Need some inspiration? Try a sparks log.
As we approach one year of COVID-19, I think I am not the only one in need of a little inspiration.
With increasing vaccination rates and spring approaching in just a few months, it’s starting to feel that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Still, it’s hard to stay motivated these days, and even harder to dream about the future.
If any of this rings true, try this simple hack. It’s called a “sparks log”, and it’s an extremely simple addition to your regular task management workflow.
The first step is to be on the lookout for ideas. These ideas are “sparks”, little seeds that might become big ideas or big plans, or might never amount to anything. Sparks are not quite ready to go into your to-do list. You are also not quite sure what to do with them, but they speak to you or inspire you. Sparks can also come from anywhere — a blog post, a conversation with a friend or colleague, or a compelling quote from a book. They can also be in any category — new work ideas, future trips, apps you want to try out, books to read, or people you want to reconnect with.
The second step is to write your sparks down in a dedicated sparks log. I suggest a minimal format, with just the current date and one to two lines of text. You can easily keep an analog sparks log in a dedicated notebook, or start a digital sparks log in a running Google document or notes app. I have personally shifted my sparks log over to Drafts, but anything will work.
Once your sparks are recorded, let them marinate. Don’t feel compelled to act on them right away. Don’t feel compelled to add them to your regular to-do list. And, most importantly, don’t feel guilty if you never act on any of these ideas.
Every few weeks, review your sparks log and see if any of these ideas still speak to you. If they do, start acting on them.
Once you get into the regular habit of keeping a sparks log, you may be surprised how many new ideas you can generate. You may start from a point of zero motivation, thinking you have no new ideas. But, once you open yourself to the process, you may quickly find yourself overflowing with all sorts of ideas. And, maybe, just maybe, one of these seeds will blossom into your most important life change or your most important new project.
Best of luck.
