Why Good Ideas Come to Us in the Shower

Many people remember Archimedes, the Greek mathematician, for his “Eureka!” moment. He realised an important mathematical principle after stepping into a bath – and then ran naked through the streets in his eagerness to share his discovery.

Archimedes’ epiphany may seem like a stroke of luck, but this phenomenon has been backed by research. Studies have shown that we are more likely to have moments of sudden realisation (such as creative breakthroughs) when doing habitual tasks that do not require much thought.

These tasks provide soft fascination, which is the state of having your attention held by a less stimulating activity that still allows you to reflect and introspect. Soft fascination helps our brains rest and recharge. This is important, because just like our muscles, our attention can get worn out from over-exertion.

Another way to recharge our brains is by spending time in nature, which improves our focus and ability to concentrate. According to the Attention Restoration Theory by environmental psychologists Stephen and Rachel Kaplan, nature can renew the attention we spend working long and hard on a project or problem, for instance.

Wasting Time or Recharging Time?

While working in an office, it may not be practical to simply pop by a park or beach for a short break. But there are a few in-office activities (some perceived as idle time-wasting) we can do to enter a state of soft fascination:

• Walking around the office. Although walking in nature is more restorative, walking indoors is better than not moving at all. In one study conducted at the Colorado State University, researchers found that subjects who walked regularly performed better on memory tests.
• Zoning out (but not during meetings!). Spontaneous mind wandering allows you to combine information and ideas in new ways, increasing the likelihood of a creative insight.
• Cleaning out your desk. Much like bathing, clearing clutter from your desk does not require much thought or attention. Plus, the neater workspace will also help you to focus better.
• Doodling. This light activity stimulates areas of the brain that help you analyse information differently, which helps to trigger an epiphany.

For all its benefits, however, experts caution against putting too much faith in ideas that are generated when our minds are wandering. Other thinking functions, such as analysing, assessing and rejecting or approving ideas, are just as important in the ideation process.

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