BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?

Subject: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 04:56 PM

For me, it seems I do most of my thinking while in bed at night. I asked a few friends and they said, driving to work, sitting on the tiolet seat or in the shower. Where is yours ?

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Bert
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:00 PM

In my head *GRIN - SORRY*

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:01 PM

Sitting at the computer.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:05 PM

With me it's when driving in the truck, far from pen and paper.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Peace
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:14 PM

I do my best drinking in the bar. Yep. Definitely in the bar.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:14 PM

Not so much where, as when:

Early morning

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:20 PM

Anywhere but it is when I least expect it.

Also, my worst thinking comes when I get so bogged down with something and I'm determined to find a solution and frustration starts coming more and more into play. A break is often a good plan...

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Donuel
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:28 PM

I carry one of those mole skin pocket notebooks so anywhere is a good place.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:28 PM

I get most of my best ideas when I'm in the shower for some reason

(Get your minds above your groins for a change)

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:29 PM

In the crawl space under the back porch...when the skunks are away.

Seriously? Damned if I know.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: bobad
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:31 PM

In the shower too and walking the dog.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Beer
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:38 PM

You mean like heavy thinking? When I'm stoned. Just kidding.
In bed I guess.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: John O'L
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:40 PM

Like Guest, any time I am out of reach of pen & paper I can expect a memorable thought. Unlike Donuel I have not disciplined myself to carry it with me.

Perhaps if I wrote myself a reminder...

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: number 6
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:46 PM

morning ... out in the back garden with a cup of coffee and a cigarette.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:52 PM

Oh so glad to hear there is another coffee drinking smoker out there ! Hope all good with you buddy.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:55 PM

I wish I wasn't one - smoking part at least - but I don't see myself ever managing to give up.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:58 PM

I used to climb mountains and work in jobs where I was out walking in the woods, and that was the best time for thinking. For now, walking is good, and often, taking a power nap, because that helps me sort out things I've been working on.

Playing the piano is a good time for thinking. Excellent in fact, and I miss it because my piano needs some major work.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 06:29 PM

Okay.

I, like, do a lotta high power thinkin', eh? My best is...umm...












Okay.



I think I do my best thinkin', like, when I am in the can. For a minute or two, eh? Maybe longer. The can is a good place to think cos you are, like, there and you're not nowhere else at the time. You just got four walls, eh? Yeah. That's how I see it, eh? If you were somewheres else you might, like, be too busy to do much thinkin', but not in the can.

I usually don't think much when I am drinkin', listening to music, eatin', sleepin' or doin' most other things cos I am way too busy to think then.

But I have done a lotta real deep thinkin' when I was in jail. In fact, jail might just be the best place of ALL to do thinkin'...cos there ain't a lot else to do, eh?

Yup, that's it. Jail is the best. If you wanta get some real, like, quaility time to think then my advise is get arrested fer a felonly charge. If you resist the arrest they will keep you there longer and that will give you lotsa more time to think. And that's good.

I done my best thinkin' there fore sure and the meals are free too.

- Shane

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: JennieG
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 06:45 PM

Sometimes in the shower, and sometimes while ironing - there seems to be something about mindless tasks like ironing that occupy the hands but leave the brain free to cogitate.

And sometimes at night, just after going to bed but before falling asleep........trouble is, I can't remember the great thoughts in the morning!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: John O'L
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 06:49 PM

Smoking - something I miss every day. So often I find myself wishing I had not been so strong in those first six weeks. If only I had weakened, like I did all those other times. How was I to know I'd actually carry it through? Oh what a fool I've been.

Having said that, it would be easy enough to go & buy a packet, but I don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 06:54 PM

housework, walking from place to place.

When you stop concentrating on something and give your conscious mind a rest, it lets your subconscious go to work. When old subby (as I lika to call him) is ready, he pops up and lets you know what he's come up with.

