Where do You do Your Best Thinking?

Where do you do your best thinking?

Whether

• enjoying nature and the outdoors through gardening, conquering a summit, or keeping to a regular physical fitness program
• immersing yourself in the joys of the palate as a foodie who loves cooking or baking
• a visual person who explores stories through photography, painting, or even knitting

there are some activities that just get your juices going. Reading fiction has been a good source of inspiration for me, for example, both for thinking and for writing. Running helps kick my ideas up a notch and start visualizing how to make them happen.

The precision and creativity that go with baking make it a form of meditation that brings all senses alive for me -- don't you love the scent of chocolate, vanilla, or apple pie?

Composition originates in a combination of thinking and doing, being in flow, and creating. Your preferred way of thinking may also give you an indication of your learning style.

Last week we talked about doing the idea. Where do you get the idea in the first place?

What are your favorite destinations/activities for thinking?

 

[image courtesy of Davide Restivo]

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Comments

[Charlie Isaacs]

Swimming is amazing. Your ears hear nothing but the whoosh of the water rushing by. Your entire body is submerged in wet and warm thinking receptacle. When I get in the pool I set a goal to solve three major problems, or take three different "solutions" out of the pool with me. After I am done solving the problems I get into a zone and do free thinking, sometimes reviewing the three solutions to make sure they still make sense. Forty five minutes later I am renewed, refreshed, and have something to work on when I get in front of my laptop. Jogging is good too, but I can't get into as much of a thinking zone as when I swim.

[Valeria Maltoni]

I could never get into swimming as much. From what you say and many other friends tell me they experience, the sense of weightlessness is also a joy. Biking is a close second to running for me. It used to be a mode of transport back in Europe as I had no car.

[Matthixson]

In the shower. The real problem is that my memory sucks so I only remember about half of what I thought about. I need a waterproof whiteboard in there. :)

[Bradmblake]

I have great clarity of thought and fantastic game-changing ideas when in the middle of a good bike ride or run. Unfortunately, like Matthixson, my short term memory also sucks and by the time I get home, I've lost it...either that, or it doesn't seem as cool as it did when I was amped up on endorphins. :)

[Valeria Maltoni]

that, or maybe an audio recorder for your ears only nearby you can have on - you know, dictate to yourself. I know of people who do that in the car, etc.

[Valeria Maltoni]

I have the same problem, when running my ideas are awesome. Sometimes they stand the test of time... after the shower, when I can jot them down and they still look good. One strategy I have to remember them is by imagining an execution immediately upon coming up with the idea. Literally visualizing it. Then, I jot it down when I can. Often, I keep working on one idea all week during my runs. Honing the story/execution in my mind, and improving my notes. Then I share it here or with my close network of friends when I start getting serious about it and want to validate some of my assumptions, etc. You can give away the idea without showing your hand on execution ;-)

[Peter Coombs]

I have alwats found swimming to be great and also the cinema...two hours of not actually thinking but just taking in the offered information seriously frees up your mind....I ususally have a sketch book on hand and am drawing as the lights come up, capturing resolved design ideas.

[markdisomma]

I really enjoyed this. Interesting how everyone has their own way of getting to an answer isn't it? In a book about the making of the original radio scripts for Hitch-hikers’ Guide to the Galaxy, there’s a lovely story about author Douglas Adams’ love of Chinese takeaways and baths, and his tendency to consume more and more of both, the closer he got to deadline. As a result, the more pressing the timeframe became, the cleaner and more replete the writer.

Taking up your challenge, here are my 7 favourite ways to solve a problem: http://markdisomma.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/is-thinking-a-desk-job/.

Thanks for the opportunity.

[Shelleypringle]

Any activity that lets me slow down and get away from work always stirs some creative thinking. The very best? Going away on vacation. I always come back recharged with thoughts on being more creative at work and in my personal life.