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[<ahref="http://storify.com/emmajanemckay/need-an-excuse-to-tune-out-this-weekend"target="_blank">View the story "Need an excuse to tune out this weekend?" onStorify</a>]<h1>Need an excuse to tune out thisweekend?</h1><h2>Here's what we learned at this week's C2-MTLconference on Creativity and Commerce in Montreal, Canada.</h2><p>Storified by Emma Jane McKay · Fri, May25 2012 16:06:38</p><div>As the first-ever C2-MTL comes to aclose, we're reflecting on an extraordinary week in which creative types from a diverserange of disciplines converged to share ideas on creativity and commerce. Buzzwords like"innovation" were volleyed about with wild abandon, since pretty much every companycurrently in operation would like to consider itself as being rooted in a culture ofinnovation. Great in theory, but practically speaking, how do you achievethis? </div><div>First, recognize that while acompany may try to foster a culture of innovation with a dazzling array of employee perks,it ultimately comes down to hiring the right people, as emphasized by Carl Bass, CEO ofAutodesk.</div><div>"Inspiration, innovationcomes from individuals, not companies". Carl Bass #C2MTLJPShoiry</div><div>But when you've been hired to be creative,and you're sitting there banging your head against the keyboard because the ideas justaren't flowing, it's time to try a new tack. C2-MTL speaker Jonah Lehrer, a contributingeditor at <i>Wired Magazine </i>and author of threebooks<i>, </i>drew on his background in neuroscience toexplain that if you want to achieve that "eureka!" moment, what you really need to do iswalk away from the problem. </div><div>JonahLehrer says: Brainstorming doesn't work... Taking vacations does! #creativity #commerce#C2MTLSami The Intern</div><div>When you give your brain achance to relax, it emits alpha waves, which have been proven essential to the brain'sability to solve insightproblems. </div><div>Alpha waves! Relax yourselfto relax your mind. The answer has always been there! - Jonah Lehrer #C2MTLReneSuhardono</div><div>Jonah Lehrer "the answer willonly appear when you stop looking for it" #c2mtlCharlesMorand</div><div>Lehrer isn't the only one to recognize thevalue of downtime. Einstein saw it,too: </div><div>"#Creativity is theresidue of wasted time," said #Einstein, as quoted by Jonah Lehrer at #C2MTL#commerce http://pic.twitter.com/vagqVIpuDavidMitchell</div><div>Epiphanies happen when you take time torelax and stop chasing after them. </div><div>Metoo! My epiphanies come to me in the shower! Me and Carl Bass, who knew? #C2MTLLissaConstantine</div><div>In Arianna Huffington's experience, agood night's sleep paves the way to increased creativity. Being well rested makes you amore interesting person,too. </div><div>According to Arianna Huffington,it's all about sleep. More sleep =>more joy=>more creativity#c2mtlEmma Jane McKay</div><div>It makes sense to pursue thethings that make you happy, whether that means getting together with friends and family,spending time in nature, watching movies or whatever else you do forkicks.</div><div>Joy is a fuel for creativity - AriannaHuffington #C2Mtlmarianik1968</div><div>Jennifer Yuh Nelson,the director of the immensely successful <i>Kung Fu Panda2</i>, explained how she tricks her brain into thinking it's not working bytaking time out. </div><div>Don't forcecreativity. When you hit a block, disconnect from the problem and take a break - JenniferYuh Nelson #C2MTLNolan Berg</div><div>Most of Yuh Nelson'sbreakthroughs come during her downtime, whether she's playing video games, lazing aroundon a Sunday morning ordriving. </div><div>"I Play a lot ofvideogames" Jennifer Yuh Nelson Director from Kung Fu Panda @DreamWorks#C2MTL #C2mtligorbotelho</div><div>Do you need any morereasons to take some time for yourself and truly disconnect thisweekend?</div> Continue Reading
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