That's when you have your best ideas - and wwhy you never have a pen (old subby is a bit of a prankster like that)

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Beer
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 06:55 PM

Chopping wood or out picking blueberries.
Beer

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 07:37 PM

Going for a walk is not a bad time...

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 07:57 PM

Well, there's different kinds of thinkin'... An' each has it's own time 'n place... If I'm thinkin' 'bout my music, it's at night after I've had a couple beers and maybe a little burnt up evidence... If it's about my varios projects, it's in the mornin' while UI'm either on my way to waork or at work... If it's politics, ahhhhh, that's a just-before-supper activity as I watch the evenin' news and read that day's Washington Post which I've now carried 'round me since pickin' it up on the way to work... If it's romance, hmmmmmmm, all the time 'cept when I'm asleep... No, even when I'm asleep on occasion...

Dreams and goals thinkin' I reserve for long drives.... Like an hour or more... Yeah, nuthin' better for dreams 'n goal thinkin' than havin' to drive a couple hours, unless of course, the P-Vine is with me an' then I'm back into romance thinkin 'er defend myself thinkin' since awomenz loves to get you in a car where you can't escape and ask you stuff like, "Do you think I'm still purdy???" 'er comment on your drivin' skills... Grrrrrrrr.... I hate them times... Makes ya' just want to pass the steerin' wheel over to 'um and jump outta the car... Know what I mean, men???

What's this thread about, anyway???

Think I'll just quit thinkin' fir a minute and let my poor ol' head have a rest 'cause ya' know, the mind is a terrible thing...

Nevermind... (pun unintended...)...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Donuel
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 08:01 PM

Napping from 3:30 to 5PM makes for some extremely visual alpha wave dreams that are easily remembered word for word, scene for scene.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 08:20 PM

If I try to sleep during the day, it doesn't work, no matter how tired I am. I don't usually succeed in falling asleep at all...and whether I do or not, I feel lousy afterward, dull, dispirited, low in energy, and am quite likely to suffer a headache...kind of like a mild hangover effect. Accordingly, I do not normally try to take "naps" during the day, but reserve my sleeping for the nightime hours.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Scoville
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 09:36 PM

It used to be late nights with friends at the grubby little college coffee place. Haven't done that, obviously, since I graduated (I suspect I've been getting dumber ever since).

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 10:01 PM

Power naps aren't the kind that you're describing, LH. A power nap is just long enough to go to sleep, it lets you relax completely, but you don't then stay asleep. Those long naps are hard on me, like you described, but a 10-20 minute power nap is all it takes. Seriously. Set a timer, you probably won't wake up by yourself in that time, but that's what you need to try.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Amos
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 10:17 PM

I do my best thinking when I am about ten feet behind my head.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: GUEST,Bee
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 10:43 PM

Amos, that sounds almighty stoned.

Best thinking, down on the wharf with a coffee. Most productive: long drives.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: JennyO
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 11:28 PM

SRS, what LH described is just how it is for me. If he is anything like me your method wouldn't work. I know it wouldn't for me. If I try to have a nap during the day I usually have a lot of trouble falling asleep. If I give up after, say half an hour, I feel all the things LH said, as well as cranky that I've wasted half an hour for nothing. If I persevere, the sleep leaves me feeling all those things plus disoriented about the time. I've tried it with a timer, or been woken up by somebody/something after a very short time, and that makes me feel even worse. So I rarely try. I don't really feel the need anyway.

I suspect all this means that not everybody's body chemistry works the same. John often has power naps. He seems to need them and they work for him. He also goes to bed earlier and gets up earlier than me.

When I go to bed at night I drift off very quickly, occasionally having some of my best thinking just before that. I keep a pad and pencil near my bed in case my thoughts are so world-shattering I need to write them down, but mostly lying there comfortable in the dark I don't bother - I'm sure I've lost some good thoughts and ideas that way on occasions.

