Where Do You Come Up With Your Ideas
I happened across this video of John Cleese and sat transfixed watching him talk about creativity. It’s 10 minutes long and I rarely watch videos that long, but this really is worth watching right through to the end, I promise you.
John (get me on first name terms with the legend) talks about giving your brain the space it needs to be creative, but how do you manage that?
It’s true that I rarely get my ideas sitting at a computer screen or running around in a haze of panic and impending disaster, but as a stay at home mum to two noisy and demanding toddlers, it’s hardly ever possible to simply go into another room for an hour to think. Christ, I can’t even go to the toilet without them banging on the door asks demanding to know what I’m doing. So how do you do it? When do you find the time to think. To let your brain wander and mull things over?
Where do you come up with your best ideas?
I'm Heather, an expat Brit living in Kuusamo, northern Finland.
i will watch the video later as I have people looming and asking what I’m doing too – the toilet door knocking doesn’t ever let up by the way – when they become teenagers, it’s more persistent as they need you out urgently so they can shave, examine spots, etc., so I spend my creative thinking time walking in the woods and as I go to sleep usually having my best ideas when I lie and imagine what I could do if I had a whole day on a desert island – I usually fall asleep after 10 seconds but wake up with some idea of what I would like to paint next.
Me too – a lot of my best ideas occur when I’m drifting off to sleep or half awake. I keep a notebook and pen by the bed for just that purpose. I’ve heard lots of people say the same thing, so I don’t think it’s uncommon. You can’t force ideas, they will come, usually when you’re doing something that doesn’t engage your whole attention – watching the kids play at the park, that kind of thing.
Wierdly, when I’m on the move or ostensibly thinking about something else an idea will come to me. Or when I’m watching television and my mind goes all fuzzy… suddenly an idea will leap in there! I try not to analyze it too much in case I wreck the mechanism…!
Usually just after I’ve closed down the Mac, or when I’m in the car with no notebook: so the manual is covered in random scribblings…not sure any of them count as good ideas tho’
Usually driving in the car, mostly they are brilliant and of course completely forgotten by the time I’ve booted up the laptop.
Whenever I’m busy doing something else (but not anything all-consuming, ie. a toddler). And whenever I’m not thinking about it previously. Thanks for the vid link, shall watch it soon!
I find that I think best while driving or waiting in the pick-up lane at school.
My best ideas come from other people. Watching them, reading blogs etc, it often gives me an idea of a different take on things, but rarely at a time when I can put it into writing.
I watched the entire video, and I loved it! I tend to find that my best time for writing blog posts are when the kids are in bed, and I’m on my own (so that’ll be very early in the morning… not my strong point!). If I have any distractions (even my darling fiance who I love dearly but sometimes doesn’t know when to stop talking!) then I lose out on what I was trying to write.
Luckily, with Zack having started school, and Max about to start nursery in a couple of months, I will have more time to be able to have a bit of space and time to write. I hope it helps and I don’t just keep procrastinating as I usually do (damn you twitter and facebook!).
Oh yes, if only my husband could appreciate me sitting about ‘letting my brain breathe and getting creative ideas.’ well alas I am not yet a multimillionaire comic genius like John Cleese – by the way I’d give my left arm to have written Fawlty Towers. But I’d say I don’t get any ideas by sitting at a keyboard and forcing my brain into action. I tend to get creative ideas on the bog and in the middle of the night. Luckily there’s always bog roll to jot ideas down on!!!
Usually when I’m not expecting it. I have learned to write things down immediately, as no matter how “brilliant” and unforgettable an idea is, I never remember it for more than about ten minnutes!
I often come up with good ideas when I am driving my car. By the time I get to where I am going I have forgotten them! Another time I have good ideas is when I am chatting to someone and it would be rude to get out my pen and paper and make notes.
Walking. Something about the rhythm, and the exercise, and not being disturbed.
Or at night.
I tend to come up with ideas whilst travelling, driving, on the train, on a plane. Sometimes my run can be a very creative time. I do try and spend half an hour thinking/meditating in the morning but sometimes that time just morphs into sleep the moment I close my eyes! LOL!
When my kids were toddlers (I’m a single mum of two boys) I made a rule (after becoming completely drained first
) that as soon as they were asleep, I took 1/2-1 hour of quiet time, reading, thinking, no TV or chores. I learned that I had to do this to remain sane and know where I was heading.
Now that they are a bit older, I go outside and garden – both approaches work for me, and still, the solutions usually ripen during the night and are ready to pick in the morning
I still don’t find time to paint or start so many of the projects I would love to attempt… but there’s always tomorrow
I dont have time to watch now, but did want to say that in response to your question you might like eckhert tolle’s book called The Power of Now
People-watching. Anywhere, any time, any place.
My snap-happy posts attest to this I think.
LCM x
I feel like I spend my days running around mostly like a chicken with my head cut off. Which doesn’t leave much room for coherent thoughts. But the best times for me I guess are when I am out walking in the forest near my house (alone of course, not with my screaming children) and at night after everyone goes to bed. Otherwise, I keep a little notebook and if something comes to me, I write it down. Because otherwise I would never remember anything later. I can barely remember to change my underwear most days…
Hi Heather
like your posts and your life style.. ie don’t sweat the small stuff…hike and bear watch for sure. get hand held a tape recorder that you can pon when you get that errant thought. then just talk through the kids screams. really just think of adding 5 words after any comment you hear then i bet you can’t stop spewing forth!!!!stop by my blog doreenmccabe.blogspot.com as I can spew about anything lately….although cant’ seem to get a novel going… maybe should follow my own advice eh??