Creativity Is Not the Sole Province of the Young

One of the most prevalent myths is that creativity significantly diminishes with age. The reality is: it all depends.

According to psychologist Dean Keith Simonton, there are three factors that tend to affect our creativity as we age. First, our level of creativity is often influenced by the field or profession we’re in as adults. For those for whom creativity is a critical element of their work, such as poets and mathematicians, evidence indicates early peaks and later declines; whereas professionals such as philosophers and historians experience later peaks in their careers. Second, there are individuals who are “one-hit wonders” – they make a single creative contribution and then fizzle. Others enjoy a lifetime of creative contributions that continue well into, and through, their senior years. Third, there are early bloomers (who create their best work at the beginning of their career), and late bloomers whose creative output doesn’t begin until many years into their careers (Witness Grandma Moses, the celebrated artist, who didn’t begin painting until she was 78 years old).

Simonton also makes the point that old age, in and of itself, doesn’t always result in a significant decline in creativity. His resounding argument is that creativity can be both a lifetime goal and a reality for those in their 60s, 70s, and beyond as much as it might be for those just out of college or in the beginning stages of their careers. The conclusion to be drawn is that our level of creativity is not necessarily a condition of our age, but rather how we might embrace it throughout all our years.

Staying Creative in Old Age

There is a growing body of research that underscores the fact that creativity is a significant component of healthy aging. Equally important is that creativity has been shown to be a critical factor leading to greater longevity. That being the case, the question then becomes, “What can I do to ensure that my level of creativity is strong and sustained, particularly as I age?” Let’s take a look.

First, play is essential for our creativity – irrespective of age. Play allows us to use and expand our divergent thinking abilities, because in play, everything is possible. We look at situations and events without a critical eye and we are less judgmental and less inhibited. In a play situation, we are more apt to ask questions beginning with “What if?” (“What if we threw a Frisbee with an overhand motion, rather than an underhand motion?”), more inclined to take creative chances (“I bet I can swing higher than you can.”), and more willing to seek out unknown possibilities (“Hey, let’s hike that mountain and see what’s at the top.”). Play allows us to think without artificial constraints. It allows us to live in a world where anything goes – a world with few limits and lots of possibilities.

Second, read widely. Creative individuals typically read a wide range of books – most outside of their chosen field. For example, although I’m a professional educator, I often read books on topics well outside my area of expertise, including marketing, archeology, criminology, weaving, horticulture, mountaineering, philosophy, and cartography. Reading done in fields away from, or different from, one’s chosen profession, offers different points of view. Exposing ourselves to new and varied arenas also exposes us to new and varied thinking.

Third, travel widely. Many creativity experts laud the significance of travel as an inducement for creative thinking. Not only does travel expose one to new territories and landscapes; so too, does it offer opportunities for original experiences such as foods, customs, geographies, traditions, ethnicities, politics, and rituals. Travel helps us become more observant and, thus, create connections between what we are used to and what we can learn “on the road.” The major plus is that we have opportunities to personally interact with other people and their (sometimes creative) ways of looking at the world.

Fourth, daydream more. Daydreaming is an important mental activity, especially if we pay attention to it. In one study, researchers asked 122 students to read a children’s story and press a button each time they caught themselves tuning out. The researchers also periodically interrupted the students as they were reading and asked them if they were “zoning out” or drifting off without being aware of it. They concluded that people who are aware of their proclivity to daydream tend to be more creative. The results also demonstrated that individuals scored higher on a test of creativity in which they are asked to describe all the uses of a common object, such as a brick. As reported, daydreamers were able to compile longer and more creative lists.

Conclusion

Creativity is, above all else, a lifetime commitment. It’s a habit (a good one, fortunately) that needs to be a consistent part of our everyday routine. Like an accomplished marathon runner, it’s something that must be practiced regularly. No matter our age, we have to put the “miles” in. Bottom line: Becoming and remaining creative requires commitment and energy throughout ALL our years.

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