The Economist reported the results of a
study of the connection between creativity and living abroad (or having done
so). Basically the result was that people who had lived abroad did better on
tests of creativity. They build in safeguards to avoid the bias that maybe it’s
just people who are more creative
in the first place who are more likely to choose to live abroad. The conclusion
is that there is something about spending time living in a different country
that results in being more creative (it didn’t work for people who just
visited).
I’ve lived in the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom and my guess is that it’s the experience of having to adapt to the different cultures and ways of getting things done in another country that makes you exercise your creativity, and be more open to doing things differently. It also exposes you to a wider range of people, ideas, and customs, which is great for a writer to draw upon.
If you want to experiment with this but not to move, the next time you take a vacation in a foreign country, don’t go to a resort or on a guided tour. Do a home swap, do your own shopping, find your own way around a new city. You may come out of it more creative—but probably not all that rested!
(another way to be more creative is to read my free monthly Brainstorm e-bulletin. Just send an email request now to [email protected])
