02 Nov Creating Space for Your Monster Ideas
“Smile, breathe and go slowly”
-Thich Nhat Hanh
Average Read Time: 1.5 Minutes
Note from Scott: This post is shorter than usual. Please use the extra time to actually get outside and do it!
Yesterday I woke up with a ton of things on my list. Instead of rolling right out of bed and into a day of trying to do more than was possible, I went for a walk.
I spent two hours walking along the beach in San Francisco. I had no agenda, no plan or anywhere I needed to be. It was awesome.
How often do you feel you have time to take a two-hour walk? For most of us it’s never, because we cram our schedule so full of things to do.
Big Ideas Need Room
It’s easy to justify why we should never spend an hour or two doing nothing, since there is always ‘something’ to do. But when was the last time something really important came to you while you were rushing from task to task, frantically checking email and reacting to whatever came your way?
Big thinking happens outside of the office. For me that’s while tasting wine in Croatia, catching a sunrise from my rooftop, climbing up a mountain, hitting a barefoot run or meandering the beaches of San Francisco.
You never know when ideas will come. But you must create space to give them a chance.
How to Create Space
You will never have space to mentally and physically run wild if you don’t make time for it. Most importantly, schedule some time to get out. Start with at least an hour. Don’t tell yourself you have more important things to do. You don’t. The world will be there when you get back.
Here are a few ideas:
- Get outside (ideally in nature)
- Go for a slow walk
- Sit on a park bench
- Watch the sun rise or set
- Listen to some inspiring music
- Feed some ducks
- Watch clouds drift
- Strike up a conversation
- Draw shapes with your toes in the sand
- Take some pictures
Go slowly. There’s a reason why I didn’t suggest running, biking or any other vigorous exercise in the above list. While those are awesome head clearers, it’s too easy to get focused on how far or how fast you can go. All of that thinking will take away from the space you’re in search of.
Don’t have an agenda.
Unlike most of the things we plan, do not expect to accomplish anything specific from your time outside. The only accomplishment is being. That will happen no matter what. Don’t expect your latest writing topic or a new business venture to magically appear during your hour or two.
Take the pressure off and just enjoy the time. The rest will come naturally.
The more focus you put on the doing, the less likely you are to stop and smell a rose, literally, or have a chat with the interesting person next to you. The goal is to let anything happen, with no idea of what.
During my two hours I met a 150-mile ultramarathoner, made friends with a five-year-old who wanted my advice on whether there were sharks in the nearby stream (I told him that most water shallower than 2 feet is usually safe) and I sharpened my Spanish with a tourist from Madrid.
Not to mention I got some invigorating ideas for my Find Your Freedom eBook I’ve been working on for all of you. And without that space, the article you’re reading wouldn’t exist either.
Make it a daily ritual to create space.
If you have to, only give yourself a 6-hour workday instead of 8 (you’ll probably get a ton more done that way anyway). It’s likely that the most valuable time you spend is out doing ‘nothing’. Freedom starts in your mind and gets reflected in your life. Give yourself some space.
Your biggest ideas are waiting.
If you need me, I’ll be out wandering somewhere…
How do you create space? Share in the comments section below, because ideas need company!
Did you like this article? Please share it on Twitter or let your friends know on Facebook using the links below. Or email it to someone you know could benefit. It could make all the difference.
Marci
Posted at 11:48h, 03 November“Your biggest ideas are waiting.” Love it! And, I notice you broke over 400o votes 🙂
Creating space for me comes when I get off the computer 😉 Driving and listening to music is one of my favorite thinking and being spaces. I can’t do anything else while I’m driving but listen and be! Or, when I’m alone in the woods. It’s harder to create space when I’m in my house, but it is possible. It takes awhile to unwind and just be with no expectations of how I will use my time.
Scott
Posted at 12:30h, 03 NovemberFor sure Marci. It’s starts with shutting off the computer but the real magic happens outside the house for me. Thanks for keeping up the voting!
Ash
Posted at 05:35h, 05 NovemberDigging this! Digging this! Digging this! Esp the photo of that chick. Damn do I need to get off my ass. 😉
Scott Dinsmore
Posted at 06:23h, 05 NovemberHaha that’s awesome Ash. Glad you dug it! Now let’s get out and have some fun!
Thanks for swingin by. I hope you’ll stick around.
Hyder
Posted at 06:48h, 05 NovemberSmile, breathe and go slowly —> I like this statement.
After reading this post, I feel like i want to move out from the city area and go back to the suburbs..At least, there’s nature there, there’s LIFE.
Only when there’s life, will you be able to live happily. To live Healthily!
Scott
Posted at 12:22h, 22 NovemberIt’s very tempting indeed Hyder. Nature slows us down naturally. I love it. I’m actually in Hawaii right now with my family for Thanksgiving and am getting a perfect lesson in that as we speak. Out to the beach now…
Scott
Barbara Arthur
Posted at 05:52h, 06 NovemberMaking space for your life is definitely an important aspect not to be neglected.
We should have the discipline to escape from the bz life that we face everyday and take thetime to regenerate more fresh energy from within. Life isn’t about satisfying your boss, it’s about satisfying yourself.
Scott
Posted at 12:23h, 22 NovemberI love that last line you wrote Barbara. The satisfaction must start from within before it goes anywhere else!
John McKindle
Posted at 06:09h, 06 NovemberFor me, I create case by disconnecting from the cyberworld. Which means, no cellphone, no internet. Apart from that, I try to stay away from the tv,newspaper etc.
All i need is a cup of coffee and a paper and pen and I will head to the garden and sit on the bench. This is when the magic begins, I will get inspired by observing the nature around me and from there, I am able to develop more ideas related to my business.
Scott
Posted at 12:24h, 22 NovemberAwesome garden practice John. As soon as I get out of the city and get myself a garden, I am going to adopt it. Or maybe I’ll just find one close by.
Scott
Salman Khair
Posted at 06:53h, 06 Novemberhey I just notice the small smiley face at the bottom right of the page! How cute and random 🙂
Where do ideas come from, anyway? Why do so many people get so many of them? Is
there some secret technique to getting more of them?
This posts answered it all! 🙂
Scott
Posted at 12:25h, 22 NovemberCreate Space!! Simple as that. I’m glad this helped Salman.
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Posted at 06:39h, 09 November[…] for a couple deep breaths and a view of the Golden Gate. Find a fun way to get you free and clear. Take a walk, meditate, feed the ducks, breathe, get a snack or some water or listen to an inspiring song. You […]
The Eagle
Posted at 07:05h, 16 NovemberNothing like connecting with nature to generate fresh ideas.
Scott
Posted at 12:25h, 22 NovemberAgreed. Nature is unbeatable as far as I’m concerned.
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Katrina Pfannkuch
Posted at 10:13h, 25 AprilPerfectly said! So glad you are spreading the message of moving past the To-Do list. I try to share this same philosophy as much as possible myself : )
Without real space to breathe and let things flow, creativity gets blocked up and your life starts to feel “stuck”. Being over-busy is also a sign of avoidance, which most people don’t like to see, let alone accept and embrace. By acknowledging it you get the opportunity to do it differently. AND have a new and exciting experience.
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brand
Posted at 21:22h, 26 DecemberGrazie nello scopo di questo la storia , un stato di nocuité argomento mi ha veramente sensibilmente interessato.
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abdelrahman
Posted at 16:28h, 27 Marchor just watch a good movie ! 😀
something like ” stranger than a fiction ” maybe , great ideas come from watching good movies 😀 😀
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