This post is the second post in the “How to Brainstorm for Success” series. If you missed the first post, check it out here: “How to Brainstorm for Success: Part 1 – An Introduction to Brainstorming” where we briefly discuss different brainstorming stages.

Have you ever been laying down at night waiting to go to sleep, or been on a nice afternoon walk and the ideas just kept rushing into your head? I’ve been there way too many times. I love it when this happens, but what really drives me nuts is when it happens and I’m not prepared. I’ve since learned to always keep a notebook and pen on my bed stand, and I usually have something to take notes on when I’m out and about.

With that in mind, I’ve prepared a few simple preparation ideas that can help you be prepared for brainstorming. To effectively brainstorm, you don’t need to meet all the criteria I lay out below. These are merely instruments and ideas to cater to an ideal mood and mindset that lets the lightning come down.

Gather the appropriate materials.

Technically speaking, all you need to brainstorm is something to write with and something to write on. I have a legal pad holder and a pen set aside for brainstorming, it doubles as my idea book and a brainstorming book.

I prefer brainstorming with a pen and paper so that my mind is free to roam and write ideas down as they come to me, and some of my ideas come as sketches, shapes, or equations or something that is not easily and quickly recorded on the computer. Working with pen and paper lets me quickly sketch those down. I occasionally use a computer to brainstorm, but I’ve found that it’s too distracting and limits what I can add to my brainstorming paper (more about this in part 3).

Some other good materials to have on hand but that are not necessary are sticky notes, rulers, different colored pens (or colored pencils), and a whoopie cushion soft chair. In my point of view, the fewer distractions you have, the more effective your brainstorming session will be.

Decide on a time.

Everybody has a time of day when their minds are the most active and energetic. For some people, it’s in the wee hours o’ the mornin’ (not me), or even the super late hours of the night (not me either). For me, my mind functions the best between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. and then at nights between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

The ideal time to brainstorm is when your mind is at its peak. You can figure out which time that is for you if you are willing to look for patters in your thinking habits. If in doubt, start with it first thing in the morning.

I realize that your ideal time for brainstorming is not necessarily compatible with your work schedule. That’s okay, you can identify moments in your work schedule that your mind feels the most invigorated such as an hour before lunch, or when you first arrive.

Find the right place.

When it comes to brainstorming, “the right place” changes with each person. This is why group brainstorming sessions are hard. (I’ll write more about group brainstorming sessions in a later post.) When one person needs a quiet office and a fan blowing, another person might need to be outside walking or in the woods sitting on a tree stump. The good news is that you can train your mind to be open in any circumstance.

I’ve brainstormed in many different places, and for me, it’s not the location that matters as much as the atmosphere. My mind functions best and hits a creative peak in a serene environment. This might be in an office, at the park, or in a canoe on the lake.

I’ve talked with other people who find their best ideas come to them when they’re surrounded by energy and noise–like clubs, parties, and rocket launches–well, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea.

Once again, when you’re required to brainstorm at work, you may not be in your ideal environment, but that’s okay. Remember, these are just tips to start the electricity flowing through your brain. If needed, find a nice place away from the office.

Set aside ample time.

Time is a tricky one, and we’ll discuss it in more depth in a later post, but for now, understand that you need to give yourself adequate time for the ideas to flow. With too little time, you may have to quit right when your best ideas are starting to flow. On the other hand, with too much time, you may reach a burnout stage. I recommend setting aside at least 20 minutes: the first 10 minutes to get the brain juices flowing, the second 10 minutes to revel in creativity. I prefer a time of 45 minutes to an hour per subject.

Bring all your ideas.

When it comes to brainstorming, your mind must be as an empty cup, grasshopper. When you come to the table, even before sitting down, you need to make the decision that nothing is ruled out–nothing. Ruling ideas out before you get started is like drinking hot chocolate from a tiny red stirring straw when you could be gulping. Don’t limit yourself. Bring it all, give it all, then sort out the good ideas from the bad ideas afterwards.

In Part 3 of the brainstorming series, we’ll be talking about different brainstorming tactics to get your mind and ideas flowing.

Now it’s your turn.

What ideas do you have about preparing to brainstorm, or what do you do to prepare to brainstorm?

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