I routinely experience writer’s block and have trouble completing blog posts. Trying to force the ideas to flow only makes them harder to obtain. I find that my best ideas tend to come when I’m relaxed and not thinking much; being in that state makes me more creative and lets the ideas flow. A lot of good ideas have come to me when I’m in the shower, which is one of the best places for getting into that state.
Showering is a time of great vulnerability as the ability to fight back or flee from a threat is almost nonexistent. However, in enclosed areas without threats, showers can feel comforting and protective. There’s something about the warm water, the distance from everything and everyone else, and the acoustics that make it easy to relax. There’s also a certain timelessness to being in the shower. Everything else seems to fade away, minutes can feel like hours (or sometimes seconds), and it becomes much easier to focus. Maybe that’s it: maybe being in a safe, calming place puts the mind at ease since it doesn’t have to worry about survival, which then allows the creative juices to flow. This could also be why so many thoughts and ideas often arrive in bed before falling asleep.
On rare occasions, I can think or talk out an idea fully before writing it down instead of working it out as I go. When I get fully-formed ideas, it’s almost always when I’m in the shower. Sometimes I’ll find the inspiration I need for a blog post, an activity, or other decision with which I’ve been struggling while I’m in there, usually without even putting in much effort. Other people have had similar experiences, which suggests to me that there’s some validity to this phenomenon. Either way, whenever I feel stuck with an idea or decision, I know where to go for a creative boost.