The Fishing Line Technique is a productivity method with the main goal to help you hold your train of thought for as long as possible until you get to something concrete.
The basic principle of the Fishing Line Technique is based on the importance of not being disturbed whilst in the process of trying to come up with new ideas, or any creative process in general.

Fishing Line Technique

If you’ve ever been fishing you know that it’s all about finding the right spot, casting your fishing rod and then starting the big wait.
You sit there, patiently waiting and observing your rod, until you see that something got its first nibble and that there is finally some tension on the line: a fish is on the hook! From now on it’s all about maintaining that tension while carefully and slowly reeling in the line to bring the catch to the shore.

Importance Of The Fishing Line Technique

When you try to come up with new ideas, you first need to spend some proper time pondering over the problem. And once you’re onto something, it’s like when you got some tension on that fishing line! Now it’s all about holding this tension for as long as needed to transform that first glimpse of an idea into something more concrete – which in our fishing example equals bringing the fish to the shore.If at that very moment, when the idea is finally materializing, you get distracted by something, your tension on the line is lost and the idea might be gone forever.

The Idea Generation Process

Whenever you’re trying to come up with a new idea, trying to work out a solution to something or doing any creative work in general, make sure beforehand that nothing will disturb you.This means basically doing three main things:<ul><li>Allocate proper time for thinking and doing some deep work, and let others know that you won’t be available during this time.</li><li>Retreat to a space where you can be undisturbed for as long as needed and tune out any potential distraction with background sounds.</li><li>Make sure every possible notification is turned off.</li></ul>

Fishing Line Technique In Practice

<img src="https://blog.noisli.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Noisli-The-Fishing-Line-Principle.png" alt="Noisli - The Fishing Line Principle" width="518" height="315" srcset="https://blog.noisli.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Noisli-The-Fishing-Line-Principle.png 1400w, https://blog.noisli.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Noisli-The-Fishing-Line-Principle-768x466.png 768w"><div dir="ltr"> <h2 dir="ltr">What is the Fishing Line Technique</h2> </div>The Fishing Line Technique is a productivity method with the main goal to help you hold your train of thought for as long as possible until you get to something concrete.The basic principle of the Fishing Line Technique is based on the importance of not being disturbed whilst in the process of trying to come up with new ideas, or any creative process in general. The name of the technique originates from the fact that the idea generation process can be compared to fishing, and more specifically to the moment a fish takes the bait, is now on the hook and you’re trying to bring it to the shore. Obviously, it’s always a good idea to not be disturbed when trying to do something, but this is even more crucial during the creative process. So, what’s actually at stake? Why is it so important and what happens if you do get distracted?<div dir="ltr"> <h2 dir="ltr">Why is the Fishing Line Technique important</h2> </div>If you’ve ever been fishing you know that it’s all about finding the right spot, casting your fishing rod and then starting the big wait. You sit there, patiently waiting and observing your rod, until you see that something got its first nibble and that there is finally some tension on the line: a fish is on the hook! From now on it’s all about maintaining that tension while carefully and slowly reeling in the line to bring the catch to the shore. The same goes for the idea generation process.When you try to come up with new ideas, you first need to spend some proper time pondering over the problem. And once you’re onto something, it’s like when you got some tension on that fishing line! Now it’s all about holding this tension for as long as needed to transform that first glimpse of an idea into something more concrete – which in our fishing example equals to bringing the fish to the shore.If at that very moment, when the idea is finally materializing, you get distracted by something, your tension on the line is lost and the idea might be gone forever. <div dir="ltr"> <h2 dir="ltr">How to put the Fishing Line Technique into practice</h2> </div>It’s quite simple. Whenever you’re trying to come up with a new idea, trying to work out a solution to something or doing any creative work in general, make sure beforehand that nothing will disturb you. <UL>This means basically doing three main things:<LI>Allocate proper time for thinking and doing some deep work, and let others know that you won’t be available during this time.</LI><LI>Retreat to a space where you can be undisturbed for as long as needed and tune out any potential distraction with background sounds.</LI><LI>Make sure every possible notification is turned off.</LI></UL>Of course, no setup is ever perfect and it might still happen that something will slip through and try to get your attention. In such cases, try to resist the urge to give in to such distractions and finish your thought process in a way, e.g. noting down your thoughts, so that you can easily and effortlessly pick it up again later.This post is part of our big guide <a href="https://blog.noisli.com/productivity-101-the-complete-guide-to-productivity/" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">“Productivity 101: the complete guide to productivity”</a><a href="https://blog.noisli.com/productivity-system-dont-break-the-chain/" rel="noopener noreferrer">←</a>

