Most Sundays I do a long run. How long depends how many other things I have to fit in. But while I was trundling up a muddy trail this week in the mist and fog, I realised that without any action on my part, my brain had started to plan and write a complicated feature I was working on.
Running has always been my time to get new ideas, overcome writers block and strategise the week ahead. But I never consciously do it. I just know the chaos that ensues if I haven’t been for a run.
Partly this is because it’s me time. There are no other demands on my attention when I’m running. No children or editors, no other tasks nagging at me or piles of mess to be tidied.
The dog walk also used to serve this purpose to some extent. After tea I would head to our nearest park at the top of a hill to blow the cobwebs away, see some greenery and digest the day. I don’t really do this anymore because the dog is old and arthritic and refuses anything more than the shortest of trips outside, but maybe I should reinstate it anyway.
I started wondering why running or walking is my perfect time for coming up with ideas or getting started on writing (in my head). I’m usually listening to a podcast or music as well so it’s not like it’s all quiet. I think it’s just about doing something else, something repetitive, where your brain will switch off and allow your thoughts to meander. This seems to be when the best stuff rises to the top.
Now I fully appreciate that over at FFJ HQ we are big into running and that is not everyone’s cup of tea. Maybe for you it’s yoga, or perhaps you have your best thoughts in the shower.
I put this to our Facebook community and you provided some great answers about ways you switch off the busy part of your brain so the creative bit can wake up. Cooking, art, reading, walking by the sea - you all have your own tricks for getting the ideas flowing.
Charlie Duffield said: “Reading widely, being out and about in the world, i.e., not in the same environment all the time, engaging in any kind of cultural activity which might offer new ways of thinking/seeing things, or sometimes simply tidying at home and letting my brain wander off.”
In fact more than one of you mentioned tidying. Doing those mundane tasks that don’t require much brainpower seems to free us up for creative thinking. Not that I have to do this very often but decorating is also a great time for pondering. After all there’s only so much of a room you can paint without your bored brain going off to think about something else.
Kate Relton added for her, it was baking. “Enough to engage my brain but a little creative free flow and crucially away from my laptop.”
What you all seemed to agree with - and this is certainly what I have found - is that moving away from the screen is key. Put down the phone, turn off social media, step away from the computer and going to do something else is the fastest way to free up thinking time and ponder new projects.
Yet how often do we actually give ourselves permission to do these things? On a daily basis I tend to be at my desk from 9-5 with only short breaks to grab a cuppa or some lunch.
I didn’t really make any new year’s resolutions but belatedly, I think I’m going to add in a daily walk, or run, to my routine. Wonder how much time I’ll save in the long run or ideas I’ll be able to get off the ground just because I gave myself that small bit of breathing space.
This is the beauty of freelance. We can organise our time (and thoughts) in the way we choose, so let’s make the most of it.
We love to hear your feedback so do get in touch to tell us what works for you to come up with new ideas or get the creativity flowing. You can message us below or at freelancingforjournalists@gmail.com
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Triumph of the week
Ticking off a very big to do list before taking a trip with the family
That feeling when
You open your bank account and it’s STILL cobwebs in there despite the many invoices waiting to be paid
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Bye for now!