Idea Time

During what part of your day are you feeling most creative?

For some people it’s first thing in the morning, for others it is the afternoon, and for some it is the middle of the night (or verrrry early in the morning, depending upon your perspective).

Whatever daypart (or nightpart) that works best for you is your “Idea Time“.

Schedule (literally add it to your calendar, datebook, or day planner) 30-60 minutes devoted solely to creative thought. Use it to brainstorm your next big idea, write a chapter of your novel, draw cartoons, think about what it would be like to have super powers, or come up with a unique anniversary gift. Whatever it is, be wildly, unreservedly, and unabashedly creative.

I like to use mornings for my creative time. I find that the bit of time right before I wake is perfect for a little lucid dreaming, and I can pull some of those dream state ideas into the waking world if I jot them down quick enough.  During yesterday’s Idea Time I came up with no fewer than four possible art projects and one potential Kickstarter campaign. All of the ideas were fun, all of them were crazy, and all of them have profit potential. This morning my session centered around an idea for a short story (perhaps a novel or comic book) with a new twist on a werewolf story. 

Who knows where your own Idea Time will take you, but I guarantee that if you give yourself permission to be wildly creative at a specific and scheduled time, you will find it much easier to be a little more creative when called upon during your normal work day.

Give it a try and share some of your wackiest ideas in the comments below or tweet them to me @dontheideaguy!