# Where do you get your best ideas?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 18, 2007, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523 "2007-06-18T23:30:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 16\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MrDantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@MrDantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDantastic)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/1 "2007-06-18T23:30:08Z")

</div>

I have been having trouble coming up with good ideas for my next project in printmaking class. This morning, I had the best idea…while in the shower. After I got out, I realized that lately most of my most awesome ideas come to me in the morning while I am showering.

So, have you ever noticed where you are or what you are doing when you have your best ideas?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/2 "2007-06-18T23:44:27Z")

</div>

Dreams, baby.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/3 "2007-06-19T00:30:57Z")

</div>

I thought that was just me! I always get my best ideas in the shower. Fortunately they’re mostly concepts for articles, so it’s nothing I need to write down immediately.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/4 "2007-06-19T00:53:04Z")

</div>

While gardening, usually. Too bad I’m never in a position to write them down!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/5 "2007-06-19T01:16:38Z")

</div>

Right before I fall asleep.

Too bad I’m to lazy to write them down.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/6 "2007-06-19T01:21:07Z")

</div>

In the shower, in bed in that stage where you are 70% awake but 30% asleep, dreams, and daydreaming.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/7 "2007-06-19T01:51:49Z")

</div>

In bed. Which wouldn’t be so bad, except it’s when I’m usually trying to sleep.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/8 "2007-06-19T02:34:34Z")

</div>

The shower. I had a couple of breakthroughs when I was stuck on my dissertation. I dunno, maybe the water pouring through the air does something to ions…well now I’m just making stuff up.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/9 "2007-06-19T02:40:54Z")

</div>

From the brainstorming sessions I hold regularly with the rest of our tiny staff. The six of us get together, spitball ideas, the synergy ignites (if synergy is, in fact, combustible) and we win awards and make big buck from our advertisers.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JoeSki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b487fb/32.png) [@JoeSki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeSki)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/10 "2007-06-19T12:58:04Z")

</div>

From caffeine. That stuff is like idea juice.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/11 "2007-06-19T13:34:11Z")

</div>

Walking.  
The exercise helps the process, but unlike say biking, you don’t need to pay much attention to your surroundings so your mind is free to wander.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/12 "2007-06-19T19:21:40Z")

</div>

Driving or when half asleep.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Traveling\_Riverside\_Bluesman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Traveling\_Riverside\_Bluesman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Traveling_Riverside_Bluesman)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/13 "2007-06-19T21:23:58Z")

</div>

In the shower, and between 3 AM and 6 AM. But the next morning those ones are either 1. really really stupid, or 2. really good ideas that I’d never have thought of any other way.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/14 "2007-06-19T22:06:59Z")

</div>

I brood about things as I try to fall asleep and this sometimes leads to new and good conclusions. Then I forget them until showertime the next day.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/15 "2007-06-19T22:18:11Z")

</div>

[QUOTE=Ms. Pumpkin]  
In the shower, in bed in that stage where you are 70% awake but 30% asleep, dreams, and daydreaming.  
[/QUOTE]  
The above plus long walks in the sun.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-get-your-best-ideas/408523/16 "2007-06-19T22:19:02Z")

</div>

either walking or after a glass of red wine.
