( CNN ) Have you ever found the creative inspiration you were seeking at the most unexpected time , or thought you were having that long-awaited problem-solving epiphany just as you nodded off to sleep ? According to neuroscientists John Kounios and Mark Beeman , there 's a reason for that . Their book , `` The Eureka Factor '' , explores the influences at work behind that much sought-after `` Aha ! '' moment . Research suggests that in trying to conjure up inspiration , most of us end up suppressing it . The book explains how to clear out mental junk , in order to make way for pivotal revelations . Dr. Kounios explained : `` Insights involve unusual connections . Cognitive psychologists call these 'remote associations ' . They are processed mostly in the brain 's right hemisphere . Insights occur when a subconscious remote association suddenly pops into awareness . This is accompanied by a burst of activity in the brain 's right temporal lobe . '' `` We wrote `` The Eureka Factor '' to help people understand how creative insight works in the brain so they can use various strategies harmoniously without having them cross-circuit each other , `` said Kounios . `` For example , there is evidence that imagining the future helps to put someone in an insightful state . However , if a person imagines a specific future that makes them anxious , then insightfulness could decrease because anxiety is a creativity killer . '' `` That said , a positive mood and a broad , expansive spread of attention are a couple of key features of the insightful state , '' he added . Following are some of the tips they suggest for unleashing your creative potential -- both at home and at work . Spaciousness helps broaden thoughts . Even high ceilings have been shown to broaden attention . Small , windowless offices , low ceilings and narrow corridors will do little to inspire our brains and make us flexible , creative thinkers . Relaxing outdoor colors such as blue and green contribute to this state . `` Emergency '' colors such as red suppress it . Surprisingly , dark colors and dim lighting can also be beneficial : by obscuring visual details , they help people think more abstractly . Static surroundings encourage static thinking . Do n't be predictable . You should sometimes change everyday routines , such as where you go for coffee or your route to work . Rearrange your furniture and decor from time to time , at home and in your workplace . Hold meetings in a variety of places . Make sure to include some nonconformists in your inner circle . Unusual people tend to be out-of-the-box thinkers , and their unique outlook might help you attack a problem from a different angle . The threat of a firm deadline will narrow your thinking and inhibit your insight . Try and use soft target dates and a flexible schedule to establish a helpful , nonthreatening time frame . Rewards and punishments for meeting or missing deadlines , if needed at all , should be vague and mild so they do n't contribute added pressure . A positive outlook will help stimulate a more open mind , one that can process a greater number of ideas . If you struggle to think happy , try focusing on the people and things that bring you joy . To put a twist on Pasteur 's famous saying , chance favors the happy mind . When you 're stuck on a problem , take a break to do or think about something very different . Expose yourself to a variety of people and places . Listen to music or go to a pleasing movie , art exhibit or talk a walk . Play a game , dance , do yoga , read . Insight triggers appear at the most unlikely times and places . We all know how important sleep is to our cognitive thinking . The sleep-deprived mind is more likely to fixate on small matters -- an absolute killer to creativity . Ample sleep also helps foster the discovery of hidden connections between ideas . Insightful thought is at its best when your powers of inhibition are weaker , because reduced focus opens up your awareness to remote associations that would n't come to you when you 're feeling sharp . If you 're an early bird , you should try doing your creative work at night . If you 're a night owl , try the morning . Perhaps the single most important thing to remember is that your mental state can change . It takes a while to sink into an insightful mindset . Try and schedule uninterrupted blocks of time for relaxed , freewheeling creative thought . Turn off your phone . Get rid of the clock . Let abstract ideas and vague impressions flow where they will . Tips have been extracted from the book `` The Eureka Factor '' , which has been written by Dr. John Kounios and Dr. Mark Beeman . How missing sleep can damage your IQ . How to make rejection work for you . 7 habits of highly ineffective people .
Two neuroscientists have conducted brain imaging to examine moments of clarity . Sudden `` insights '' are otherwise known as `` Eureka '' or ` Aha . We can increase our chance of these insights with a variety of daily changes .