Like many lawyers, we can’t live without a midday break. Why? A wee little dose of creativity in the coffee.

You see, it turns out that drinking may indeed inspire creativity, just as all the greats (here’s to you, William Faulkner) said it did. But the researchers behind this study say there’s one small caveat: The target is buzzed, not blitzed.

Apparently, staying creative is a lot like driving: You want to set a limit for a 0.08 percent blood alcohol concentration.

Taken together, this seems like the optimal workflow:

  • Step 1: Write the boring stuff.
  • Step 2: Drink.
  • Step 3: Write the fun stuff.
  • Step 4: Proofread.

Plus, assuming you’ve done your math right, you won’t even have to worry about getting a DUI on the way home!

Finding That Sweet, Sweet Spot

Too little booze, and your risk being too … sober (shudder). Too much, and you won’t be able to type straight.

How do you find the sweet spot? HuffPo mentions a cutesy little product that is 7.5 percent alcohol by volume (about twice your average cheap, light beer) which comes with a scale on the back of the bottle to help you guesstimate.

But you don’t have to buy any specific beverage: Any alcohol will do, in moderation. A BAC chart is a good place to start to find out where your near-0.08 percent sweet spot is, since your gender and weight are significant factors in determining how much to drink. A pocket Breathalyzer might be handy too – not just for creative days, but for after parties as well.

We’re Totally Kidding

Look, lawyer have enough issues with booze without bringing a creativity excuse into the mix. A drink or two with lunch, or at a networking event … sure. But if you’re drinking every day to get through those legal briefs that you can’t stand drafting – maybe its time for a career change or a break from booze.

Related Resources:

  • What’s Going to Kill You? If Not Work, Is it the Loneliness? (FindLaw’s Greedy Associates)
  • Five Cheap Cocktails to Celebrate the End of the Bar Exam (FindLaw’s Greedy Associates)
  • Ky. Lawyer Gets DUI While Ordering Pizza on Her Smartphone (FindLaw’s Greedy Associates)

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