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Picture yourself driving somewhere unfamiliar, scanning signs for your exit. What do you do?

Turn off the radio.

Now you’re at a cocktail party, trying to remember the name of an old friend. What do you do?

Shut your eyes.

When we want our brain to show up for us, we instinctively minimize distraction. Silencing the radio or shutting our eyes creates a sensory shut-down so that the one sense we’re beckoning can take center stage.

Aren’t we smart? Yes. Problem is, not often enough. Here’s what I mean:

Picture yourself at work, trying to write a description of a new product. What do you do?

Pick up your vibrating Blackberry to see who’s pinging you.
Stare at a computer screen with a dozen browser windows open.
Glance to see if you’ve got any new Twitter followers.

Even in those rare moments you take creative challenge outside for a walk, what do you do?

Pipe music into your ears.

What was instinctive to you behind the wheel in Topeka somehow fails you behind your desk at home. That is, if you let it.

Input inhibits output. So just like you make time for romance or fitness, you have to make time for creativity. Declare one hour a day as “unplugged.” Write it in your calendar. Set your laptop to chime at the designated hour, tolling its own imminent shutdown.

Then once you’ve powered everything down, watch yourself power up. Shut your eyes and breathe. State aloud what you want to figure out during this time. Sit in a different spot. Pencil your thoughts on an old-fangled invention called a pad of paper. Write with abandon. Don’t worry about spelling. Doodle. Make a paper airplane. Write some more. And before you know it, just like you found your exit and remembered your friend’s name – you’ve got your answer.

This has been a guest post by Kat Gordon. Kat finds answers for brands looking to connect with moms. Her agency, Maternal Instinct, creates ad campaigns, brainstorms new business ideas, engages moms through social media, and advises companies on future initiatives. You can follow Kat on Twitter @katgordon and visit Maternal Journal, her agency’s blog.

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