New research from the University of Essex and Humboldt University of Berlin has found that alcohol and narcotics are the least effective means of sparking creativity. Instead, complex training programmes, meditation, and exposure to different cultures provide the biggest boost to an individual’s creative flow. The study reviewed hundreds of papers, analysing the methods that produced the best results for unlocking creativity, and concluded that the programmes that help unpack the creative process had the best long-term impacts. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, as people respond better to different situations and techniques. The study’s lead author, Jennifer Haase, from Humboldt University, noted that creativity “results much more from a situational fit between the cognitive mindset and the creative challenge”. The research is aimed at helping schools and employers better understand creative thinking, as well as the many ways to encourage a creative setting or mindset.