‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part Two

In Part Two of another special edition of The Writer Files called “The Writer’s Brain,” with guest host neuroscientist Michael Grybko, we’ll dig back into the inextricable link between productivity and creativity, and the Catch-22 so many writers face as a result.

This all began when Michael and I started a conversation about why we need to rethink our definition of productivity.

As busyness, the cult of productivity, and multitasking seem to take over our lives, it’s easy to forget that the origins of the word productivity comes from the Latin, productivitas.

Translation: creative power.

Creativity — a topic Michael and I have discussed at length — is the beating heart of change, progress, and innovation, but our work-life scales are bending dangerously toward more busywork, distraction, inefficiency, and overall dissatisfaction.

Truly scaling creativity requires productivity, so a balance must be struck between the two. Writing is a great example of this push and pull in the human brain.

Luckily, research scientist Michael Grybko returned to the podcast to help me find some answers from the perspective of neuroscience.

If you missed the first half of this show you can find it right here. And If you’ve missed previous episodes of The Writer’s Brain you can find them all in the show notes, in the archives at writerfiles.fm, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part Two of this file Michael Grybko and I discuss:

• Why professional writers, musicians, and athletes all share similar brain activity
• How adrenaline, mind-wandering, dreams, and the default mode network affect productivity and creativity
• Einstein’s theory of “combinatory play” for greater productivity
• Why your brain’s ability to filter out irrelevant information is so important to creativity
• And tips for anyone “drowning in data and starved for wisdom”

The Show Notes

• ‘The Writer’s Brain’ on Productivity vs. Creativity: Part One
• The Best of 'The Writer's Brain' Part One: Creativity
• The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Two: Empathy
• The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Three: Storytelling
• The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Four: Writer’s Block
• The Best of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ Part Five: Fake News
• The Writer s Brain on Impostor Syndrome: Part One
• Productivity vs. Creativity, the Content Creator’s Catch-22
• Rethink Your Definition of Productivity to Squash Uninspired Filler
• How to Outsmart Writer s Block with Neuroscience
• Mapping Creativity in the Brain:
  New research sheds some light on the neuroscience of improvising – The Atlantic
• This Is Your Brain on Writing
• Kelton Reid on Twitter
• Please click the donate button to support the podcast with a secure PayPal donation

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