Mindfulness and creativity: Implications for thinking and learning

•This thematic literature review investigates the relationship between mindfulness and creativity•Mindfulness practices improve skills or habits of mind that can support creativity•The mindfulness-creativity relationship is complex, but generally positive•Deliberate/mindful mind-wandering can support creativity•Purposeful inclusion of mindfulness in learning settings can benefit student learning, creativity and wellbeing Mindfulness and creativity have both come to the forefront of educational interest—but a better understanding of their relationship and the implications for education is needed. This article reviews the literature on the intersection of these topics in order to understand where and how these two related but distinctive areas of research connect, and how this pertains to the complexity of education settings. Our goal is to understand findings from the literature and consider the implications for educational practice and research, with an eye to how mindfulness can be supportive to learners’ creativity. This thematic review and qualitative analysis of extant literature identifies four themes that speak to the connection between mindfulness and creativity. There is solid evidence to show a generally beneficial and supportive relationship, in that practicing mindfulness can support creativity—but many factors affect this and there are a range of considerations for practice. This article reflects on the key findings of scholarly work on the mindfulness-creativity relationship with interpretative discussion and implications for educational research and practice.