Creativity in the Wild: How Wilderness Exposure Enhances Problem Solving

Keith Sawyer points to a remarkable study that shows how exposure to the outdoors enhances creativity. The mechanisms are unclear, but it could be that there is a sense of possibility that comes from the outdoors due to the expanded boundaries of perception. By that, I think of how the topography, fauna and flora constantly present novelty and new combinations that are not seen when you are on screen. With our computers and tech tools, the format of information is presented in ways that are relatively consistent moment to moment and introduce little novelty. It’s an idea, but certainly its something to look at with more detail. So for now, the lesson might be to take a vacation from your tech and get outside if you want to spur creative problem solving.

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