Your Creativity is Dreamy: Why You Should Go Take a Nap

Lightbulb moment. Aha! Epiphany. I have to write this down.

This is the scene on several nights when I’m drifting off to sleep, barely awake and I get a really great idea. I quickly grab my journal and a pen. I wake up enough (kinda) to jot it down so I don’t forget it when I wake up in the morning.

It turns out this is a real, scientific phenomenon. Artists, musicians and creatives alike have been experiencing this “Hypnagogic State” for years.

What is the Hypagogic State?

According to healthline.com, “Hypnagogia is the transitional state of consciousness between wakefulness and sleep. During hypnagogia, it’s common to experience involuntary and imagined experiences. These are referred to as hypnagogic hallucinations. Up to 70 percent of people experience these hallucinations, which can appear in the form of sights, sounds, or even feelings of movement. Muscle jerks, sleep paralysis, and lucid dreams are also common during the hypnagogic phase.”

I won’t bore you with the brain wave details and the effects it has on your body (see article), as you can brush up on all the science of how this level of consciousness works.

Hypnagogic State and Creativity

The transition time between being awake and asleep is the state of mind that many people experience, where there is a “creative sweet spot” when the brain is uber connected to spontaneous ideas, creative inventions, and downright genius thoughts. Your normal logical thought processes relax, thus creating way for the beautiful ideas to be born, connecting distant concepts that maybe are deep in your subconscious. Masterpieces can be born here.

I sometimes intentionally think about a project I’m working on, with the hopes that some clarity might be reached during this “creative sweet spot.” Other times I just naturally review my to-do list items in my mind as I'm drifting off to sleep and I get an idea organically. Either way, being self-aware that it’s a possibility that can happen - it opens your mind and your awareness to a multitude of options.

Hypnagogia is Famous

It’s interesting to think about when and where we get our inspiration. I’ve always wanted to peek inside some of the creative processes of well known artists. It’s very hard to turn this creative thinking on - and off.  Many musicians have experienced this fascinating phenomenon. 

According to Google:

• “Paul McCartney: The melody for the Beatles' classic "Yesterday" came to McCartney entirely in a dream. Upon waking, he rushed to a piano to play the tune, later famously asking friends if they recognized it to make sure he had not subconsciously stolen it. He also cited a dream of his late mother for the inspiration behind "Let It Be".
• Billy Joel: The title track of Joel's album River of Dreams came to him in a dream, where he woke up singing a gospel-inflected tune. He has also stated that he often "hears" compositions in his dreams and can recall them days or weeks later.
• Keith Richards: The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is said to have originated in a dream. The guitarist woke up in the middle of the night and recorded the guitar riff and the words "I can't get no satisfaction" on a cassette player.
• Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix said his 1967 hit "Purple Haze" was inspired by a dream he had where he was walking under the sea, surrounded by a "purple haze".
• Sting: The Police's hit "Every Breath You Take" was conceived when Sting woke up in the middle of the night with the song's key line in his head and had the song written within 30 minutes.”

This blog reviews many renowned artists, inventors, and authors who intentionally use this method: Salvador Dali. Thomas Edision, Mary Shelley, and Edgar Allen Poe.

It’s an amazing and interesting experience that many have tapped into.

My Own Hypnagogia

There’s lots of information and other blog posts that all comment on the hypnagogic state. I’ve talked about it on a podcast before - and I’m here to share my own thoughts on the subject. If you haven’t tapped into this part of your brain, maybe it’s time to go to sleep.

During the hypnagogic state for me, I’ve had visions of my next big Wild Fringe Leather earring design and how it will be worn, what colors I will use, how long it will be, and how it will dangle; I’ve thought of a solution to a work problem that's been looming (I need to download a new plugin that will show regional maps that actually WORKS.); I’ve planned our next trip itinerary, maximizing our time and efficiency mid-adventure. 

My dreamy brain is all over the place, I know. But I also know that this is how my body works and I’m open to the process. I try to prepare myself and be ready while I am drifting off to sleep, with my notes app open or my pad of paper closeby. Maybe you should be ready too? 

In the morning, I read my chicken scratch and think, “Oh yeah - I forgot about that. I’m really glad I wrote that down.” If I hadn’t been paying attention, I could have missed some really brilliant ideas that have made my life better. 

I wonder what’s been lost creatively through the years of our own collective hypnagogia, simply because we didn’t wake up enough to capture it? 

Working for the Creative Gods, Not for the Man

It’s not just about production, spreadsheets, or hitting those pesky sales goals. The “deliverables.” It’s about letting your brain relax enough to be witness to what can truly manifest. One begets the other. When you are open to this crucial step in the creative process, just think about what can come next.

It’s time we get into a space where we let something amazing happen. Breathe, close your eyes and get cozy.  It’s about the entire process, wakeful and sleeping - and finding the joy and maybe even your next big idea.