If you’re anything like me, most of your best ideas don’t come during meetings or when you’re staring at a blank screen. They show up when you’re driving, in the shower, walking the dog, or halfway through making coffee. And if you don’t grab them right away?
Poof. They’re gone.
It’s frustrating, especially when you know that idea could’ve turned into something big—a client solution, a marketing hook, a product tweak, a killer presentation opener. But here’s the truth: ideas are slippery. If you don’t have a simple way to catch them on the fly, you’re going to lose more of them than you keep.
I would like to help you change that. I’ll walk you through some practical techniques to make capturing ideas feel effortless, whether you’re behind the wheel, soaked in shampoo, or halfway through your lunch. We’ll also talk about what to do with those ideas once you’ve got them. Having a great idea is one thing, but making it useful is another.
Why You Should Care About Capturing Ideas
People like Richard Branson and Bill Gates swear by writing ideas down. Branson carries notebooks everywhere. Gates sets aside time to just think and reflect. It’s not because they’re forgetful, it’s because they understand something most people don’t:
Good ideas are fleeting. Great systems catch them before they disappear.
Capturing ideas doesn’t just help you stay creative. It helps you stay ahead. It gives you a library of thinking to pull from when you need content, solutions, or fresh strategies. It’s also a great way to clear your head. Instead of trying to hold 20 ideas in your brain like a mental junk drawer, you put them somewhere solid and move on.
When Do Ideas Usually Show Up?
For most people, it’s the “in-between” moments:
- Driving to work
- Taking a shower
- Falling asleep
- Waiting in line
- On a walk or run
- After a meeting, when your brain is decompressing
There’s a scientific reason why this happens. When you’re not actively working or concentrating, your brain doesn’t shut off, it switches gears into what’s called the Default Mode Network (DWN). This is a network of brain regions that becomes active during passive rest or daydreaming.
The DMN is associated with:
- Mind-wandering
- Self-reflection
- Memory recall
- Imagination and future planning
Basically, when you’re doing something routine and low-effort (like showering or walking), the DMN lights up, and your brain starts making loose, creative connections—ones it wouldn’t make without focused, logical thinking.
Tasks like driving a familiar route or washing your hair don’t take much brainpower. Because these activities are mostly automatic, your conscious mind has spare capacity. That extra bandwidth lets your subconscious mind surface new connections, memories, or insights.
There’s another well-documented psychological phenomenon. After focusing hard on a problem, taking a break, especially a relaxing one, can lead to breakthroughs. Why? Because your brain keeps working on the problem in the background even after you’ve stopped consciously thinking about it.
It’s called incubation, and research shows that stepping away from active problem-solving can boost creativity and insight when you return to the task. I love how our brains keep at it even when we’re doing something like cooking dinner.
Many “in-between” moments trigger small releases of dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter. Dopamine is linked to reward and motivation, but also plays a big role in creative thinking and idea generation. When dopamine is flowing, your brain is more likely to make novel associations.
Because you’re not trying to think of something clever, your brain is free to roam without judgment or performance anxiety. This relaxed state often leads to more authentic and original thoughts. It’s why trying too hard to be creative rarely works—and why ideas pop up when you’re not trying at all.
This is why I carry a small notebook and pen wherever I go. You can’t always control when inspiration hits, but you can control how easy it is to grab it.
Simple Ways to Capture Ideas—Wherever You Are
Let’s make this as easy and low-tech (or high-tech) as you need it to be.
Use Voice Notes While Driving
You’re not going to pull over and write something down mid-commute. But you can tap a button and speak into your phone.
Try these methods instead:
- Use the Voice Memos app (iPhone) or Google Keep (Android) to record quick thoughts.
- Use Otter.ai or similar apps that transcribe your voice into searchable text.
Tip: Start each recording with a keyword like “IDEA” so it’s easier to find later.
Keep a Waterproof Notepad in the Shower
Yes, this is a real thing. It’s called AquaNotes, and it sticks right to your shower wall. Comes with waterproof paper and a pencil.
Why it works: The shower is where your brain relaxes and connects dots. Don’t let those insights “go down the drain” (I couldn’t resist).
Put a Notebook Where You Think Most
Notebooks aren’t just for journaling. They’re one of the most underrated thinking tools out there. There are also different sizes to choose from, whether it’s the compact but powerful Passport size (3.5” x 4.88”), the popular A5 size (5.5” x 8.25”), or a regular notebook size (8” x 10.5”).
Where to keep them:
- Next to your bed
- In your bag
- On your desk
- In the kitchen
Even a stack of sticky notes will do in a pinch. The key is to have something nearby when ideas hit.
Use One “Catch-All” Digital Note
Don’t overcomplicate this. Pick a single app (Notion, Evernote, Apple Notes, Google Keep) and create a note called something like “Idea Dump” or “Brain Inbox.”
Rules:
- Don’t worry about formatting.
- Just get it out of your head and into the note.
- Later, you can clean it up.
Pro tip: Pin the note to the top of your app so it’s always the first thing you see.
Email Yourself
I use this one occasionally. It’s simple, effective, and fast. Especially if you live in your inbox all day.
Just send yourself a quick email with the subject “Idea” and a line or two about what popped into your head.
Later, you can move those into a spreadsheet or project file. You can even create a folder in your email labeled “Ideas” and drag them in.
OK, You’ve Got Ideas… Now What?
Capturing ideas is only half the job. You also need a way to develop and use them. Otherwise, it’s just cluttering up a notebook or digital abyss.
Here’s a simple process you can follow:
Pick One Day a Week to Review Everything
Set a 20-minute block on your calendar. Fridays or Sundays work great.
During this time:
- Go through all your captured ideas (notebooks, apps, voice notes).
- Highlight the ones that still feel exciting or useful.
- Toss anything that doesn’t make sense anymore.
Sort Them Into Buckets
Keep it light—just enough to give each idea some context.
Buckets could be:
- Quick Wins (stuff you can do this week)
- Future Projects
- Needs Development
- Delegate/Discuss With Team
This takes ideas from random thoughts to actionable seeds.
Keep a Running Idea Tracker
Want to get organized? Set up a simple spreadsheet or Notion table with columns like:
- Idea Description
- Where did it come from
- Possible Use
- Next Step
- Priority (Low, Medium, High)
Now you’ve got a searchable, sortable idea vault you can return to anytime you need inspiration or direction.
Try These 3 Quick-Start Steps This Week
Want to build a habit without overhauling your life? Start here:
Choose Your Go-To Capture Tool
Decide what you’ll use to capture ideas every time—just one method. A notebook? Apple Notes? Voice memos? Doesn’t matter. Make it your default.
Set Up a Weekly Review Time
Block out 15–20 minutes to go through your notes and pick out the keepers. Add a calendar reminder until it becomes a habit.
Build a Simple Tracker
Whether it’s a spreadsheet, Trello board, or Notion database, set up a place to organize your top ideas so they don’t get buried or forgotten. And if you subscribe to Canva, you can use their new Canva Sheets along with their templates to get started.
The Big Payoff
Once you build the habit of capturing and reviewing ideas, something starts to shift. You stop relying on memory and start building momentum. You get more clarity. You generate better solutions, faster. And instead of scrambling when it’s time to create or strategize, you’ve already got a bank of solid material ready to go.
Capturing ideas on the fly isn’t just about creativity; it’s about performance. It helps you think more clearly, communicate more effectively, and execute like a pro.
So go ahead. Talk into your phone. Write in the shower. Email yourself. Do what works. Just don’t let another good idea disappear before you’ve had a chance to do something with it.