I’m lying on a mattress next to my son’s bed in the middle of the night. It can be 1am, 2am, 5am, whenever he’s woken up and called out for me.
That’s when I get clarity and some of my best ideas. I’m trying to get him back to sleep whilst lying there thinking. As my business ideas and plans are running through my head, questions formulate and since my mind is clearer and not as cluttered as during the day, the answers seem crisper and more refined.
I used to get my best ideas whilst walking to work. I’ve always been a thinker, bit of an over-thinker to be honest, so the movement kept me occupied enough to allow my mind to clear.
So where do you get clarity and your best ideas? Do you take the time to meditate? With practice, this is one of the best ways to clear your mind. One of the simplest ways I’ve seen to learn meditation is from a monk with the “Train your monkey mind” video(1).
Otherwise there are a number of apps you can try, like Mindfulness App, Headspace or Calm (2). You may be more of a moving meditator, so running, swimming, tai chi or archery could be it. There’s also household chores like ironing, cleaning or cooking. 🙂
It’s worth finding the method that works for you because you’ll get answers to any question you have. What’s your method?
Footnotes
1) How to train your monkey mind video
2) Meditation Apps: Mindfulness App, Headspace, Calm