We’ve all been there.  One minute you are cranking on an idea, a project, or game plan and the next… nothing.  It feels like you burned all the fuel up and there is a good chance that you have not even “cleared the tower” yet.  Sound familiar? Not sure what to do about it?  There is a simple fix: Zig don’t Zag (and Vice Versa of course). Change your inputs to change your outputs.  In other words: consciously change your routine to trigger an “aha” moment.

The idea is to pull your brain out of “autopilot” mode.  Force yourself to think critically and differently about even the most mundane daily task.  It could be just the shift you needed to get back on track.  Here are a few simple “routine shifts” to help you Zig instead of Zag.

1. Take the long way home- On your next drive home from the office, try to find a new route.  If you already know your city like the back of your hand you can try to get home only making right (or left) hand turns… now that will get you thinking.

2. Find and listen to new music- Use sites like pandora, thesixtyone, or blip.fm to find a new song, a new band, or a new genre to get the creative juices flowing.

3. Embrace a new hobby- Pick up a guitar, pop in those language tapes, try your luck at Geo Caching When you are in a situation that you have to use your beginners mind you are uninhibited by self imposed restrictions or expectations.  Any angle you approach the “problems” in a new hobby is a “new angle”.  Try to “copy and paste” the way you handled your new problem to your old one.

Did you Zig? Do you have any of your own routine shifts that work wonders for getting your ideas back on track?  I want to hear about it.  No really, I do.  Drop a comment in the box below and get in on the discussion.