How to Harness Everyday Opportunities for Creative Insight
Have you ever gotten a great idea in the shower? If you haven’t experienced this common occurrence yet, I’m sure you have heard about it. The explanation for this phenomenon takes into account that the shower is one of the few places where we are alone, doing something that takes minimal brain power without any input or distractions. Studies have shown that it takes a few minutes of mind wandering before your brain can start to piece together concepts into unique, creative ideas and solutions. Showering is the perfect place for that! Luckily, in our day-to-day life, we have plenty of similar opportunities for creative inspiration to strike if we can harness those opportunities. I want to share a few ways to maximize your chances of tapping into your creative flow regularly.
Laying in bed in the morning is the place I get my best ideas. I have been able to break the habit of immediately grabbing my phone and scrolling in bed, which starts the day in a state of consumption rather than creation (more on how to stop your phone from sapping your creativity here). If you take one thing from this post, I hope you can try replacing morning tech-use with laying in bed, staring off into space. It may sound silly, but if you allow yourself these few minutes, ideas will come to you in the liminal space between sleep and wakefulness. Many creatives keep a notepad by their bedside because it is so common that inspiration will strike right upon waking. I recommend you do the same!
Going for a walk outside is another way to get inspired, not only because you are free from distraction, but also because your observations can provide the foundation for creative ideas. I leave my phone at home when I walk the dog so I can really take advantage of the opportunity to listen to my internal dialogue and observe my surroundings closely.
I also leave my phone in the car when I go to the gym to maximize the opportunity for creative flow. I know that a lot of people find it motivating to listen to music while they workout, but for me, I become more in tune with the pace and emotions of the music than my own body. I prefer to do my workout without any input so I can tune inward, which I believe provides a more beneficial workout for my body and mind. I am more physically aware and safe, plus I am able to listen to whatever thoughts may come up. From that space, I can use my workout as a tool to work through any frustrations or emotions from the day. This applies to any kind of exercise, and can transform your running, stretching, lifting, or dancing into a time to clear mental space for creativity to strike.
Most of us do some driving daily, and the automatic impulse is to turn on the radio or a podcast right away. I challenge you to drive in silence sometimes and see how it creates space for processing your mental clutter from the day. There have been times when I have been working on a problem at the office all day without a clear solution presenting itself, then when I commute home free from distraction, an elegant solution will pop into my head simply because my mind finally had the space to process the problem fully.
The kitchen is another great backdrop for creativity to arise, especially since cooking is inherently creative, so you are likely already approaching the space with a creative mind rather than a consumptive mind. If you can be present while chopping, stirring, and prepping food, you will provide space for mental clarity and creativity. In addition, when you are washing dishes and tidying up, you will find that having your hands occupied with a mindless task will allow for original thought to come through your unoccupied mind. Just like when you are in the shower!
Outside the kitchen, the home provides plenty of space for this kind of daydreaming. Folding clothes, sweeping, tending to the garden, etc. can all have the same effect on your mental state. As with all the things I mentioned, the key is to approach the task with presence, and without forcing anything, just see what your amazing brain will come up with.
In our modern world, it is easy to be constantly distracted and live in a chronic state of consumption. I hope that you can begin to change that for yourself by taking advantage of opportunities to be quiet, present, and let your mind wander. I can promise you that you will be more creative and find inspiration more often if you can apply some of the methods listed above.
