Frequenters of this blog know that it is a great place for slightly daffy, unusual, and off the beaten path ideas. Especially ideas about how to generate more ideas. Here is one of the simplest and easiest ones that I have come up with. But before I describe it I have to wonder how many people are going to actually try it. I promise you that if you do try this out you will find that it is a sure fire method for capturing some of your very best insights, and inspirations. It’s practical, it works, it’s cheap . . . there is only one catch. 9 out of 10 of you probably won’t try it because it’s kinda weird.

We have such a barrier up against trying things that are slightly funky, unusual, beyond the pale . . .we assume they won’t work. The rewards of the unorthodox scheme can only be enjoyed by those who are willing to get a little bit weird. OK, enough infomercial-sounding spiel, here is the trick.

It is a well documented fact that many people get their best ideas in the shower. Woody Allen has said that since he knows the shower is a great place for ideas he often takes several showers a day when he is working on a new film script.

“In the shower, with the hot water coming down, you’ve left the real world behind, and very frequently things open up for you. It’s the change of venue, the unblocking the attempt to force the ideas that’s crippling you when you’re trying to write.”

– Woody Allen

(NOBODY really wants to see a picture of Woody Allen in the shower. So here is one of him in a sweater.)

Scientists have studied this phenomena and concluded that when we are taking a nice hot shower we get a boost of dopamine in the brain which is great for creativity, we also are very relaxed, and distracted from actively thinking about anything in particular ( we are focused on soaping and shampooing etc.) and this combination of distraction/relaxation is just the think that kicks the creative subconscious into high gear.

The bath works too.

Archimedes had his famous eureka moment, realizing the “Archimedes Principle” while taking a bath.

How many of us have had a flash of inspiration while taking a shower, only to find that it has slipped away from our grasp in the time it takes to towel off?

The solution is simple, keep a notebook handy nearby. I put one on the sink where I can reach it from the shower. You could also keep one in the shampoo holder. The best are the Write-in-the-Rain notebooks, obviously since they are waterproof. (Use them with a pencil.)

Try this simple step, the notebooks are just a couple bucks at your local bookstore, and you will never lose another shower inspired idea again!

EUREKA!