I laughed when I read the best ideas come to you in the shower. I have said that so many times and even looked up the pad and writing instrument that can be put in the shower! Haven't bought it, don't really think I want it. But, this was a very good post and exactly what I needed to read first this morning. My brain goes to creating art first and writing second. It is the order of things for me. The writing ideas come, but then I forget them ... so my goal is to write the blog posts (which I do sometimes) like I did some years ago ... quite regularly. The fun part is I don't actually have to post them ... though I did a blog post just two days ago for the first time in a bit. They can be blog posts mostly just for me! Shareable when they are!
I totally understand and agree! I am getting back to my normal of about five or six years ago... as I can... and as I get my computer straight. I had a hard drive go bad and lost the computer. Been working through the holidays on getting all the files back from various cloud and externals where file structures were not the same as recent.... many redundant files!!!
Hey Tim, two points resonated with me in this story.
Junk food: On business trips I often find myself in the middle of nowhere staring at yet another McDonald's. While burgers are tasty, they mess with my mental health. It's subtle. I don't notice that on a day-to-day basis. But I smile less and have more negative thoughts after three to four days.
Throwing stuff away: We moved last year. The new apartment is larger but I intentionally bought less stuff for the living room. There's a sofa and a large desk where I write. A small book cabinet. So when I write, there's order in the room, which helps me order my thoughts.
This is so good! Many of my ideas come from what I call meditative dancing. Eyes closed let your body move organically with some inspiring music. Lately also, and I am loving this one, is that dreams have become a powerful source of informations to work with. The key is to write them down as soon as I get up!
This is where my attention went. As a storyteller, my mind and attention are driven to wander. Its the common stride for my kind of production: I wander and eventually find my way to a destination. I describe my path once I've arrived and then move on to the next wandering.
For me, distraction is essential for this way of creating. I do time block, so that's something. And I do set intentions to create something specific in advance. But once I walk out the door, I am caught by the flight of a leaf or my dog's need to pee, or an email from that person I forgot to email or all the other things. I'm cool with it. Because what happens is that the intention set gets somehow met. Miraculously? I don't know.
What I can say is that it is fun to explore and I appreciate your protocol and sense of humor about it.
I've never experienced the best ideas coming to me in the shower - but recognise the best ideas coming to me on trips and vacations. The separation of being in a completely different environment jogs my brain out of where it's been and sets forward a new path and direction. It's worth the investment in the trip alone just to be able to think about a project or the business from a distance.
You’ve given me a new perspective on procrastination. Logically I know the more I beat myself up about something the less likely I am to find a solution, but had not applied that to procrastination. Truth is, “Mr. P” tags along with me on most of my important venture in life. I can either treat him as the hated enemy or embrace him as an integral part of my process. I suspect this could be a game changer given my dopamine-challenged ADHD brain.
I’m trying to imagine how this might look... let’s say with taxes... I’ll set aside one evening a week to get things rolling and invite Mr. P to the party. Since I know he’s not the enemy, I can happily anticipate his arrival and plan accordingly. Rather than trying to bribe myself with a reward when/if I get xyz done, I can commit to giving him my full focus at the outset, engaging in something enjoyable, without any guilt! Because I’m quite sure it’s guilt that perpetuates the avoidance that perpetuates the guilt that... you get the picture.
I’m sure there is far deeper application for this, so I’ll start here and see where it goes. Thank you for helping me reframe!
I laughed when I read the best ideas come to you in the shower. I have said that so many times and even looked up the pad and writing instrument that can be put in the shower! Haven't bought it, don't really think I want it. But, this was a very good post and exactly what I needed to read first this morning. My brain goes to creating art first and writing second. It is the order of things for me. The writing ideas come, but then I forget them ... so my goal is to write the blog posts (which I do sometimes) like I did some years ago ... quite regularly. The fun part is I don't actually have to post them ... though I did a blog post just two days ago for the first time in a bit. They can be blog posts mostly just for me! Shareable when they are!
I'd encourage you to publish in public. It's how you attract new opportunities.
I totally understand and agree! I am getting back to my normal of about five or six years ago... as I can... and as I get my computer straight. I had a hard drive go bad and lost the computer. Been working through the holidays on getting all the files back from various cloud and externals where file structures were not the same as recent.... many redundant files!!!
