The simple habit behind my best ideas
#2 A technique to boost problem solving and creativity. By catching intuitive insights...
One of my (not-so-) secret business tools? I always keep a pen and paper within arm’s reach of my bed. Insignificant, you might think ?
Actually, it is an extremely powerful practice, especially when it comes to problem-solving and generating creative ideas.
Let me give you an example - before I share techniques you can easily try (and embed in your daily life).
How it unfolds, concretely
Earlier this year, I led a series of one-on-one conversations with a corporate leadership team. They are is facing a complex situation. The purpose of this interview phase was to understand their dynamics deeply, to later form clear recommendations (as part of the assessment phase).
During that week of 1-1 meetings, every single morning, I woke up with not just one idea, but a cascade of them. Solutions, too. And those magical “aha” moments that seem to come out of the blue.
Except… those ideas don’t really come out of nowhere ! They are the fruit of unconscious integration. While I slept, my mind was processing the dozen hours of intense, emotional, and dense conversations I had had each day.
The ideas that come to me then are very evanescent. So every morning, I wrote. Fast.
Let's face it: these notes are messy and illegible to anyone else. But to tell the truth, in this case, I absolutely don't care about calligraphy!
Because these insights are pure gold. My best ideas. The “crème de la crème”. Crystal clear. And they come without the slightest effort (well, apart from taking my pencil in hand to scratch some paper !).
What’s behind this? Intuition. Or at least, one way it shows up.
And the good news is: You can absolutely train this muscle. If you have ever woken up with the solution to a problem or a brilliant idea: Congratulations ! You have already experienced it.
Do you want to make that happen more often? Here’s how I do it:
My 3-step habit for morning clarity
1. Set an intention before bed.
Ask yourself a question - mentally, or on paper.
Something like: “I want to wake up with clarity on XYZ.”
This gentle prompt gives your subconscious something to work on overnight.
2. The moment you wake up, pay attention to what comes to mind.
Still half-asleep? Perfect. That’s when the insights are more easily caught.
Write them down quickly (before they vanish). Just as they came to you.
3. Be grateful for your insight(s) (answer, solution, idea…).
Acknowledge and celebrate the fact that something surfaced, even if it’s small. And be proud of yourself! This builds positive reinforcement. And it makes it more likely you will access such insights in the future.
Last but not least, please remember this:
Like any habit, this routine pays off over time !
So, give yourself the time you need! And be patient and kind to yourself …
Over the years, I have calibrated my body and mind to respond this way.
I started this habit many years ago. And the morning flood of insights gets stronger and more valuable as time goes by.
Curious to go further?
When I work with executive teams, I share inner-listening practices like this one: Simple yet transformative.
Some are general, like this one (and those in this blog). Others are fully tailored.
Tips also come with business examples, stories from leaders and my experience.
Whether it’s a workshop, a keynote or an offsite seminar, I would be happy to explore what’s possible for your leadership team. Simply drop me a message.
In the meantime, good luck with your first morning-insights experiments!
Warmly,
Irena Kapusta
PS : I would love to hear how it goes - Feel free to reach out by message or in the comments to share your first experiences…