Bright Idea Journal

Bright Idea Journal

Sheng Zhang

Dallas Baptist University

Bright Idea Journal

After the 10 days period, 100 ideas are recorded in my notebook. I found that recording ideas daily is really a good idea to know what has happened every day.

I record my ideas as professor suggested that take a mini notebook, write the idea when it comes to mind. Also put the notebook near my bed, I can record my idea even I am very sleepy almost fall asleep. For example, in February the 1st, 2011, I already went to bed but cannot sleep. An idea come to my mind, my friend had suggested me many times to have a cup of milk to improve the quality of sleep. I take the notebook near me, write the idea to drink milk before go to sleep; then went to the refrigerator to fetch the milk, and drink it.

At first I thought Bright Idea Journals like simple journals to record something happen daily. After I record my idea for about 3 days, I found some difference between BIJ and ordinary journals. BIJ recorded what come to mind, ordinary journal just recorded what happen. After I have a list of about 100 ideas in 10 days I found BIJ looks like a to-do list, but on my list almost all of the ideas is in past tense. I think it over and found that BIJ is not just record the ideas come to my mind at that time, also a source for me to look up after I recorded them. Sometimes I should make my mind to do something before it happen. For example, in February the 2nd, 2011, I found there was not enough food for the hot pot party when my friends arrived at my house. I may make up my mind to buy enough meat and vegetable before friends arrive. It can be describe as think-in-advance.

Bright Idea Journal really changing my lifestyle. As I know a lot of Americans have the habit to have a to-do list to record what should do tomorrow or long time after the writing day even one month later. Before I have the BIJ, I do not have a to-do list; I often forget things what should do. I always feel nothing to do...