walker, REM sleep plays a crucial role in helping creative people undertake their best work.

The author of international best-selling book Why We Sleep has conducted extensive research into the subject, so understands how the REM stage contributes to the creative process.

“Sleep cycle by sleep cycle, REM sleep helps construct vast associative networks of information within the brain,” Walker wrote.

“REM sleep can even take a step back, so to speak, and divine overarching insights and gist: something akin to general knowledge—that is, what a collection of information means as a whole, not just an inert back catalogue of facts.

“We can awake the next morning with new solutions to previously intractable problems.”

While Walker’s views take a general overview of sleep and the creative process, they are largely in line with numerous other studies into the subject.

However, a 2016 study conducted by researchers in Israel found that certain types of creativity were linked to different elements of sleep.

Higher verbal creativity was associated with longer sleep duration and later sleep timing, while higher visual creativity was linked with poorer sleep quality. Using cooling sleep solutions contributes to deeper quality sleep.

They also found that participants who studied visual arts slept longer, later and had a worse night’s rest than the individuals who studied social sciences.

While those findings indicate that the links between creativity and sleep are complex, Walker is adamant the REM stage truly fuels artistic inspiration.

“NREM sleep helps transfer and make safe newly learned information into long-term storage sites of the brain,” Walker added.

“But it is REM sleep that takes these freshly minted memories and begins colliding them with the entire back catalogue of your life’s autobiography.

“These mnemonic collisions during REM sleep spark new creative insights as novel links are forged between unrelated pieces of information.”










Today's News

February 3, 2023

As energy costs bite, museums rethink a conservation credo

Asheville Art Museum adds 29 artworks to its collection

Collection of 25 works showcases powerful dialogue between Europe, America and Latin America

Lark Mason Associates Sale of Exceptional Chinese Textiles and Luxury Goods ignited competitive bidding

Small and scrappy is the way for London's galleries after Brexit

Lucian Freud's rare explorations of landscape to highlight Christie's 20th / 21st Century Sale

Sotheby's to present exhibition of contemporary African art in Tel Aviv

Tilton Gallery opens a solo exhibition of work by Noah Purifoy

Sous Les Etoiles Gallery opens Jean-Pierre Laffont's second exhibition with the gallery

Nonbinary Broadway performer opts out of gendered Tony Awards

The MIMA museum in Brussels turned into a boxing temple

Victoria Miro opens two exhibitions by Grayson Perry in London and Venice

A modern take on the Hudson River School tradition

Rare steam engine headlines Bonhams' 'The Connoisseur's Library Sale'

Australia is removing the British monarch from its 5-dollar bill

'Lemons' review: A fun thought exercise, without deep thoughts

Annie Wersching, who played Borg Queen on 'Star Trek: Picard,' dies at 45

Tanglewood's summer season blends familiar and new

Review: Dvorak's 'Poetic Tone Pictures' makes its Carnegie debut

Move over, Pablo Neruda. young Chileans have a new favorite poet.

Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott and Sheryl Crow nominated for Rock Hall

JD Malat Gallery opens a solo exhibition by French artist Yann Leto

Dragonflight Keystone Master: Season One - Achievements

Exploring Your Local Community Through Art Festivals

How do you go to the bathroom after a thigh lift?

Have scientists solved the age-old issue of steamed-up specs?

Geometric Glasses Are A Perfect Addition To Your Wardrobe!

Simple Tips to Make Your Home Artsy

The Ultimate Guide To Online Metal Fabrication

What is Epitalon used for?

How artists can use sleep to boost their creativity

Top 3 It & Software Courses By Udemy You Should Opt For!

Understand The Difference Between Skin Care And Makeup...




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Attorneys
Truck Accident Attorneys
Accident Attorneys
Holistic Dentist
Abogado de accidentes
สล็อต
สล็อตเว็บตรง

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site Parroquia Natividad del Señor
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful