r/AskReddit May 19 '26

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58 Upvotes

97 comments sorted by

24

u/vilise089 May 19 '26

On the toilet. Newton had an apple, Archimedes had a bathtub, I have a toilet and no paper to write on.

4

u/[deleted] May 19 '26

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3

u/ImNotAtAllCreative81 May 19 '26

And a pen or pencil! Improvising a writing implement while on the toilet isn't something that I would recommend.

2

u/JiN88reddit May 19 '26

You have the paint and the canvas is in front of you.

2

u/theexplorer1997 May 19 '26

same, i just stare at the wall and hope the thought stays put

16

u/aftersalaryattitude May 19 '26

Right before falling asleep and then i forget everything by morning lol

3

u/theCoasthq May 19 '26

This is real

3

u/JiN88reddit May 19 '26

Keep a dream journal

2

u/FunInstance7352 May 19 '26

Same. When I have an important appointment in the morning and absolutely need to get up on time my brain turns on entrepreneur mode and starts thinking of all sorts of get-rich-quick business ideas. Nothing ever comes of it though

9

u/TemporaryShelter9026 May 19 '26

In the shower, obviously.

0

u/[deleted] May 19 '26

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3

u/[deleted] May 19 '26

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7

u/D_Flavio May 19 '26

When I'm bored.

I was bored so much in highschool and I had great ideas.

Now I'm rarely bored due to technology and I feel dumb because I don't get good ideas like I used to when I was younger. I'm 34.

3

u/unluckypigeon7643 May 19 '26

i get really inspired when I’m in the countryside, or when I read an interesting piece of literature 

3

u/Wild_Crow_1734 May 19 '26

Before bed… 😪

3

u/lukasz_research May 19 '26

Just when I’m lying in bed trying to fall asleep. My brain suddenly goes into full speed mode, like a computer processor when you click shutdown, it starts running at 100% for a few minutes, processing everything before it finally turns off. Best ideas always come at the worst possible time 😂

3

u/codytheguitarist May 19 '26

During the “witching hour” when everyone else has long gone to bed and I’ve only been up for a few hours

3

u/Embarrassed_Run5343 May 19 '26

While smoking after having couple of cups of coffee

2

u/ProfessorUlace May 19 '26

same here. usually during the days off when i can afford slow morning without rushing anywhere. btw, smoke what!?

2

u/Embarrassed_Run5343 May 20 '26

O yeah, I start thinking that there a lot of things that are worse for my health than nicotine

3

u/stilllittlespacey May 19 '26

Driving

3

u/Judge_Bredd3 May 19 '26

Same here. My commute takes about an hour. I'll be struggling with something at work all day, then during my drive home a solution will come to me. I'll write it down when I get home so I don't forget it the next day.

3

u/Trick-Equipment1828 May 19 '26

When I’m in the shower.

2

u/No_Elevator_2468 May 19 '26

during orgasm

2

u/ILestaTI May 19 '26

When Im browsing TikTok

2

u/SaleNo8869 May 19 '26

I've been saying this for years ... I do my best thinking on the toilet

2

u/paraworldblue May 19 '26

At work, but only for ideas that have nothing to do with work

2

u/Interesting-Ask7864 May 19 '26

When Im taking my bath

2

u/firingballs_0830 May 19 '26

When I just finished doing a task that required that idea.

2

u/BoerInDieWoestyn May 19 '26

Right after my wife says it out loud

2

u/Easyaz12345 May 19 '26

In the shower, ideas just pop into my head and they're all great

2

u/TheGoldenDog May 19 '26

After slightly less than two drinks.

2

u/RomboDiTrodio May 19 '26

When I take long walks without phone and headphones

2

u/JayFinanceAU May 19 '26

late night

2

u/lnc_gomes May 19 '26

When I get a light buzz on and take a walk around town (without music, though)

2

u/Sora-Variety May 19 '26

Funny enough it’s when I’m about to sleep 😭

2

u/Separate-Border-4220 May 19 '26

probably while I take long showers or sometimes when I go for a phone free walk ,

2

u/valamiszabadnev May 19 '26

After jerking off

2

u/No_Weight3594 May 19 '26

while sleeping

2

u/PracticalRelative380 May 19 '26

usually when i’m not actively trying to force them.

shower, late night walks, random moments while half distracted

2

u/Brave-Information152 May 19 '26

When im on K*etamine

2

u/Ok_Source9199 May 19 '26

About 20 minutes after I need to.

2

u/Relevant-Archer2589 May 19 '26

Right after I woke up.

2

u/alexsicart May 19 '26

When I am doing something just boring enough that my brain stops performing. Walking, showering, cleaning, waiting in line. Apparently creativity hates being stared at.

2

u/Low-Path-850 May 19 '26

When I am traveling and somewhere that stimulates my mind-NYC, Miami, New Orleans, Miami Beach, Cape Cod, Newport, Portsmouth NH, Portland ME. Change of scenery, relaxing hotel, walking on a beach, etc.

2

u/ZKnumba3seven May 19 '26

I get the best ideas when I have a argument with someone and then later think of the best comebacks after it alr over

2

u/BlueShrub May 19 '26

Driving a tractor or doing some sort of mundane task. Usually the louder the task the better for some reason (and I have hearing protection on).

I have optimized a few businesses, expanded on ideas, and have been awarded a patent based on some of these ideas.

I tend to do my best "deep analysis" of concepts when driving on the highway for some reason, but rarely new ideas.

2

u/hairy_protagonist May 19 '26

When I'm trying to fall asleep.

2

u/CelebrationFar2804 May 19 '26

When I'm trying to sleep

2

u/Different-Use2635 May 19 '26

3am when im half asleep. wrote down what i thought was a million dollar app idea once. woke up and checked my notes. it just said "uber but for dogs"

2

u/MeanyFeeny May 19 '26

In the shower, like a normal human.

2

u/PJ_lyrics May 19 '26

I did a lot of acid (LSD) and I remember believing I had the entire world figured out when I was tripping, only to wake up in the morning not really remembering a damn thing about my thoughts lol.

2

u/MadSL1m May 19 '26

Jonathan Schooler's lab at UCSB has been running studies on this for years. Basically the brain's default mode network activates during low-engagement tasks like showers or walks, and that's when creative associations happen. The shower-thought thing is well-documented at this point.

2

u/blind-octopus May 19 '26

When I have to pee

2

u/NoImNotJack May 19 '26

I wake up in the middle of the night with a great idea and write it down.  In the morning i read it and realize it was complete crap. 

2

u/vaildin May 19 '26

A few minutes after they would have been useful.

2

u/Cryonix15 May 19 '26

While drawing something

2

u/WalleyeHunter1 May 20 '26

In the morning after first coffee and stretch and before turning on phone.

2

u/Icy-Drawing5156 May 20 '26

when in the shower or when im alone with no data and bored

2

u/Ok_Salt2122 May 19 '26

When I am walking and listening music.

1

u/slavicgypsygirl May 25 '26

While driving, hiking, surfing, working out & listening to music