The airplane state is my name for the space I sometimes find to think during a flight.
There is something about being on an airplane that makes me feel unusually creative. In this post, I describe fewer distractions, a different environment and time without interruption. I also say that some of my best business ideas have come during flights.
I like imagining that the movement and being high in the sky are part of it. That is my own impression, not a scientific explanation. The part I can look at more closely is what the situation makes room for.
Borrow the conditions of the airplane state
Try setting aside a stretch of time with one question and somewhere to write. Put the usual interruptions out of reach where possible. You do not need to produce a brilliant idea on demand; start by letting the question stay with you longer than it normally would.
If a different setting appeals to you, make it a small experiment. Afterwards, note what helped you think and what merely changed the scenery. Keep the useful part rather than assuming travel itself is the answer.
Give the idea somewhere to land
An idea can feel clear in the moment and vague when you return to it. Write down the problem it addresses, who might care and one thing you would need to find out next.
That turns the thought into something you can revisit. My airplane state is a personal observation. The useful question for you may be different: where in your day does an idea get enough uninterrupted room to become clear?