It's Friday... Mental Block? Have a drink!

Our first guest blog seemed like a perfect subject for Friday at the office. Please enjoy:

Ok, first things first. I’m sure you’re all thinking isn’t this RT’s blog about healthy eating? Who is this chick hijacking the show and talking about booze? Don’t worry, I love healthy eating and cooking tips just as much as the next gal, BUT everyone needs to indulge every once in a while right? That’s where the cocktails come in (Judgey McJudgerson I know you’re probably having a field day with this one right now).

Daytime drinking in the right context is awesome. I’m not talking about sneaking a flask in your purse for a quick pull when you get the shakes (you might have bigger problems my friend). I’m talking about tailgating (Go Rebs!), brunches, BBQs, or any other social event of that sort. But as I get older, daytime drinking opportunities are becoming scarce. Blame long hours at the office, kids (slow your roll, I’m not hating on kids, I’m simply saying that they change your social habits), yard work etc. So when I read a new study conducted at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) where the effects of drinking were tested against problem-solving and creative thinking, I was intrigued. I work in communications/PR in DC and brainstorming for that next big idea is an integral part of the creative process. We hold brainstorms for all kinds of reasons: to help think of new ideas for clients, new business opportunities, as well as to find solutions to internal issues.

As a participant of several stagnant sessions, I know first hand that they do not always produce results. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat through a 2-hour meeting where there is someone asleep in their chair or doodling on a white board and there have been too many long periods of awkward silence to count. Who wants to have a brainstorm on a Monday after a weekend away, a Friday before a holiday or after a night of lack of sleep because your new puppy just wants to play (Tango I’m looking at you)? But could there be a way to shake things up and actually produce results?

When you think about drinking and the workplace, an after-hours happy hour usually comes to mind. Only in the world of Mad Men is consuming copious amounts of alcohol part of the creative strategy. I don’t think my current employer would look too kindly on sleeping it off on the sofa in my office.

According to the UIC researchers, moderate alcohol consumption can reduce people’s ability to pay attention—no big revelation there. But here is where it gets interesting, that lack of focus can open the door to creative thinking. Researchers theorize that alcohol causes people to pay less attention to distracting tasks giving them better access to “solution cues that would otherwise be ignored.” In a typical brainstorm, participants are bouncing ideas off each other or jotting down thoughts on a white board. This is a tried and true process, but after awhile, it can become a little mundane. Throwing a few vodka-cranberries in the mix every once in awhile might be the spark needed to get people to let their guards down and think outside the box, while also taking the edge off of that annoying coworker.


I’m not advocating for private bars in everyone’s office or ragers during the lunch hour. But the next time we find ourselves having trouble generating a big idea, whether it’s in the business world or your personal life; maybe we should think about raising a glass.

-JJ