Up with down time

Today is the third anniversary of my civil partnership to the fabulous Fiona and on this lovely sunny day, we went to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum. Before we left the house, I changed my handbag twice - the first was too small for what I wanted to carry, the second too like a business bag.

While I was on the tube, I looked at the contents - my reading glasses, enormous purse (fat with no end of credit, debit and loyalty cards), the note book I jot thoughts in, my diary (paper, small, slim and I fear slightly inadequate in these electronic times), my iPhone, a lipstick (I took out the whole make-up case, it wouldn't fit) and finally my Kindle in case I got bored on the tube.

I wondered why I had so much stuff.  Just ten years ago, I wouldn't have had this amount of paraphernalia.  Now, I think I cram my bags with things to do in case I have a spare moment - papers to read, emails or blogs to write, my diary to plan.

So - is this the gradual erosion of "down" time, where you do nothing at all except let your mind go blank or - at a pinch - daydream?  Which means of course, that you never have a spare moment and this, I think, is damaging.  I recognise in a wired, connected world that such thinking is old-fashioned, heresy even, in a world where work never stops.

But  work should stop.  This gives tired brains the time to recuperate and in that recuperation, comes renewal.  Research  indicates that the time people are most creative when they are most unconscious. Daydreaming and "doing nothing in particular" is crucial - it's said that Nolan Bushnell, the founder of the Atari company, was inspired for what became a best-selling video game while idly flicking sand on a beach.  What wonderful ideas could we all have if we stopped working all the time, and started staring into space?

So throw away the big bags - go out with money in your pocket and a phone which you need for emergencies only.  Watch people and interactions rather than stare at electronic games or bury your nose in a paper. Let thoughts float around your mind and let it drift into new waters.

It may not only be better for your creativity, but having a lighter bag will probably benefit your posture too!