The fishing line technique has the main goal to help you hold your train of thought for as long as possible until you get to something concrete.

Stashed ideas

The Fishing Line Technique is a productivity method with the main goal to help you hold your train of thought for as long as possible until you get to something concrete.

The basic principle of the Fishing Line Technique is based on the importance of not being disturbed whilst in the process of trying to come up with new ideas, or any creative process in general.

The name of the technique originates from the fact that the idea generation process can be compared to fishing, and more specifically to the moment a fish takes the bait, is now on the hook and you’re trying to bring it to the shore.

Obviously, it’s always a good idea to not be disturbed when trying to do something, but this is even more crucial during the creative process. So, what’s actually at stake? Why is it so important and what happens if you do get distracted?

Why is the Fishing Line Technique important

If you’ve ever been fishing you know that it’s all about finding the right spot, casting your fishing rod and then starting the big wait. You sit there, patiently waiting and observing your rod, until you see that something got its first nibble and that there is finally some tension on the line: a fish is on the hook! From now on it’s all about maintaining that tension while carefully and slowly reeling in the line to bring the catch to the shore.

The same goes for the idea generation process.

When you try to come up with new ideas, you first need to spend some proper time pondering over the problem. And once you’re onto something, it’s like when you got some tension on that fishing line! Now it’s all about holding this tension for as long as needed to transform that first glimpse of an idea into something more concrete – which in our fishing example equals to bringing the fish to the shore.

If at that very moment, when the idea is finally materializing, you get distracted by something, your tension on the line is lost and the idea might be gone forever.

How to put the Fishing Line Technique into practice

It’s quite simple. Whenever you’re trying to come up with a new idea, trying to work out a solution to something or doing any creative work in general, make sure beforehand that nothing will disturb you.

<ul>This means basically doing three main things: <li>Allocate proper time for thinking and doing some deep work, and let others know that you won’t be available during this time. </li><li>Retreat to a space where you can be undisturbed for as long as needed and tune out any potential distraction with background sounds. </li><li>Make sure every possible notification is turned off. </li> </ul>

Of course, no setup is ever perfect and it might still happen that something will slip through and try to get your attention. In such cases, try to resist the urge to give in to such distractions and finish your thought process in a way, e.g. noting down your thoughts, so that you can easily and effortlessly pick it up again later.

This post is part of our big guide <a href="https://blog.noisli.com/productivity-101-the-complete-guide-to-productivity/">“Productivity 101: the complete guide to productivity” </a>

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career

The Fishing Line Technique - Noisli

Fishing Line Technique

Importance Of The Fishing Line Technique

The Idea Generation Process

Fishing Line Technique In Practice

IDEAS ABOUT

MORE LIKE THIS

3 Do’s and Don’ts of World-Building for Writers

A Technique for Producing Ideas

The Feynman Learning Technique

It's time to

READ

LIKE

A PRO!

Bite-sized knowledgeto upgradeyour career

The Fishing Line Technique - Noisli

Fishing Line Technique

Importance Of The Fishing Line Technique

The Idea Generation Process

Fishing Line Technique In Practice

IDEAS ABOUT

MORE LIKE THIS

3 Do’s and Don’ts of World-Building for Writers

A Technique for Producing Ideas

The Feynman Learning Technique

It's time to

READ

LIKE

A PRO!

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career