The spaces in between

Until recently, I’ve ridden to work just about every day for as long as I can remember.

It’s been an important part of my life for obvious reasons—physical and mental health—but one of the biggest benefits is the dedicated, uninterrupted thinking time.

I think of it as the 'space in between’. Unstructured, no distractions, an opportunity to 'reflect and connect'.

A hour on the bike twice a day leaves plenty of time to reflect on the things that you don’t have time to when you're running from one commitment to the next; and then start to connect these challenges and opportunities to potential solutions.

Often I get half way into my ride and I’m pulling over to type notes into my phone or arriving at work to scrawl down ideas on scraps of paper before they fade away.

Sometimes they’re good ideas, sometimes rubbish, but it has consistently been the most reliable time for problem solving and idea generation throughout my career. It’s the most pure flow-time that I have experienced.

Three months ago this was taken away from me on my ride to work by a motorist who drove through a stop sign, and then me.

Since getting back to work I’ve either been driving or on public transport. Neither of these does the job in the same way. Both allow time for thinking but neither have the benefits of physical movement—and there is plenty of research pointing to the connection between cycling (or movement more generally) and creative thinking.

This week I’ll be getting back on my (new) bike, and although I’m a bit hesitant, I’m keen to get this creative space back.

I appreciate it’s not for everyone, so I’ve been wondering how others create their 'space in between'?