Clarity in thinking seems to happen during these hours and the brain is firing on all cylinders. Outlines for books and ways to optimize time at work simply pop into focus and present themselves like a 1980’s porn star. Solutions and ideas are all over the place for no apparent reason and the brain must split itself into different sections in order to keep track of it all. The best thing to happen at this point is to get out of bed and began to write things down before they disappear in a puff of smoke. But no, the horizontal position of being slabbed out in bed and the ideas and solutions escape because of the concern that if you get up you will not get back to sleep. You are already awake and will not be getting back to sleep anytime soon but not moving and not taking action still seems like the best idea. Some will say to keep a piece of paper and a pen by the bed so that these things can be captured in the moment. This will not work because there needs to be a connection between moving and then writing down the ideas and solutions. Staying in bed would diminish this process in some way. Interesting is too weak a word to describe what it would be like to have all of these ideas written down in one place as they occur.

Progress, innovation, and the pushing of boundaries and the so-called “envelope” do not simply happen between the socially approved hours of 8a-5p. The click clack of a time clock is not the sound of progress but the sound of conformity and obligation. 8a-5p or 3p-11p or whatever the schedule is a symbol of financial need and responsibility. Ask Innovators when they came up with their best ideas and I doubt any would say that the idea sparked as they were sitting in a flourescent illuminated break room while eating a Hot Pocket at 1233p. I believe that everybody has 2-3 hours/day where they are able to think at a different level that at any other time. This is where solutions can be found and it is only a matter of channeling this thinking into something tangible.