How Focus Affects Creativity

Concetta Cucchiarelli
July 05, 2024 | 4 min read

When we think about creativity, we often envision a burst of fantastic ideas or artistic endeavors.

However, creativity is more of an approach to problem-solving and innovation that is applicable in all areas of life.

What exactly is creativity?

As Dictionary.com defines it, creativity is “the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.”

Despite its incredible value, the psychological underpinnings of creativity remain mysterious. But one thing we know for sure is that it's spontaneous and difficult to produce on demand.

Creativity on Demand

This elusiveness poses a challenge, especially nowadays, when creativity is often expected on a schedule. Unfortunately, while there are activities to foster creativity, there isn't a definitive recipe.

However, we can make creativity more manageable by viewing it as a process rather than a skill.

We can make creativity more manageable by viewing it as a process rather than a skill.

In his book Building a Second Brain, Tiago Forte explains that while creative products change over time, the creative process remains constant and involves two phases: divergent and convergent.

In the divergent phase, we need to stay open-minded and generate as many ideas as possible.

In the convergent phase, we narrow down, select, and execute ideas. This phase is necessary to transform ideas into actual products or solutions.

Neurologically, the best state for creating ideas and solutions is the “daydreaming” or “mind-wandering” mode, the state of the brain at rest, which is defined as the “default mode network” by Marcus Raichle. In this state, the brain, disengaged from intentional focus, creates new neural connections and associations and expands concepts.

On the other hand, during the convergent phase, when we select ideas to act upon, our brain utilizes “stay-on-task" mode (or intentional focus, as discussed in our previous article) to help you execute a task without distractions.

(Learn how focus works psychologically.)

These modes are mutually exclusive; in other words, one suppresses the other.

Neurologically, the best state for creating ideas and solutions is the “daydreaming” or “mind-wandering” mode, the state of the brain at rest ... On the other hand, when we select ideas to act upon, our brain utilizes “stay-on-task mode."

As you may have experienced for yourself, mind-wandering mode is crucial for creativity, and it happens almost unpredictably, and only when we are free from our to-do lists. That's why, in today’s busy world, it's important to intentionally schedule this mind-wandering, or creative time.

That might seem counterintuitive, but in today’s world of distractions, you must purposely release yourself from your never-ending to-do list in order to let your mind wander.

What does this look like? Going out for a walk or engaging in boring or repetitive (and not mentally demanding) activities, like cleaning or gardening, can increase the chances of activating this mode. Or sitting in front of your Freewrite and letting thoughts flow through your fingers!

In today’s busy world, it's important to intentionally schedule this mind-wandering, or creative time.

Why You See the Yellow Cars

Both phases of the creative process involve a high level of focus — yes, even the divergent phase.

But how is it possible to focus (which we know consists of filtering out information to stay on task), and also stay open to possibilities simultaneously?

We’re able to do it because of selective attention, the process that makes us notice all the many yellow cars on the street once we decide we want to buy a yellow car. When we tell our brain that yellow cars are important or relevant, it pays more attention to them, working as a guide for our mind-wandering.

So, if we want to improve our creative process and get actual results, we should apply and practice focusing at two different levels.

Two Types of Focus

First, focus on just one project to guide your brain's wandering to get the answers and clues you are looking for, to let your brain make connections and come up with new ideas. Even when you’re just generating ideas, it's an excellent habit to focus on "The One Thing," as Gary Keller and Jay Papasan define it in their book.

Next, focus on a single task to accomplish it. When Albert Einstein disappeared from the public eye for three years, for example, he decided to focus on one single research project. This allowed him to create his groundbreaking theory of relativity.

While these types of focus differ cognitively, both are essential compasses for our thinking, and both involve narrowing your goals. It's why many highly creative individuals are often believed to be obsessed with one thing.

It's why many highly creative individuals are often believed to be obsessed with one thing.

You don't need to become obsessed. But if you provide clear directions to your brain through the proper focus, creativity will flow.

