My job is coming up with ideas. I plan close to 10 blog post ideas each week. Then I have to come up with new ideas for my own books. That gets difficult after having done this for a few years. At times, it feels like there aren’t enough ideas to keep up this pace.
But the ideas keep coming. That doesn’t mean I don’t work for them, though. I’ve had to be intentional about creating space to think deep thoughts and come up with new ideas. Here are a few things I do to foster those new ideas.
1. Puzzles.
Since so much of day requires thinking, it would be easy to just turn on the TV and hope inspiration hits. It never does. Instead I just check out mentally and sit for hours, tearing through my DVR.
So I’ve started buying puzzles and doing those when I need to think. It keeps my mind moderately entertained so I don’t get too bored. But it also allows my brain to wander off and think of some pretty cool ideas. Any time I need to come up with a blog post idea, I hop into my office and start piecing together the puzzle. Inspiration usually hits in a few minutes.
2. Running outside without headphones.
I used to listen to Audiobooks when I ran. It was the only way to keep me entertained. And when I run on a treadmill, I still do listen. But when I get the chance to run outside, I let silence be my companion. And I think deep thoughts because I have nothing else to do.
Running outside by myself has become one of my new favorite creative disciplines. Plus it’s good for me! Score!
3. Driving with the radio off.
Finally, drive time is some of the best thinking time. But you can’t be listening to the latest top-40 or your favorite podcast. You won’t get a chance to think original thoughts.
There’s something about these three things that limit distractions but also keep my mind occupied enough that I’m not bored to tears. And that’s the key – giving yourself space to think.
We gotta clear out some of the distractions that keep us mind-numb and get silent enough for our brains to speak to us.
I’m convinced you have thousands of ideas in that noggin of yours, you just have to let them loose.