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The Power of Shower Thoughts

alexanderell.is

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Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#11

Post by hyperion2010 »

If I have a problem I need to solve, I think about it before I go to bed, and in the morning when I wake up I will often find it solved. I am pretty good at remembering my dreams, and on many of these occasions I will recall a dream of writing code related to the problem. I never remember the code itself, but often the structure of the problem will be much more apparent to me the next day.

Thinking actively about a problem is often all we have time for, but if you can let something stew and let your brain work on it, especially while working on other problems that might turn out to have some similar structure, the results can be quite satisfying.

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#12

Post by Itaxpica »

This has worked so well for me in the past that back in my undergrad Analysis of Algorithms class, I would take extra showers just to work through particularly tricky problem set problems. It never failed.

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#13

Post by unnouinceput »

"Things I’ve found don’t work... Playing video games"

Opposite for me, I go for easy problems and then let my mind wander while I play a mindless game of Chess or HoMM3, then when I restart work one hour later the solution writes itself in 5 minutes.

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#15

Post by 101008 »

My experience has been the same and I think it is related to pressure on the problem. If I'm thinking to solve the problem on my code editor (or in work enviroment, for the case), I feel a lot of pressure in solving it right and (maybe) quick. I have to think about the problem well, I can't misstep.

In the other cases (shower), I can think about the problem without pressure and in a more free way. No one will care what I think or what I could propose about the problem in that situation, it's just my mind and me.

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#16

Post by kstenerud »

It just has to be some repetitive physical activity that doesn't require intense thought or mental focus.

This can be chopping wood, taking a shower, walking, hiking, running, riding a bike, taking the dog for a walk, doing the dishes, etc.

The key is:

1. No particular mental focus

2. Some kind of physical movement

Your mind eventually starts to spin on autopilot, which is when it is able to mix things it can't while you're focused.

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#17

Post by t34543 »

kstenerud wrote: post #16

It just has to be some repetitive physical activity that doesn't require intense thought or mental focus. This can be chopping wood, taking a shower, walking, hiking, running, riding a bike, taking the dog for a walk, doing the dishes, etc. The key is: 1. No particular mental focus 2. Some kind of physical movement Your mind eventually starts to spin on autopilot, which is when it is able to mix things it can't while…

I always called this getting in the flow. A semi meditative state. I did long range cycling in my teens (100 miles or so) and this kicked off a pattern I still use today.

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#18

Post by snarf21 »

Franciscouzo wrote: post #10
snarf21 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The commute to work helps me as well. I think this is something that can get lost for people who work from home. Too many people are so focused on heads down LOC/hour and forget that the software is art. I've worked with good engineers that can't touch type. Designing effective maintainable solutions is hard and should be the thing that people focus on.

The commute is one of the only thing I don't miss from working home, if I want to clear my mind I have plenty of better options, I can walk through the neighborhood, take a shower or do some house chores.

Sure, it is an individual thing. The thing I like about my 20 minute drive is that I can't be distracted. I can't look at my phone or the tv. This is also best for me in the morning when I'm still waking up and my brain is in a lower gear.

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#19

Post by torstenvl »

snarf21 wrote: post #8
eloff wrote: post #2

Somehow when I take a break to do something mindless, showering being especially high on the list, I often am able to step back from the problem and get some perspective. Yesterday I realized I was making the solution to complex by separating concerns and could combine them and greatly simplify the task. Five minutes in the shower yielded more forward progress than three long days of coding. It doesn't always help, b…

The commute to work helps me as well. I think this is something that can get lost for people who work from home. Too many people are so focused on heads down LOC/hour and forget that the software is art. I've worked with good engineers that can't touch type. Designing effective maintainable solutions is hard and should be the thing that people focus on.

If you live and work in a rural area, sure. On I-95 in northern Virginia, commuting is not a mindless or relaxing task.
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