I often have interesting thoughts in my dreams just before I wake up, and have even been so aware that I am dreaming but haven't finished the idea I'm developing, that I have willed myself to stay asleep and finish it before I wake up. It's then that the pad and pencil do come in handy for jotting down those ideas before they are lost. I've even woken up with a brand new tune going round my head a couple of times. I need to get it written down in some form quickly or it is lost.

Most of the places people have mentioned are good for thinking for me, including in the shower, on the loo, sitting outside having a cuppa (good for thoughts about what to do with the garden), driving my car - especially on long trips, doing mindless things like ironing and some housework, and my mind also seems to go off into flights of fancy while pulling weeds and watering the garden.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 11:59 PM

That's exactly how it is for me, JennyO. One other thing, though, I also have difficulty sleeping at night a good deal of the time. My mind is too active.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: JennyO
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 12:45 AM

That's interesting LH. Is it just getting to sleep that you have trouble with, or do you also keep waking up or not sleep well?

I go to bed really late, because if I didn't I'd have trouble getting to sleep. I've learnt not to even try before midnight or 1am. Often it's a lot later. Once asleep I only wake up if nature insists. Then I have the most interesting dreams in the morning, which I often remember. Fortunately with my lifestyle I am ususally able to enjoy these with no pressure to get up early. I'm naturally a night person - always have been. I've tried to bring the hours forward at both ends but it's not easy, and there's little practical reason to anyway.

If I'm alone and the phone rings in the morning when I'm still in bed, it ALWAYS wakes me up and I can answer it normally. I wake up very fast, and can sound normal in seconds. However I prefer to wake up naturally without the assistance of assorted beeps and bells. I feel more rested if I wake up by myself calmly. A good stretch is very important too.

The main thing that bugs me is that there is this thinking out in society that "early to bed, early to rise" is a great virtue, and that sleeping late is somehow disreputable and lazy. I know I'm not lazy. I sleep on average 7-8 hours a night, wake feeling refreshed and have a full active day. I just do it during different hours than some of those virtuous types who say with a shocked expression "Were you still in bed?!!!" when they ring up on a Saturday morning at 10.30.

I'm so sick of those responses that I've asked John, if someone rings for me at a time like that and he answers the phone (HE has been up since 5am), PLEASE don't tell them I'm still in bed - just bring the phone in, wake me up and hand it to me. The person on the other end usually can't even tell I've just woken up. I'd rather not be put in that position of someone making judgments about my sleeping habits - it's really none of their business. For some reason, he keeps 'forgetting' and tells them anyway - GRRRRRR!

Okay, rant off. Back to the subject. All this reminds me that I do a helluva lot of thinking when I'm at the computer, which is a Good Thing because I can put it down in writing. Whether it is my BEST thinking is another matter, I suppose.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: John O'L
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 12:51 AM

Power naps - I've never heard of them before, but thats what I've been doing for about 15 years now, around mid-arvo if I can manage it.
I've been thinking of them as mini-siestas. Just a quick dip into unconsciousness is enough to revitalize me for the rest of the day.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 01:35 AM

Jenny - I also like to sleep in, and I have trouble falling asleep and sleeping well at night...but...my experiences in life have led me to a different conclusion about it. I think that "early to bed and early to rise" is actually tremendously good for people...IF they can manage to do it. I can't most of the time, and nothing is happening that would force me to. I am self-employed, and my job does not require getting up early to get things done. I can get up any darned time I want to. Accordingly, I tend to stay up late and sleep in, and it messes up my system.

How do I know this? Well, I have spent some time now and then in ashrams (spiritual communities). While there, I go to bed at 10 PM like everyone else, and got up at about 5:30 AM to start the day. The day involves meditation, yoga, breakfast, lots of physical work, meditation, lunch, some socializing and free time, some more physical work, discussion, more meditation, dinner, and evening socializing and free time etc, final meditation, and go to bed...in other words, a very full and concentrated day, every day. What happens with a couple of weeks of that? I sleep great, I'm alert, I'm happy, I'm energized, I'm feeling great physically, everything is better.

