The Unexpected Muse: How Pandemic Isolation Confirmed the Power of Quiet Reflection in Mundane Places

As we approach the fifth anniversary of the start of the global pandemic, I ache to recall the feeling of the uncertainty that a total shutdown to normality produced. The pandemic fundamentally transformed our daily routines, creating disruptions in how we lived, worked, and connected. Suddenly, the constant movement of pre-pandemic life screeched to a halt. Commutes disappeared, social activities obliterated, and people found themselves confined within the walls of their homes. During this period of unexpected stillness, many discovered something profound: the incredible value of uninterrupted mental space.

Traditionally, our lives were filled with constant stimulation. Commutes, errands, and daily activities provided background noise that often masked our deeper thought processes. While the pandemic stripped away these active distractions, our appetite was partially satiated by using digital content and tools to stay informed and connected, substitutes for the normality of life and they didn’t provide much space to be “away.” The antithesis of being “out of touch.”

For me, the mundane activities we once took for granted—driving to work, waiting in line, or taking a shower—served as critical moments of unstructured thinking. These seemingly ordinary experiences provided natural pauses where the mind could wander freely, generating innovative ideas and approaching complex problems without the immediate pressure of digital interruptions.

Places to Be Alone with Your Thoughts

I realized that while digital connectivity shows well on the productivity scale, it isn’t a natural palette for creative thinking. By contrast, moments of reflection emerged as powerful tools for personal and professional development. And the places where I truly let my mind wander weren’t on the docket during the early days of the pandemic: in the shower and in the car.

The shower can be an idea-development chamber or a perspective shifting pod. I have and continue to evaluate topics unfettered. Sometimes it results in a “eureka” moment, but in most cases, the blank space gives me new approaches to deal with an issue.  Same with driving solo. I don’t yield to Spotify or talk radio or classic rock. I just let my mind work its way through a subject as I move from point A to point B.

The pandemic taught me a valuable lesson: creativity isn't about constant productivity, but about allowing my mind the freedom to explore, connect, and imagine. By embracing periods of stillness and reducing digital distractions, we can tap into a more profound level of innovative thinking that transcends traditional problem-solving approaches.