Do you ever find yourself having a brilliant idea in the shower, only to have forgotten it by the time you hop out and find your way to a pen and paper? Are you frustrated by staring at a blank computer screen when you need to begin writing a document and feel dry of ideas? Do you feel like you work in inspired bursts and can’t always count on the Muse to show up in time for a deadline? Or do you have so many good ideas that you just don’t know which one to work on?
These are all commonplace scenarios that many people face. There are two main reasons that we struggle to collect, organize, and grow our ideas:
Challenge #1: The flow of ideas your brain is producing doesn’t match up with the work structures or tools you are using to manage them.
Challenge #2: Your brain keeps processing the same thing over and over, because you’re not giving it any new material.
Both of these challenges are due to the fact that our brains are constantly working.
Your brain is a supercomputer that is constantly collecting data and solving problems. It’s working on things, both the things you’ve consciously directed it to do (writing today’s memo or interpreting the latest data of interest to you) and a number of tasks that are running behind the scenes, like noticing advertisements for items you want or need, processing emotional situations, and avoiding things that your brain considers to be threatening.
Oftentimes, the best ideas don’t occur when we’re sitting at a desk in front of a computer or notepad. When you step away from a formal work environment, your brain continues to think about whatever questions and information you’ve been reviewing. That’s why you’ll get a new idea when you’re brushing your teeth, taking a shower, exercising, or driving. Physical tasks that are routine and relaxing can often help stimulate the flow of creative thought.
Luckily, a few simple strategies can help meet both of the challenges I mentioned above and help you generate more good ideas for work, play, and life in general.
Be Ready to Capture a Good Idea Wherever, Whenever
Set up a few different idea catchers on your phone, in your car, and in different parts of your home or office to enable you to easily and quickly capture the essence of a question, task, or idea as it occurs to you.
Some possibilities include:
- keep a small notepad in your pocket or purse
- notepads, index cards, or sticky notes can be easily stashed with a pen in any room of your house.
- use a voice recording app on your phone to catch an idea when you’re on a walk or exercising
- call your own phone and leave yourself a voice message
- send yourself a quick email
- small erasable whiteboards work well in bathroom or kitchen
Write in an Idea Notebook
If you’re working on a large project, taking a few minutes each day to free write about it will help you generate ideas and clarify your thinking. Keeping a small notebook that’s just for this purpose helps establish the habit and frees up your thinking. Try setting a timer for 10 minutes and just write about whatever comes to mind. The idea notebook isn’t a place for taking notes on readings or meetings, or for writing first drafts — it’s just for letting your mind process in whatever way works for you. Your free writing might not take the form of full sentences and paragraphs: it might be lists or drawings or mindmaps. Using an idea notebook can help you move forward with current projects and generate ideas for new directions.
Fuel Your Mind, Literally and Metaphorically
Your brain needs high-quality fuel to work at its best. At the physical level, that means drinking lots of water and eating nutritious, whole foods. At the metaphorical level, though, consider what you’re feeding your brain: what are you reading, watching, and listening to? Are these inputs likely to help you feel inspired, creative, and energized? Consider how you’d like to feel the next time you sit down to work, and what you could read or listen to to help you feel that way.
Take High Quality Breaks
Taking a break is often the best way to get unstuck on a project. Think about how you usually spend your break time: do you stay at the computer, looking at social media or news headlines? Or do you move your body, drink water, experience art, or connect with loved ones to more fully refresh your physical and mental state? A high quality break gives your brain and body a chance to do something different so that you can gain energy and a new perspective.
The more frequently you write down your ideas, make space for new ideas to blossom, and feed your brain with the fuel and rest that it needs, the more good ideas you’ll find yourself having and using throughout your day.