One of the things I often challenge my clients to do is to give themselves more thinking time, which sometime prompts the question of ‘where?’

There are the usual suspects:

• in a quiet room
• on my own
• in the shower
• on a walk/run
• in the car

The glamorous:

• On holiday
• On the beach
• In a cafe
• At the art gallery

And the bizarre:

• Sitting on the toilet
• Standing up anywhere
• While doing housework (really?! I’m not convinced…)

Where do you do your best thinking?

I don’t know about you, but my best thinking rarely happens at my desk and certainly not in front of a screen, but it’s easy to find myself there – my default place of work.

Get up, move around

The next time you need to do some creative, strategic or problem solving thinking, get up and move. Take yourself to a different location, or walk around to get your creative juices flowing.

Invite someone to join you

Sometimes I do my best thinking when I’m in conversation with others. Sometimes we need others to be part of that thinking. How about scheduling your next meeting on the move – like a walking meeting for example?

Two friends of mine found themselves completely uninspired with their business plan, so they left the office and went for a long woodland walk instead. As they walked, they talked, and by the end they had a brilliant business plan.

Go on, treat yourself

Got some thinking to do that you’re actively avoiding? A problem you’re dreading working on? Don’t make it a punishment by chaining yourself to the desk. Go somewhere you would normally go to procrastinate, and take your thinking with you. Or bring the treat to you – grab a drink, put on some music, have a slice of something indulgent to go with your thinking.

Over to you

What thinking do you need to do this week? Where will you take yourself? Drop me a line in the comments below and share your favourite thinking place.