Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The Power of Shower Thoughts

alexanderell.is

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 82 posts

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#41

Post by gardenfelder »

psv1 wrote: post #27
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…

To add to your point 1 - no particular mental focus also requires no audio input. It's so easy to fall into the habit of constantly having a podcast or an audiobook on.

Not sure how to interpret the "no audio input" part; for years, I've been able to get into this kind of flow simply by starting a minimalist, repetitive tune on a keyboard and let that run for an hour or longer. My most effective place for this is early morning events where the secret sauce is to avoid opening your eyes until the idea that is emerging is fully baked in your memory.

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#42

Post by sorokod »

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…

It is possible that the five minute "shower insight" would not have happened without the three long days of coding.

The way I see it, finding a shortcut in a mental landscape requires that landscape to be setup in some sufficient detail.

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#43

Post by blondin »

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…

doing dishes too! and for a modern take on the topic, watching mindless youtube videos! lol

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#44

Post by astraea »

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…

The Aristotelian “Peripatetic” school gets its name from the act of walking while philosophizing if my memory of undergrad philosophy still serves.

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#46

Post by saagarjha »

psv1 wrote: post #27
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…

To add to your point 1 - no particular mental focus also requires no audio input. It's so easy to fall into the habit of constantly having a podcast or an audiobook on.

What’s wrong with music?

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#48

Post by maverick2007 »

j7ake wrote: post #47

I wonder if anybody have studies of whether the constant audio of music and audiobooks are a detriment to allowing the background processes to work in the mind?

That's an interesting question that I'd also love to know the answer to. I'm also curious whether there's a difference between music and podcasts/audiobooks since the latter seem to require a lot more focus than the former which might further inhibit background processing?

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#49

Post by GarrisonPrime »

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…

"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."

Re: The Power of Shower Thoughts

#50

Post by proverbialbunny »

psv1 wrote: post #27
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…

To add to your point 1 - no particular mental focus also requires no audio input. It's so easy to fall into the habit of constantly having a podcast or an audiobook on.

Actually, audio and especially music can make it easier to go into a diffuse state. The trick is to make sure it's music without lyrics, or the volume is low enough you're not listening to the content of the talking.
Post reply on HN