But it’s pretty obvious, really, that busy is not the ultimate metric here. It’s not the end game. After all, sheer quantity of work is not the aim. Rather, I’m searching for depth. And originality. [...]

What I’m questing after, instead, is an idea with power. That new framework that helps us see a relationship we’d previously missed. The essay

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Build pockets of stillness into your life. Meditate. Go for walks. Ride your bike going nowhere in particular. There is a creative purpose to daydreaming, even to boredom. The best ideas come to us when we stop actively trying to coax the muse into manifesting and let the fragments of experience float around our unconscious mind in order to click... See more

The “larger questions” often can’t be tackled at work, because creativity and critical thinking require uninterrupted focus – like going for a walk or sitting quietly on a couch by yourself. Or a bike ride. Or talking to someone outside your field.