Recent studies have shown that as little as 20 minutes of doing improv can increase creativity, well-being and our ability to tolerate uncertainty.
For some of us, the idea of being the center of attention while having to make stuff up on the spot is something that would make us run for the hills. But people who participate in the act of performing improv report boosts in self-confidence, creativity and spontaneity, and the science backs them up. So how can we embrace the discomfort for long enough to get the benefits?
Well, an episode of the NPR podcast Life Kit discussed 5 rules of improv that can be applied to your daily life to make it better, so perhaps focusing on some specific benefits can make the experience more enjoyable- especially Rule 4!
- Yes, and– by saying yes instead of saying no, we are forced to listen to what the other person has said and react to it, which opens up a whole world of possibilities that a “no” would keep closed.
- Embrace mistakes– in improv, you have to roll with whatever is happening and that forces you to embrace and incorporate your mistakes. By accepting that everyone makes them, we can give ourselves permission to make them and even to turn them into happy accidents.
- Don’t shy away from yourself– being your authentic self brings so much value to everything that you do!
- Be present in your body– the point of improv is to be totally in the moment, which is part of what makes it so challenging. In your daily life, meditation and breathing techniques can give you a similar benefit.
- Make room for play– it’s not just for kids! Research shows that when adults play, it reduces stress and improves their overall well-being. So just by doing something that’s fun, you can give yourself a boost!
For more on all of this, please check out this article on npr.com.
PS: the Instagram post at the top of this piece is from Improv Everywhere, which we first wrote about in July 2021 in Stand Here For Dance Party.
