6 Simple Ways to Capture Great Ideas Anywhere

How often do you have a great idea? Probably more often than you think.

We all have lots of ideas every day. If you're like me, a lot of those ideas are terrible. Or at least they don't initially seem that wonderful.

But now and then, I have a great idea. Or the ‘terrible’ idea I had last week evolves into an idea that could have some potential.

Unfortunately, most of the time, I'd have those great ideas and then forget about them. I'd do nothing with them.

Why? Because those ideas have a tendency to come up at inconvenient times, e.g. in the shower or when you're going for a run. And it's inconvenient because it's never easy to capture that idea right at the moment.

So it's crucial to capture your ideas as soon as you have them.

Why You Should Capture Your Ideas

There are several benefits to capturing your ideas:

1. Clear Your Headspace: It will help you clear your mind so you can focus on your business or whatever else is a priority.
2. Don't Forget Those Ideas: By capturing your ideas, you won't forget about them completely.
3. Find That Winning Idea: Not every idea you have will be a great one. But once in a while, you might just have the insight you need.
4. Become an Idea Machine: The more ideas you capture, the more you'll build the habit of generating ideas.

6 Ways to Capture Great Ideas Anywhere

The key to being able to capture ideas as soon as you have them is to ensure you have the right device wherever you are.

Your ideal ‘capture device’ should be simple, fast and easily accessible wherever you are.

1. Notebooks

The easiest and fastest way to capture great ideas is with good old paper and pen. It's simple, fast and you never run out of battery.

2. Note Apps for Smartphones

In addition to using analog notebooks, note apps on your phone are great. Apps like Evernote, OneNote, or SimpleNote all sync to the cloud, so your ideas are always backed up and accessible from any device.

3. Voice Recording Apps

It's not always convenient or easy to type on your smartphone. In those situations, it's handy to be able to capture your idea by recording your voice quickly.

4. Email

Sometimes it's much simpler and faster to capture your idea with an app that you're already using. The next time you have an idea, just email yourself.

5. Phone

Just call yourself and leave a voicemail. It may seem a little old fashioned, but it's still easy and reliable.

6. Shower Notepad

Where do you have your best ideas? I've had some of my best ideas in the shower. A waterproof notepad like Aqua Notes gives you a convenient method to capture ideas when you're still in the shower.

How These Devices Won't Help You

No matter which device or method you choose to capture great ideas, they won't help you if you don't use them. It might take some time to build the habit, but you need to get used to capturing the idea as soon as you have it.