Yikes - that sounds like a nightmare. I hope you’re able to recover everything of importance without too much of a struggle!
It is! But I am struggling through it... thankfully I had a few external hard drives and a cloud drive.
This happened to me one time and it was a nightmare. Now I use external drives + cloud just in case.
Love this Tim!
My best ideas come just as I'm falling asleep and when I wake in the morning.
Lesson: best to write them down immediately when you're still in that half dreamy state!
Also the shower. Long, hot showers (please don't tell the water police!)
AND I focus best once I have a clean house. Clean, clear house = clean, clear mind!
Thanks
Good tips Susan. Always write ideas when they come down. And turn them into essays same day if you can while the energy is high.
Since I have been working on - letting go - the things I can't control - my life is more peaceful.
I love your direct question!
"“What are you going to do about it?"
Letting go gives amazing mental clarity Janet.
Hey Tim, two points resonated with me in this story.
Junk food: On business trips I often find myself in the middle of nowhere staring at yet another McDonald's. While burgers are tasty, they mess with my mental health. It's subtle. I don't notice that on a day-to-day basis. But I smile less and have more negative thoughts after three to four days.
Throwing stuff away: We moved last year. The new apartment is larger but I intentionally bought less stuff for the living room. There's a sofa and a large desk where I write. A small book cabinet. So when I write, there's order in the room, which helps me order my thoughts.
I didn't try the shower thing, though! :)
Junk food is hard when you travel. I feel for people who live this way of life and can't always get healthy food. McDonald's is poison.
This is so good! Many of my ideas come from what I call meditative dancing. Eyes closed let your body move organically with some inspiring music. Lately also, and I am loving this one, is that dreams have become a powerful source of informations to work with. The key is to write them down as soon as I get up!
"Books shut down your brain so you can think again."
FACTS
Great post and agree with a lot of it!
But....scrolling Twitter is definitely the mental equivalent of junk food or chain smoking.
"Procrastination is really preparation."
This is where my attention went. As a storyteller, my mind and attention are driven to wander. Its the common stride for my kind of production: I wander and eventually find my way to a destination. I describe my path once I've arrived and then move on to the next wandering.
For me, distraction is essential for this way of creating. I do time block, so that's something. And I do set intentions to create something specific in advance. But once I walk out the door, I am caught by the flight of a leaf or my dog's need to pee, or an email from that person I forgot to email or all the other things. I'm cool with it. Because what happens is that the intention set gets somehow met. Miraculously? I don't know.
What I can say is that it is fun to explore and I appreciate your protocol and sense of humor about it.
I've never experienced the best ideas coming to me in the shower - but recognise the best ideas coming to me on trips and vacations. The separation of being in a completely different environment jogs my brain out of where it's been and sets forward a new path and direction. It's worth the investment in the trip alone just to be able to think about a project or the business from a distance.
Another great post full of great ideas to incorporate into my daily life, thank you Tim. Your constant writing is inspiring. Cheers have a great day
Great article! I love showers and great ideas come to me there too! 👊💪
Seems to be universal Matt.
You’ve given me a new perspective on procrastination. Logically I know the more I beat myself up about something the less likely I am to find a solution, but had not applied that to procrastination. Truth is, “Mr. P” tags along with me on most of my important venture in life. I can either treat him as the hated enemy or embrace him as an integral part of my process. I suspect this could be a game changer given my dopamine-challenged ADHD brain.
I’m trying to imagine how this might look... let’s say with taxes... I’ll set aside one evening a week to get things rolling and invite Mr. P to the party. Since I know he’s not the enemy, I can happily anticipate his arrival and plan accordingly. Rather than trying to bribe myself with a reward when/if I get xyz done, I can commit to giving him my full focus at the outset, engaging in something enjoyable, without any guilt! Because I’m quite sure it’s guilt that perpetuates the avoidance that perpetuates the guilt that... you get the picture.
I’m sure there is far deeper application for this, so I’ll start here and see where it goes. Thank you for helping me reframe!
Glynda, sometimes procrastination is useful. It's good to look at cliche ideas and rethink them.