Your best shower ideas
Have you ever noticed you’ll get brilliant ideas or remember something important at the most inconvenient times? For me, it’s in the shower. Flashes of ideas for projects and solution for problems frequently come to me while sudsing up.
An equally irritating time this also happens is when I’m in bed. Just as I’m falling asleep, ideas will drop into my head or I’ll remember something really important I need to do the next day. However, the most frustrating times are when I’m trying to focus on work. My brain loves to bombard me with ideas, reminders, and other distractions while I’m trying to get something significant done.
Trying to ignore these irksome moments of brilliance can feel futile. Your brain doesn’t want you to forget, so it will simply nag at you over and over again until something is done. Unfortunately, it’s not always the most convenient time to address it. So what can you do?
There are two simple strategies that work wonders for occasions such as these. And, you probably already have the tools needed.
Strategy One: The Physical Notebook and Pen
These are must-have tools to have at your side while you do any work. When focused on any single task, your brain will remember that you need to get back to Bob about the client appreciation event. It will whisper the great idea for your next newsletter. It will tell you that you should run a load of laundry while you work.
When these messages come-up, DON’T ACT on them. Simply pick up the pen and jot them down on the notebook, and go straight back to your original task. Don’t process the idea, don’t open any apps, and definitely don’t start on it. It will be tempting to make that quick call or shoot off a short email, but don’t fall into that distraction trap. Jot it down in your notebook and get back to work to keep your flow. Even though it feels urgent at the time, most things can wait 30 minutes until your done with your task, and now you won’t forget it because you’ve written it down.
This is the same strategy I recommend for your bedside. If you wake up with ideas, solutions, and reminders in the middle of the night, jot them down in the notebook. Your brain will know it’s been captured and will be able to relax.
Strategy Two: The Digital Notebook on your Phone
This is similar to Strategy One. You can use the digital notebook on your phone when you are away from your desk. You can even leverage your voice recognition software to capture your idea easily when you’re in the shower or driving.
Pro-tip: Keep this list of ideas separate from any reference notes you keep on your phone. (I keep info such as my library card #, license plate # and other non-sensitive reference data I like to have on-hand.)
The Next Step
Now you’ve captured your great ideas and reminders and are able to focus on the task at hand. Great job! So what’s next?
Treat both these physical and digital lists as temporary holding places for your ideas. You’ll want to process them as soon as you’re done with the task at hand or at the end of each day. Take each idea and decide what to do with it. Think of it as ushering each item to their next destination. Does the item need to be scheduled in your calendar? Does it require action? Do you need to store it for later? Or, does it simply need to be deleted?
Pro-tip: Be regimented about working the system of capturing and processing ideas. Your brain won’t let go of ideas until it trusts you to use the system.
With these two simple strategies in place, you can significantly reduce the distractions your brain creates as you go throughout the day. Make these habits as they will free you to stay focused.
