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Whenever I go on vacation, I tell myself that I’m going to have an incredibly inspirational week. I have high hopes to return home with new blog post ideas, creative fiction ideas and more. After all, I’m in the midst of sun, sand and utter relaxation. The conditions for brainstorming and creation are perfect.

But every time, I come home, completely relaxed and sufficiently unwound, but almost always without the brilliant ideas I had hoped for.

Actually, my best ideas are usually sparked at the most unusual (and sometimes inconvenient) times.

That’s because the conditions don’t have to be perfect for brainstorming or coming up with an awesome idea. Sometimes inspiration can be found in the least likely of places. (Like this idea? Click to tweet it).

Below are seven of the most unlikely of places I’ve found inspiration:

1. From your own blog: Need an idea for a blog post? You have an incredible resource right at your fingertips: your own blog. First, take a look at the comments people leave on your posts. Are there any questions you’re asked over and over again? Do you see a recurring theme that people constantly write to you about? In addition to your comments section, take a look at the keywords section of your statistics (I use both Google Analytics and Jetpack). What words are people searching to find your blog? They may just give you ideas for future posts to write.

2. In the shower: Many people say they discover their best ideas in the shower. I’m no different. I usually shower first thing in the morning (and I’ve recently learned that I’m at my most creative early in the day) so many of my ideas come to me in the shower. The problem is remembering them once I’m finished! Perhaps I need to invest in one of those waterproof notepads.

3. On Pinterest: Over the past few years, Pinterest has emerged as a social media site for all things beautiful and inspirational. When I’m really pressed for ideas, I often turn to my “Be Inspired” Pinterest board, a place where I’ve pinned all kinds of motivational quotes and images. A quick scan through this board usually sparks some sort of idea. In fact, this post and this post were both inspired after browsing Pinterest.

4. Running (Or at the gym): Running has changed my life in so many positive ways, but none more than the fact that when I go running, it’s 100 percent ME time. I usually run alone and while being alone with your thoughts several times a week can sometimes be scary, more often, it’s ideal for soul-searching and brainstorming.

5. Over a cup of coffee: This is a given. When I’m feeling tired or drained, a cup of coffee usually perks me right up. But besides giving me a needed boost of energy, it also usually gets my brain going, putting me in a great place to come up with ideas.

6. Driving: I spend a lot of time in my car. Whether I’m commuting to work or driving to a meeting or the gym, I’d estimate that I spend between 10 and 15 hours a week driving. That’s a lot of quiet time with just my music and my thoughts. I also draw inspiration from the things I see around me when driving. For example, a few weeks ago, I saw the word ‘simplify’ on an ad on the side of a bus and that sparked the idea to select ‘simplify’ as one of my words for 2013.

7. Right before bed: Remember when I said sometimes ideas come at the most inconvenient times? For me, it’s in the moments right before I fall asleep. The last thing I want to do is grab my phone and quickly tap out a note with my idea, but more and more, my blog post ideas have been coming to me right before my eyes close for the night.

What unlikely places do you find inspiration? Please share in the comments below.