In a past issue titled "Thinking Outside The Box: 7 Unexpected Ways I Break Creative Barriers," I shared the seven ways I stay creative.
This included challenging assumptions, shifting your perspective, and breaking your routine, to name a few. The thing about consciously trying to be creative is often, with more effort, creativity tends to be elusive. This paradox can be frustrating when you have a deadline to meet.
For quite some time, I've been playing with the idea of micro-naps.
Also known as an "Edison nap."
Let me explain.
This technique was famously used by artist Salvador Dalí and inventor Thomas Edison. Recent research confirms that "Edison naps" can dramatically enhance creative insight. After doing some research, I was floored by the findings of several studies.
But what is an Edison nap?
What Is The Hynagogic Nap Technique?
This technique is quite simple.
It involves waking up the moment you begin to fall asleep. Dalí and Edison were reported to have performed this technique by napping in a chair while holding a small object (like a key or ball) in their hand. As they drifted into the first stage of sleep, the object would slip from their fingers, hit the ground, and wake them up--catching only a minute or two of light dozing.
In sleep science, this shallow dozing is Stage N1 of sleep, also called the hypnagogic state.
A brief twilight zone between wakefulness and deep sleep.
During the N1 Stage of sleep, strange sensations and dreamlike images can appear even though you remain aware of your environment. Reality blends into fantasy at this stage of sleep.
The key to the Edison nap is interrupting sleep at just the right moment. Allowing you to return to wakefulness carrying the unconstrained, imaginative thoughts from the edge of sleep.
Before learning about hynagogic naps, I tried a technique that I've since abandoned, because it would lead to me falling into a deeper sleep for a longer period. When I would wake, sometimes I had solutions to the problems I was trying to solve. However, more often than not, I would wake empty-handed.
The Science Behind The Edison Nap
In 2021, Science Advances published a study that put this micro-nap idea to the test.
With over 100 participants, they first attempted to solve a tricky math puzzle with a hidden shortcut solution. They were given a break, where some were allowed to doze briefly while holding an object to catch themselves in N1 sleep. Conversely, others stayed awake, and a few accidentally slept deeper into N2.
The results from this study were outstanding!
83% of those who drifted into at least ~15 seconds of N1 sleep unlocked the hidden solution upon waking.
Comparatively, only 30% of participants who remained awake during the break solved it.
For those who had fallen into a deeper N2 sleep, only ~14% solved the math puzzle.
Looking at the results of the study, hitting that brief hypnagogic window more than doubled or tripled the chances of a creative "eureka!" moment. This confirms the creative sweet spot experienced in the world between the conscious and unconscious.
My previous technique only scratched the surface of what was possible.
How Can I Try The Edison Nap?
To try this technique yourself, there are five steps to keep in mind:
Step 1: Choose a time when you're slightly tired and can safely nap for a few minutes.
Step 2: Sit upright in a comfortable spot and hold a light object (e.g., a spoon, a set of keys, or a small empty cup).
Step 3: Think about a creative problem or topic as you relax and let your mind drift.
Step 4: As you begin to nod off, the object will drop and create a noise to jolt you awake.
Step 5: Once you wake, immediately note any thoughts, images, or ideas that were flowing through your mind.
Remember, those fleeting, free-associative thoughts are the raw creative insights generated by your hypnagogic brain.
Whenever you practice this technique, consider keeping a notebook and pen close by so you can write down your insights.
Also, feel free to use this for any creative opportunity to glean insights you otherwise might not have been able to make. I love this technique because it's so unassuming while also being science-backed. I almost discovered this technique myself, but I was off by a bit.
However, when I first tried to use the Edison nap technique (I was trying to solve an issue with the plot), the insights I gained simply wouldn't have been possible while fully conscious.
Quick Recap: Stop Trying To Be Creative--Do This Instead
There are quite a few ways you can be more creative while you're conscious. However, the Edison nap is a way to tap into your brain's untapped potential to solve problems in an unusual, yet science-backed way.
Neurologically, during N1, the brain transitions from wakeful alpha waves into more random theta waves, and normal sensory input starts to fade.
Neuroscientists have found that N1 sleep engages brain networks that are instrumental to creativity.
The next time you are facing a seemingly unsolvable problem, try a micro-nap.
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I juggle having a 9-5, raising my daughter and finding time for creative work. A lot of times I’m running on fumes so the idea that I can access creativity just from brief resting is so freeing! I’m definitely going to try an Edison nap during lunch and see what happens. Thank you for introducing an idea with so much potential Idris Elijah!
I never thought a nap could be a creative tool, but this actually makes a lot of sense! I love that it’s both low-effort and backed by science. Letting go, even for a minute, can often bring clarity. Thanks for this information Idris Elijah and I’ll be testing it out for sure!