I rarely get eater’s block. If I want something to eat, it doesn’t take long to satisfy the urge.

That’s because my family keeps a grocery list. Whenever or just before we run out of an item, we write it on the list. Then once or twice a week, one of us goes out to pick up whatever we need. With this system, we always have access to food.

In the same way, writers need a system for always having access to ideas.

What causes writer’s block is not the writing itself or a lack of ideas. It’s the failure to capture the ideas you have.

As productivity expert David Allen has pointed out, our brains are great at generating ideas. They’re not so good at storing them.

If you store your ideas, writer’s block will become a thing of the past.

How do you do that? I have three tips to share.

1. Develop the habit of harvesting

Did you know forgetting is actually good for you? A February 2019 article in Discover Magazine points out, “Forgetting is essential, some researchers now argue, because the biological goal of the brain’s memory apparatus is not preserving information, but rather helping the brain make sound decisions.”

So instead of trying really hard to recall your ideas, preserve them. Not only will you be able to use them later. You’ll be freeing up your brain to make better decisions!

This process is a little like harvesting. Imagine a farmer who never harvested his crops and let his corn or lettuce spoil. That would be crazy, right?!

We need to develop the habit of harvesting our ideas, or we risk losing them forever.

Any time you have an idea, record it. Don’t think too long about it and don’t be picky. See something that intrigues you? Snap a picture. Have an interesting experience? Get it down. Your friend shared an idea you find helpful? Store it away.

Take whatever method is nearest you and capture it somehow.

Speaking of methods . . .

2. Use a notebook

Study after study supports the benefits of physically writing things down.

I’m not a purist (see tip 3 below), but I’m a big believer in a good old-fashioned notebook.

If you want a sturdy lined notebook that feels good in your hand, I recommend a Moleskine Cahier Journal.

You can use these right out of the package or buy a leather cover and change out the insert journals as you fill them. If you like the leather option, I recommend this product from Etsy. You can even personalize it with an inspiring message on the front!

If you want a notebook that also serves as a daily planner, I recommend the Full Focus Planner from Michael Hyatt & Co. I’ve been using one of these for over two years now, and I can’t imagine life without it.

Do you get your best ideas in the shower? My friend Erin Bartels recently told me about Aqua Notes. We now have them in our showers!

Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash

3. Leverage digital tools

What if you have an idea, but your notebook isn’t handy? Or maybe you simply prefer digital tools.

The number of options is endless. Here are just a few:

• Use an app like Google Keep, Evernote, or One Note
• Record your ideas in a word processing doc (e.g., Google Docs, Word, or Pages)
• Record voice memos to yourself (This is particularly helpful if you not only want to capture an idea but develop it “out loud” as you talk it through.)
• Send an email to yourself
• Call your cell and leave a voicemail
• Take pictures

Don’t get overwhelmed by all these digital options. Select one or two that pique your interest and give them a try.

May writer’s block become as absurd to you as eater’s block.​ If you make a habit of harvesting your ideas using both analog and digital methods, it just might.

Question: Which of these three tips is most useful to you? You can leave a comment by clicking here.