Thomas Jefferson use to sit in his chair as he would contemplate and think about issues, problems and solutions. He would put a couple marbles in his hand and hang his hands over the arm of the chair. He would put a bucket under where his hands were hanging so when he fell asleep and the marbles would fall into the bucket and they would make a loud noise and wake him up. He believed the time, in that moment you fall asleep was the most inspired for new ideas.
Now, I don’t quite do it that way but I think there is a way to try and get good ideas and solutions to things you are wanting to do or contemplating. I sit in a chair with a pen and pad of paper and just think on the issue, situation and problem and think until my thoughts come to mind, then I write them down. This does not mean I get the solution at that moment but I do come up with ideas or thoughts that may lead that morning, later that day or the next that could lead to the solution.
Give it a try. If you have something you would like to do, get better at, a problem to come up with a solution……..try sitting with a pen and pad of paper in your chair for a half hour and see what comes.
Or… you could try the marble approach with T. Jefferson.
Have a great day and thank you for all you do.
SYSR
(And let me know what you think)
Some good thoughts! I get some of my best ideas at the gym. I always keep my notepad open on my phone to write down ideas.
I like to not sleep at night and overthink everything possible. It seems to be working 😛
I think sometimes solutions and ideas come at the oddest moments sometimes! The trick like you said, it to write them down at the time.
And sometimes the word sometimes comes twice 🙂
I like to think that ideas come when you can clear your mind of everything that is going on in your life. So maybe BF has the right idea. Clear minds
I like Winslows idea I have a lot of good ideas at the gym, so for now on I am going to take my Joe Verda book with me
I like that Spencer. Thanks for sharing that. I tend to write down my dreams when I wake up. I seem to be inspired by my unconscious mind with things.
My best ideas come on a trail with a headlamp (alone). That’s where I review the day’s events, think about challenges, and upcoming projects. When the inspiration/solution/idea comes to mind I immediately enter a note in my phone (to not lose it). Then before going to bed at night, I prioritize concepts and ‘place them’ into my weekly YAG Time Matrix/4 Quadrants of Time. For anyone interested in getting a copy of the YAG Time Matrix/4 Quadrants of Time tool please email me and I’ll get one to you. Even better, this methodology (and more) is taught in our Management Essentials, Manage Yourself, workshop.
I Like to meditate in the steam room after my morning workout.
great idea I’m going to try this
Interesting idea. I like the thought of just dedicating time to let the mind wander around a problem. I know I need to dedicate more time to this practice.