Where do you get all your good ideas? And where do you lose them? If you are the same as me, in the shower. Not always though. I shower in the morning most of the times, right after I wake up. So I’m not wake enough to think. But when I’m awake for 20/30 minutes or so, the shower is my ultimate creativity spot. Like all your creative borders are washed away. Everything is possible, like you see a naked idea and you just have to dry it and dress it. In the shower, the impossible is possible, solutions are unlimited and opportunities are everywhere. The power of a shower. That is why I am going to change the way I take showers.
What I (and a lot of people with me) do now
I wake up, press snooze a couple of times, decide to get out of bed and jump in the shower. Shower, dry, get dressed, make myself look good enough to face daylight and I get out of my bedroom and get some breakfast. After breakfast the day finally starts. And that is finally the moment I need creativity, a long time after the shower. So I don’t need to ‘feel awake’ until I had breakfast. I don’t use anything of the power of the shower.
How I am going to use the shower (and how you should use it!)
When I wake up, the first thing I’ll do won’t be taking a shower. I will get breakfast first, drink a cup of coffee, read my email and go through my RSS feed. Then, when I’m going to need my creativity (or motivation) for college or a blog post, I’ll start thinking about the task. Brainstorm for a blog post, read through a draft of my paper, something like that. Then, I will take a shower. I’ll bring a notebook in the bathroom, so I can write down the ideas I get. I will make full use of the power of the shower. Think, think without limits, and write down every idea I get (a water-resistable notepad would be nice). After the shower, I will feel enthusiastic, motivated and eager to start writing the blog post or I will even be motivated for college.
The power of the shower is real people, who is going to take the experiment with me? Tell me about your findings, I will do the same!
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Interesting stuff. I too have definitely noticed that I think more freely, clearly, and creatively when I am in the shower. A water-proof notepad would be really cool indeed!
Stefan:
As usual, you have contributed an interesting post. It is also insightful. I appreciate your adding value here.
To get some of your best ideas in the shower may seem (sort of) counter-intuitive. It is not at all, though.
However, many creative people have reported that they get their best ideas when they don’t consciously think about ideas. Rather, let your subconscious mind take over. Sometimes, you can get lucky too.
Archimedes had his eureka moment in the bath. When you are in the shower, you are in a state of “restful alertness.” In other words, you feel relaxed and yet awake enough to “receive” new ideas. You can use the power of intuiton. Brainstorming in the shower can actually work for some people but not for everybody.
For me, it helps to hit the shower immediately first thing in the morning. Otherwise, there is a tendency to roll over, karate chop the alarm clock, and go back to sleep. And then you lose the precious morning hours to do your work. It is a bad idea because early morning can be the time of best productivity for many people. Hit the shower ASAP without doing anything else and it can knock you out of the lethargy.
Taking a shower makes me feel fresh and alert. After a warm cup of tea/coffee, I am ready for work. See if works for you too. Taking a shower is helpful and can snap you out of laziness and hang-overs too. Thanks
Archan, thanks for your always contributing comment!
I think that is one of the key components of the power of the shower. You are not consciously thinking about the ideas!
That is what I did before I tried this method. It did make me fresh and ready for the day, but when I treat the shower as my last habit of my morning habits, I think I can get motivated to rock my first thing in the morning. Like the shower is motivating me!
Twitter: NielsGouman
February 10, 2010 at 11:11 pm
I wonder whether or not the shower power would stop working if you start abusing it’s power like this..
Anyway, I’ve noticed that my iPhone is a lifesaver in both this scenario and the minute before you fall asleep. Both times give you awesome idea’s and I can type them into my iPhone (Evernote or Thing) and sync it to my computer, where I can expand on the idea’s/actions.
.-= Niels Gouman´s last blog ..15 Top Apps voor iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad =-.
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