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Next, learn how to choose the more difficult task of creating (writing, painting, etc) over consuming (endlessly scrolling) every time

 

Return to “The Psychology of Focus”

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October 01, 2024 3 min read

We're just 10 weeks away from a major milestone: the 10th anniversary of Freewrite's launch on Kickstarter.  On December 10, 2014, we introduced the Smart Typewriter, then known as  "Hemingwrite," to the world.
How It Started
In September of 2014, co-founders Adam Leeb and Patrick Paul entered Hemingwrite into the “Insert Coin” hardware competition sponsored by Engadget. Described as a new digital consumer product for distraction-free writing composition, Hemingwrite aimed to deliver a singular focus on a productive writing experience. A decade later, that core mission remains unchanged.
Hemingwrite was one of 20 inventions competing that week, highlighting early-stage hardware startups from around the world that had not yet received funding or shipped to consumers.
"What the Kindle did for reading, we want to do for writing," said co-founder Patrick Paul at the time."We set out to deliver the same distraction-free writing experience of a typewriter with all of the added benefits of modern technology."
Co-founder Adam Leeb added,  "We combined all of the best aspects of the typewriter, theMoleskine, and the computer to create a modern classic."
Althoughthe Hemingwrite concept  didn’t win the competition,  the initial coverage by Engadget led to another press hit and then another and quickly it became a viral sensation around the world. The project was covered in everything from The Wall Street Journal to The Atlantic. Over 125,000 people came to the simple wordpress website at hemingwrite.com and over 8,000 anxiously input their email asking for updates on the project.
Adam and Patrick knew they had something special on their hands but weren’t sure if anyone was willing to pay for this idea or if it was simply interesting. On December 10, 2014 the Kickstarter campaign was launched and immediately the pledge dollars started rolling in. Within 20 hours of launch, the campaign had raised over $200,000! And just like that, the Hemingwrite distraction-free writing tool concept became destined for reality.
How It’s Going
Since that initial launch, we have developed Freewrite into a family of distraction-free writing tools with three distinct models, Smart Typewriter, Traveler, and Alpha. Each has their distinct personality, but the core value of maximizing writer productivity runs throughout. 
In 2020, The original Freewrite Smart Typewriter became part of the Science Museum, London’s permanent Printing & Writing Collection.
The name Hemingwrite was dropped in 2015 and then revived in 2021 with the Ernest Hemingway Special Edition Smart Typewriter in partnership with the Ernest Hemingway Estate. 
We’ve created Sprinter for distraction-free writing in any browser and WTF where thousands of people every week receive a writing prompt and participate in Writing Time Friday. 
The community's achievements over the past decade have been  astounding:
  • Freewrite users have created over 600,000 documents
  • Collectively,users have written more than 605 million words (equivalent to over 6,000 novels!)
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 10 years but it also feels like we are just getting started.
To kick things off:
One Year Warranty: Now Standard
We are extending our warranty that covers manufacturer’s defects to a full year on all Freewrite devices. This means you can enjoy your Freewrite with even greater peace of mind, knowing that we've got you covered for an entire year. 

For more information, please visit our dedicated article on our new warranty policy here: Introducing Freewrite's New 1-Year Warranty: Our Commitment to You
Thank You
As we reflect on 10 years, we're filled with gratitude for the amazing writers who have made Freewrite an essential part of their process. Your passion has shaped our products and fueled our mission.  
Here's to the next decade of your writing success!
 
- The Freewrite Team
October 01, 2024 2 min read

As of October 1, 2024, we are extending our standard warranty that covers manufacturer’s defects to a full year on all Freewrite devices. This means you can enjoy your Freewrite with even greater peace of mind, knowing that we've got you covered for a full 12 months from the date of shipment. We’re even retroactively applying the warranty extension to purchases made this year.

Here is how our new 1-year warranty will work:
  • Beginning October 1, 2024, all new purchases now have a 12-month warranty standard from the shipment date.
  • All device purchases made in 2024 will now have 12-month warranty coverage from the shipment date.
    • For example, if your device shipped on March 1, 2024, your warranty would have expired on May 30, 2024, but will now expire on March 1, 2025.
  • If you purchased an Extended Warranty in addition to your device in 2024, you will receive both the new 12-month standard warranty coverage from the date of shipment, as well as the additional coverage period from your paid extended warranty.
    • For example, if your device shipped on March 1, 2024, with a 2-year Extended Warranty:
      • Your standard warranty now expires on March 1, 2025, instead of May 30, 2024.
      • Your 2-year Extended Warranty coverage will begin on March 1, 2025, and continue until March 1, 2027.



Your trust in our products is paramount to us, and this warranty extension reflects our dedication to your satisfaction and our confidence in the quality and reliability of our devices.

Thank you for choosing Freewrite; we look forward to serving you for many years to come. Write on!

 

- The Freewrite Team



Important Notes:

  • For devices purchased in 2023 or earlier, the original 90-day warranty applies, in addition to any paid Extended Warranty coverage.
  • If you purchased your device in 2023 or earlier, without an Extended Warranty, unfortunately, your warranty has now expired.
  • We are unable to offer refunds for prior out-of-warranty repairs.

 

Useful Links:

Official Freewrite Warranty Policy

Warranty Support Doc