Working When Inspiration Strikes

photo credit: Darren Hester

Inspiration can’t be scheduled, as anyone who’s ever had come up with an on-the-spot presentation knows. In fact, the best inspiration seems to come at the worst times, whether it’s the awesome new blog topic that pops up in spin class or the new management technique that comes to you while you’re knee-deep in paying bills. One of the worst things you can do is stifle that creativity and attempt to schedule it into neat half-hour blocks. Just as bad is letting your creative juices flow and letting your other daily tasks fall by the wayside. (Eventually, they always catch up to you!) The real answer is to learn to work when you’re inspired without neglecting the rest of your life. Fortunately, there are a few simple organizational steps you can take to help you make the most of your creative energy when the urge strikes.

1. Get down as many concrete details as possible–in writing. Ideas are never so beautiful as when they’re fresh. Don’t let that great idea, slogan, or project get lost in the daily shuffle! When inspiration strikes, pull out pen and paper or open a fresh document on your computer and get your thoughts down right away. From the smallest details to any overarching strategies that come to mind, flesh out your idea as much as possible NOW. If you wait until later, many of the smaller details–as well as your immediate passion–might fade.

Hint: Carry around a notepad or a personal recording device to help you get your ideas recorded as soon as they’re hot, rather than when they’re lukewarm.

2. Split your to-do list in two. Make one column full of “Gotta Do Today” items and populate the other side with tasks that are important but not urgent. When inspiration strikes, you’ll know exactly what tasks can safely be delayed. When your creative burst is spent, use the rest of your time to make sure that the items on the “Today” side are completed. This method helps you work spontaneously and guilt-free, and you’ll never get behind on regularly scheduled tasks either.

Hint: Create a new list for each day or week. Taking five minutes to start your day or week with clear priorities will make you more focused and keep your list up-to-date.

3. Learn to brainstorm effectively. A lot of creative thoughts are wasted because the kernel of an incredible idea gets lost in the details. After all, what may seem clear in the moment might appear to be simple ranting a few weeks later. Avoid this pitfall by taking notes with categories, headlines, or bulleted lists. Instead of writing, “Article on dog food, talk to Sue, library, coat health, teeth problems, new research, depend on breed?” your list might read: “Idea: article on quality of dog food. Topics: Coat health, teeth problems. Potential sources: Sue, library. Questions: Do different dog breeds digest food or nutrients in different ways? Action point: Look for new research on the topic to provide a timely angle.” An effective brainstorm takes virtually no more time or energy, and makes it easier to dive into your project quickly when you’re ready to pursue it further.

4. Create tangible measures and deliverables for your ideas. There’s no point in generating brilliant ideas or innovations if they’re going to end up in a generic “Ideas” folder that never sees the light of day. Make yourself accountable to your inspirations by choosing a few key deliverables or follow-up points. These can range from finding a market for your idea to researching a question that came up during the thought process. Whether you add these deliverables to your online calendar or put them on index cards with a due date, give your ideas a fighting chance by breaking them into specific actions.

5. Give yourself fair market value for time spent on future-oriented projects. The benefit of working when inspiration strikes is that your best work often comes out of these sessions. Whether you’re an accountant or a marketer, working on a task that you’re excited about often gives you the highest rates of productivity and success. So if you’ve been inspired and spend a few hours creating the flyer for next season’s event, reward yourself with a break. The hours you just put in are a fair exchange for the hours you would have put into the project later, so don’t feel like you have to knock out every goal you came in with earlier. Let your time be flexible and you’ll find that you spend most hours working on projects you love.

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