Have you ever had an idea that you felt like penning down, but could not because you thought later would be a better time to write it? You felt like you could write an improved and refined version of your thought later. And that later never came.

It happens to me, a lot. I have passed months together, anticipating the “right” time to write. There have been many instances when I had observed something insightful or interesting in my day-to-day life, and felt like writing it down and posting it here. But then I got carried away by the concern of using the correct words, phrases, and tone to be used, so that the most accurately organized form of my thoughts could be expressed. And in quest of that perfection, ideas have slipped out of my mind forever, numerous times.

I think the best time to write something is just when the idea strikes. Use handy tools like a pocket notepad or any note taking app in your phone. The work does not need to be perfect, even a skeletal form would suffice. It can be improvised later with apt language. This will atleast ensure that the idea of the moment is captured. If a notepad is not available, the Voice Recorder app in your phone can also be used to note down the idea.

Voice Recorder not only captures the idea, but also the tone, pitch, and mood of the moment. Listening to the recorded voice note later will take you back to the mood when the thought ideated in your mind. Few minutes of concentrated focus, and you could slide back into that mood and start capturing the idea in your notepad. Voice recording would make it a two-step process, but it would ensure that the thought or idea is not lost.

Thoughts vaporize faster than spirit.  It is easy to forget or lose our instinctive ideas in the vast pool of engagements that need our attention during the day – work, family, household, transportation etc. So better note them before you lose them. You can improvise later if you have the raw form.