Coffee May Limit Creativity

Steve Jobs, Andy Warhol, and John Lennon were all creative people, known to have enjoyed a morning cup of coffee. New studies, however, have shown that coffee may be limiting your creativity.

Numerous studies have come out over the years as to the benefits of coffee on the liver, exercise performance, alertness, and particularly focus. Focus is one of the main reasons we drink that cup of coffee in the morning. It keeps us awake and able to maintain clarity in what we are doing at work. Unfortunately, imagination and creativity depend on a wandering mind.

Sleep is another key element for creative thinking, and sleep and caffeine tend to be opposites. Subjects in a 2009 study who got a deeper, REM-reached sleep, were able to perform better on a creative test than those who simply rested. Lack of sleep can also make you feel groggy the next day, leaving you with a lack of clarity and complex idea formation.

A caffeinated body may be more efficient and productive, but take a few days off of coffee and let your mind wander a little – or a latte.