So I know that early to bed and early to rise is good for my health, I'm just not disciplined enough to do it when I'm on my own! I'm not disciplined enough to get the exercise, yoga, and meditation happening much when I'm alone either. I really need that community life around me to keep me organized, it seems.

Nature designed people to be day animals. They're diurnal creatures. Their eyes are not made to see well in the dark, and they are not intended to stay up half the night. A day animal wakes before sunrise and settles down for bed around sunset. That is what human beings did for tens or hundreds of thousands of years...but we with our electrical lights and appliances have created huge artificial inducements to ignore our natural rythms, and it plays merry hell with our nervous systems in some cases (if not in most cases).

I am just like most modern people. I'm living a very unnatural lifestyle most of the time, and the price I pay for it is a disturbed nervous system and insomnia.

And I know it.

So. That's my theory. What do you think? ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: JennyO
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 01:56 AM

Well you could be right, LH. Your theory does make sense. I've never been in a community situation like an ashram long enough to find out if I would feel better. I suspect I would, and my eating habits would certainly improve - as it is now I eat too much late at night and it is hard to change that.

Not having your insomnia problems doesn't really give me much incentive to try. Like you I don't have the discipline to do what would probably be better for me when that structure isn't around me. It's probably not natural or good for me to be spending so much time sitting in front of a computer screen either. We are a funny lot, us humans, aren't we!

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 03:57 AM

Tried thinking, but didn't get on with it. Good luck to the rest of you, tho.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 08:10 AM

I'm too busy concentrating on the road when driving, the business at hand whilst in the bathroom or trying not to get lost when walking alone.

My best thinking comes at me like the Spanish Inquisition.... just when I least expect it, and nearly always when I don't have a comfy chair.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 01:00 PM

Yeah, Jenny. ;-) We are a very funny lot. If something swooped down, took my computers and other gadgets away forever, and put me in a simple mountain village with people who had no technology like that in their lives and never would, I'd be 100% better off. No kidding. I am the victim of my own weakness for technology and "convenience".

Eating late at night, by the way, does contribute to sleeping in the next day, and it also contributes to gaining weight in most people.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 01:41 PM

Has to be the toilet seat, where do you think Bush does all his thinking and talking through.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Kaleea
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 03:37 PM

When I'm in my recliner in the evening, and I have pen-preferrably purple-& paper in hand, & I have to write out something for a deadline.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: Grab
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 03:43 PM

Depends on the thinking. For songwriting, it's driving for me, but it requires certain preconditions: route I know well; route that's easy (motorway or major road) so no major concentration needed for corners and junctions; and radio playing something a bit more "edgy" to trip ideas off (Zane Lowe show on Radio 1 is often good, but basically anything except mass-market pop). I always drive with a pen and pad of paper, and/or an MP3 recorder.

For the kind of thinking that's involved in working through something methodically, I just sit down at a computer with a word processor and go.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: frogprince
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 04:13 PM

There are two types of situation that work for me. So far as creative thinking is concerned, give me a fairly mindless job like lawn mowing. I go into a stream-of-conciousness mode and come out with a song lyric or art concept; occasionally one that is actually worth following up on.

At other times I need to be "triggered". That may just mean being engaged in intelligent, challanging conversation, or it may mean hearing some supposed leader or expert address something that I hadn't really thought through, having one of those "that's just wrong" reactions, and being somewhat obsessed until I can clarify my own reaction and my own position.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: rock chick
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 05:47 PM

In bed is best for me ;-)) thinking I mean, trouble is thinking makes me want to chat about what going around in my head. Also a quite peaceful secluded place with just nature around, just helps to clear the mind of all the rubbish, which leaves room for some deep contemplation.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do you do your best thinking ?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 06:57 PM

The best place to get ideas for songs is at a concert. Stray words and phrases can bloom into fullblown songs.