Is your morning routine killing your creativity?

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SALT LAKE CITY — Take a minute to think about your morning routine.

The alarm clock buzzes and you take your time waking up, gradually rolling out of bed to take a leisurely shower, make a nice breakfast and maybe watch a few entertaining YouTube videos. When you get to work, you are refreshed and energized, your creative juices flowing at full speed.

Right?

Chances are, you're a little more hurried in the morning. A quick shower and you rush out the door, gulping down breakfast as you go. Now, researchers are saying a rushed morning routine is more harmful than helpful -- the few minutes saved can mean stunted creativity.

You can't expect to do mind gymnastics when your sole focus every morning is getting out the door as quickly as possible, according to neuroscientists and cognitive psychologists. In a 2011 study, researchers Mareike Wieth and Rose Zacks found that we are most receptive to so- called blue sky ideas when we are at our groggiest — when we first wake up, for all except the most chipper of morning people.

The study, involving 428 undergraduate students, tested the insight problem-solving skills of the students at various times of day. The self-identified night owls were most successful in the morning, while morning larks had the best luck in the evening.

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Their recommendation? Give yourself time to process the random paths your thoughts may lead you down.

On a physiological level, the stress of a harried morning routine impacts the brain's ability to function properly. Cortisol, the stress hormone, has been shown to harm myelin, the fatty substance that forms a protective layer around the axon of a neuron. Signals are transmitted more slowly between neurons with a damaged myelin sheath, leading to fewer sudden epiphanies.

Also affecting our ability to be creative is our exposure to negative emotions and bad news, according to a recent study. Participants were found to be less able to creatively problem-solve after exposure to sad film clips, suggesting that it might be smarter to save the morning newspaper for your lunch break.

Researchers also found that a morning caffeine jolt can actually help with creativity, not only making us more alert, but also increasing our dopamine levels, which influence our level of motivation.

Of course, some mornings are guaranteed to be hectic. Getting the kids ready for school or prepping for that morning meeting are almost guaranteed stress inducers, but researchers recommend finding at least a few minutes to relax and enjoy the moment, whether by taking a long shower or watching a cute film clip.

After all, what could induce more happiness than a baby's laughter?