Leonardo da Vinci is considered one of the most multi talented individuals ever to live. Did you know it is strongly believed he had ADHD?
A recent study by 2 neuroscientists looked at some details of da Vinci’s life and found that his tendency to procrastinate and not complete projects can confidently be attributed to ADHD.
While he was working on the Mona Lisa, da Vinci got stuck and realized there was something missing which he couldn’t figure out. So instead of forcing himself to complete the project, he moved on to a few other projects while letting his mind process the Mona Lisa.
He then was able to come back to it and complete what became one of the most famous painting of all time!
As a polymath, da Vinci embraced procrastination and used it to his creative advantage. This is one of the many examples of how ADHD traits can be beneficial for creatives and entrepreneurs!
“Men of lofty genius sometimes accomplish the most when they work the least.”
– Leonardo da Vinci
A glimpse inside da Vinci’s fascinating ADHD brain can be seen in his notebook, famously known as the “Codex,” which is a treasure trove of ideas, sketches, observations, and innovative concepts.
Here are just some of the topics he covered in his notes:
- Music
- Engineering
- Literature
- Anatomy
- Cartography
- Cosmology
- Botany
- History
- Mathematics
- Science
All these unrelated topics he was able to brilliantly link together.
da Vinci considered note taking a crucial part of his thought process.
“It is useful to constantly observe, note, and consider.” he once said.
Let’s look at an example of Leonardo’s todo list. Notice his usage of action verbs.
- [Calculate] the measurement of Milan and Suburbs
- [Find] a book that treats of Milan and its churches, which is to be had at the stationer’s on the way to Cordusio
- [Examine] the Crossbow of Mastro Giannetto
- [Desribe] the tongue of a woodpecker
- [Measure] a dead man using your finger as a unit
- [Observe] the the goose’s foot, if it were always open or always closed, the creature would not be able to make any kind of movement
What can we learn from da Vinci’s todo list?
1. Curiosity Unleashed: Let your curiosity roam free. Note anything that piques your interest, whether it’s some new term you just heard or an unusual insect you encountered. No observation is too small or insignificant.
2. Linked thought: Like Leonardo, find connections between different ideas, fields, or concepts. Blend art with science, history with technology, and see how these combinations spark new insights. With bi-directional linking in Obsidian, we can harness this potential with a great advantage.
3. Visual Thinking: Leonardo was a master at expressing his ideas through sketches and diagrams. Embrace visual thinking in your notes to capture complex concepts or create intriguing mind maps.
4. Externalize your ideas: Da Vinci used his notebook to record his wildest inventions and dreams, even if he didn’t get around to building them. Develop a habit of noting any ideas that come to mind so they don’t get lost. Let your external brain manage storing your ideas, clearing your mind for what it does best – idea generation and creative output.
5. Question Everything: Be relentless in questioning the world around you. Ask “why” and “what if” to challenge existing norms and discover new paths of thought.