They did mention in the research that living somewhere longer wasn’t actually helpful, interestingly. I expect that getting into too much of a pattern isn’t conducive to creativity regardless of where you live. And there is plenty of other research that says you need to have a certain amount of “down time” in order to be creative, and perhaps you’re not getting that.

Plus people tend to go through more and less creative periods.

There are other kinds of creative products, too. I’ve been feeling like I’m not creative anymore, because I also used to write and draw, and I don’t really anymore. However, I do have this and my other blog project, and that’s something. I’m hoping a more creative period is coming up, though! I miss writing fiction and drawing.

Anyway, who knows; it’s all very mysterious and complicated, and I’m not really convinced that creativity (like intelligence) can be studied.

Then again, I do live a sort of insular life – I don’t enjoy going out and meeting people, and I spend twelve hours a day either working or commuting. So I probably don’t get the cultural mishmash that might be necessary for a creative boost.

Of course, I don’t have a control to test against. Perhaps if I had stayed in the US I would have experienced the same decline. There’s no way of knowing if it’s my experience abroad or just my inevitable slide into creative mediocrity.