The Fear of Optimizing Away Art
How far can we alter our daily lives until we optimize out any chance at doing something creative? Developing our creative potential takes time, and efficiency might demand we avoid spending our efforts in a direction that isn’t directly fruitful or actionable. Our schedules should always include a portion of the day that is “free time”. This invaluable block of time allows not only for our batteries to recharge, but for careful thought about the intricacies of our daily decisions and experiences. As our minds are free to wander we often come across novel combinations or applications of existing tools. Unregimented time is the mother of innovation, and it’s unlikely that we can force creativity. (more…)