Absorbing isn’t something to lament or hurry through, but a crucial ingredient for inspiration and restoration. Whether it’s writing, problem-solving, or recharging before a string of social events, when we skip over the absorb phase, it can lead to what Beneba Clarke calls “dead time”: “If I haven’t thought enough about something in my head and I haven’t conceptualized it enough, what I put on the page is not likely to be brilliant. It’s taken me a long time to see there is a strong point in going for a long walk, getting some fresh air, and thinking about how I can write a story.”
