You don’t want to miss it
Dolly Parton writes song ideas while doing her makeup.
Scraps of paper are scattered and mixed with her makeup on her bathroom counter. Her mind wanders freely while doing makeup. If she doesn't write down a thought, it gets lost. She said she hasn't lost an idea in years.
You hear of inventors or businesspeople writing down a novel idea on a napkin.
I've heard of other designers keeping a sketchbook by their shower, on their nightstand or in the car. I find that washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen helps me come up with ideas for problems I'm working on.
Half of it is always being prepared. The other half is doing it all the time. Coming up with words, sketches, ideas constantly. And at length. Maybe not all ideas you write down will be useful, but it gives you a larger pool to choose from.
