Maximize Your Flashes of Creativity

If you’re like me, you find yourself with a number of different ideas simultaneously, and though it’s not possible you wish that you could work on all of them at the same time.  As a part time blogger, and sometime freelancer I am constantly finding new or interesting ideas or viewpoints on a variety of issues that interest me. While I was writing my first book of poetry, I probably discovered and forgot dozens of opening lines and meaningful ideas simply because I didn’t have a readily accessible way to capture my ideas. Something I’ve discovered since retiring my Personal Data Assistant (PDA) and upgrading to a smart phone is that there are a number of free and low cost applications I can get to help me maximize my flashes of creativity, many of which I’ll share with you here.

First things first – I’m not an Apple/Mac or PC snob, I just like technology to work for me and not the other way around. As a result I own and use technology from both realms, and would add in Android, HTC, etc., if I had it. That said, some of the software may not be available to everyone using various systems or it may not be called the same thing in the system you’re using. Look past the name through to the function of the application to find something similar that will work for you.

Secondly – this is not a post dealing with time management. There are plenty of experts in the field who can better explain how to turn your 40hrs into a 4 hour work week, but I’m not one of them. Certainly while reading this you may identify numerous time saving features, however the focus of this writing is to share how to maximize your flashes of creativity.

Thirdly – not all the suggestions will work for everyone all the time. So check them all out and kick the tires to determine which technique works best for you. Only you know (or should know) your greatest time for productivity. Mine is early in the morning, and occasionally weekend afternoons. Armed with this knowledge I try to organize my time so that I maximize my productivity. I interpret productivity as getting things done, re-writing, editing, building outlines, etc. For me my greatest insights for inspiration and creativity occur when I least expect it! So you might already be thinking “if you can’t expect it, how can you prepare for it?” The answer is to follow the time honored Boy Scout motto, “Always be prepared.”

I used to carry a small notebook with me wherever I went and could jot notes to myself in it from time to time. When that became untenable I moved up to a PDA which was crazy handy. So much so, that I published an article in the Law and Order magazine on PDA Basics – dealing with how to maximize the use of your PDA. I began using a Visor Handspring™, which I quickly outfitted with a Fax/Modem, Camera, and folding keyboard. As the PDA market expanded I upgraded (sort of) to a Sony NR-70, which was an excellent upgrade because it accepted expandable memory, which I could shift from my PDA to my laptop. After burning it out from overuse I upgraded to my last PDA, the Sony Clie’ UX-50 clamshell PDA, and purchased the extended battery and carrying case; it served me well for years!

What all these PDAs had in common for me was that they allowed me to be more mobile, and have readily accessible a product that could record my ‘flashes of creativity’ without the drudgery or delay of unpacking the laptop, turning it on, finding an memo or word processing program, typing and saving, and then storing my laptop away again. With my PDA, it powered on pretty quickly, I could select my program and start typing immediately, and my data would be automatically saved when I shut it down. These advances helped me write my first book, as well as several articles, so it was only a matter of time before I upgraded to the next best piece of technology – the smart phone.

I must admit that I was somewhat dragged into the 21st century with regard to upgrading my basic Nokia telephone to something smarter, but similar to having two computer monitors connected to your system, once you’ve moved up you never want to go back! My smart phone immediately replaced my PDA! I can surf, search or browse the Internet at leisure through my data plan or through WiFi, I can take pictures or videos with sound and send them to friends, family or Youtube, I can access many of the same applications on my computer as well as new applications being added almost daily, and oh yeah, I can make phone calls! Although the smart-phone isn’t currently designed to do everything your computer system can…and you don’t use every aspect of your computer system all the time. So identify the key applications you need and use, and if you can find them or something comparable in your smart-phone use it…if not, use your computer system. There’s no need for this to be an ‘either / or’ situation.

One of the most useful computer applications I have used recently is the speech to text software, such as IBM Talk®, Dragon Naturally Speaking™ , Talk-Type®, etc.  My smart phone has comparable versions which allow me to speak my ‘flashes of creativity’ to be later edited, modified and expanded. Other programs I’ve come to rely on include Microsoft OneNote ®, Evernote™, and DropBox ™. These powerful applications keep me connected to my information and projects via the web and sometimes via the “Cloud”. I know everyone has their own opinion of housing non-classified material and other information in the Internet ether, but for me – for now, this is a suitable way for me to share and maintain connectivity. I don’t suggest that it would meet the needs of every mobile commuter – but it does work for me and the price is very reasonable…free usually is. 

So what is the bottom line? There are a few individuals who process best by using pen and paper, but for the rest of us who prefer to minimize re-typing, or are prone to forget ideas, lose trains of thought and start up points for articles or other information you wish to research while scrambling around looking for something to write with and something to write on, here are some practical ways to maximize your creativity:

1.       Invest in a quality smart-phone or if you already have one – look for and use applications that mirror your portable, office or home computer system.

2.       Spend some time reviewing the free tutorials you can find on the web regarding use of MS OneNote, Evernote, Dropbox, Skype and other mobile solutions.

3.       Don’t be afraid to test and push the limits of going mobile – if you purposely leave your laptop behind, you force yourself to rely on your smart-phone.

4.       Join on-line discussion forums to discover new ways you use your smart-phone to it’s maximum efficiency.

5.       Look for one or more things your smart-phone can do as well or better than your computer system and “Bend technology to your will” – work smarter, not harder.

Hopefully these tidbits of insight will help you maximize your flashes of creativity.