I get my best marketing ideas when I’m on the toilet.
Come on now. Don’t be embarrassed to read this. It will all be okay. I promise.
As we get a tad older, we find ourselves perched on the porcelain convenience more often than in the past. It’s a gift, really. Some folks use the time to scroll through their LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram pages or simply to enjoy the peace and quiet.
I’ve discovered that those lengthy pauses throughout the day can unleash amazing bursts of creativity. But don’t take my word for it. Science proves it. It’s called the “Toilet Thinking Phenomenon.” In a 2025 published survey, more than 70% of interviewees said they experience heightened creativity while perched on the throne.
I wish I could have heard the debate around funding such a study. I think the conversation went something like this:
“Watson, your idea stinks. I think we can find a better use of $25,000.”
“But boss, haven’t you noticed how long people stay in the stalls? They’re creating more than you think in there.”
Granted, the study included a small sampling of participants, but the findings seem legit to me. The study indicates that the uninterrupted time to relax contributes to what is called the brain’s Default Mode Network – the cortical areas of the noggin that mobilize ideas and reflections.
So, the next time you need a fresh approach to a pitch … a cleaner ad campaign … a clever idea for a blog 😊, then excuse yourself. Head to the el baño (sounds so much nicer in Spanish, right?) and make sure it is equipped with the following:
A lock on the door so no one is allowed to interrupt the genius at work
A notepad and pen for jotting down the flood of ideas that will fill your brain
A stack of $1 bills – I’d suggest placing them out of sight in a drawer if guests are coming over
A jar or piggy bank, where you can add $1 for every idea (I collected $323 in six months doing this)
My bathroom buddy. Let’s call him Bill — full name, Dollar Bill
Here’s the BOTTOM line: The Toilet Thinking Phenomenon proves that multitasking can be a good thing. Here’s the study: Toilet Thinking Phenomenon: Psychological Study on Increased Focus and Creative Ideas While on the Toilet | Community Action and Social Transformation Journal
See, that wasn’t so bad, right? Thank you for visiting Blogburgh, my cyberspace blog city, where I turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Terri McAdoo, author of Tattooed Woman at the Well – available on Amazon and wherever online books are sold