On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking • Hacker News Board

Re: On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking

#21

Post by eurasiantiger » Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 8:43 PM UTC

nightsd01 wrote: post #7

I have found that I have my best (and worst) ideas by changing mental states. For example I’m usually sober so when I’m intoxicated I usually have garbage ideas, but every now and then I think of something truly incredible/useful that I would never have had insight into sober. The same applies to being sleep deprived, it leads me into a different mental headspace where I can think differently than normal (though I tr…

Try digging a tunnel. Sensory deprivation combined with meticulous hard labor can be enlightening.

Re: On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking

#22

Post by agumonkey » Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 8:49 PM UTC

throwaway803453 wrote: post #13

Somewhat related, about 10 years ago I was in a tragic situation where someone I loved would be murdered but I couldn't speak out because of possible retaliation against my family. I found myself compulsively walking randomly in the city every night for several nights. I would walk half way to a random destination only to change directions in 30 minutes convinced I was headed the wrong way forgetting the previous des…

condolences for your loss, an oddly fascinating story

I got into walking due to health reason, and there's a freedom seeking / search in it yes. The internal process of finding a path from idea to idea b is probably linked to the geometry of going from spot to spot.

another thing about walking, is that it's free, and every fork in the road means you get to decide where you feel like you want to go, and that, to me, seems a deep need for our minds.

Re: On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking

#23

Post by baxtr » Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 8:50 PM UTC

nightsd01 wrote: post #7

I have found that I have my best (and worst) ideas by changing mental states. For example I’m usually sober so when I’m intoxicated I usually have garbage ideas, but every now and then I think of something truly incredible/useful that I would never have had insight into sober. The same applies to being sleep deprived, it leads me into a different mental headspace where I can think differently than normal (though I tr…

Recently I had to wake up at 3am and drive for a couple of hour. Something I never do. I had the strangest and most interesting insights! It was very similar to what you describe, a different mental state.

However, unfortunately I forgot many of the insights since I was so endlessly tired! Should have taken notes while driving with just 3h of sleep…

Re: On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking

#24

Post by gexla » Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 8:53 PM UTC

throwaway803453 wrote: post #13

Somewhat related, about 10 years ago I was in a tragic situation where someone I loved would be murdered but I couldn't speak out because of possible retaliation against my family. I found myself compulsively walking randomly in the city every night for several nights. I would walk half way to a random destination only to change directions in 30 minutes convinced I was headed the wrong way forgetting the previous des…

I can lose my sense of location when walking in an area which I have driven around a lot but then try to walk. Same for an area which I try to walk at night when I have only been there previously during the day. Or the opposite.

Re: On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking

#25

Post by dasil003 » Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 8:57 PM UTC

damontal wrote: post #16

Would listening to music or a podcast or an audiobook interfere with the generation of ideas while walking? I love running and walking but I always feel like I have to have something playing in my ear during.

I believe it does interfere.

I started walking pretty obsessively during the pandemic as a way to get exercise that I used to get by bicycle commuting. Normally I would listen to podcasts during this time.

However a few times when I went without anything in my ears I noticed that I was starting to do real work while walking, and coming up with great solutions to difficult problems.

Now I limit podcasts just as I would with TV, video games or any other passive consumption. Nothing against consumption per se—a lot of ideas are seeded from outside—but in terms of creative work there's huge value to being left alone with ones thought. Anything mentally engaging will disrupt that.

Re: On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking

#26

Post by jcims » Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 8:57 PM UTC

gexla wrote: post #24

throwaway803453 wrote: post #13

Somewhat related, about 10 years ago I was in a tragic situation where someone I loved would be murdered but I couldn't speak out because of possible retaliation against my family. I found myself compulsively walking randomly in the city every night for several nights. I would walk half way to a random destination only to change directions in 30 minutes convinced I was headed the wrong way forgetting the previous des…

I can lose my sense of location when walking in an area which I have driven around a lot but then try to walk. Same for an area which I try to walk at night when I have only been there previously during the day. Or the opposite.

I had that situation the first time I smoked weed as an adult while visiting Seattle. The funny part is that I kept rediscovering the fact that I had no idea where I was or where I was going, just the compulsion to walk.

Re: On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking

#27

Post by nanomonkey » Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 8:57 PM UTC

I'm always trying to figure out the ideal way of walking and inputting information into a computer. I purchased a twiddler 2 chording keyboard, but didn't enjoy the concept of figuring out and learning the ideal key mapping (the defaults are terrible). Talking to myself seems silly, but I'm starting to think it might be the ideal way of getting ideas down.

Stopping and pulling out pen and paper was too disruptive. My ideal would be a walking stick with a few chording buttons that would key off different tasks, like start recording, or the next vocal word with be a voice command.

Re: On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking

#28

Post by dTal » Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 9:04 PM UTC

nanomonkey wrote: post #27

I'm always trying to figure out the ideal way of walking and inputting information into a computer. I purchased a twiddler 2 chording keyboard, but didn't enjoy the concept of figuring out and learning the ideal key mapping (the defaults are terrible). Talking to myself seems silly, but I'm starting to think it might be the ideal way of getting ideas down. Stopping and pulling out pen and paper was too disruptive. My…

I've recently had some success with a GPD Micro PC, which fits in a back or jacket pocket and has a very thumb-typeable keyboard. It does require you to look at the screen, of course.

Re: On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking

#29

Post by zics » Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 9:07 PM UTC

throwaway803453 wrote: post #13

Somewhat related, about 10 years ago I was in a tragic situation where someone I loved would be murdered but I couldn't speak out because of possible retaliation against my family. I found myself compulsively walking randomly in the city every night for several nights. I would walk half way to a random destination only to change directions in 30 minutes convinced I was headed the wrong way forgetting the previous des…

Crime and Punishment was the first thing that came to my mind while reading your story! Sorry for you lose and hope you are doing better now.

Re: On the link between great thinking and obsessive walking

#30

Post by the_only_law » Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 9:09 PM UTC

I used to really enjoy walking when I lived somewhere with decent parks. I’d wait till early evening, when it wasn’t as hot and head down to one of the river walk near by and just keep walking and thinking about whatever. A little while after things got dark I would walk up into town and grab me something to eat.

I really miss late night walks, but unfortunately where I live now there aren’t so many great options. A few nature trails that close early as hell and are probably moderately unsafe at that time. There are some of paths in the residential area I live in now, but they’re relatively short unless I want to link up to a main road (cars zipping past you at whatever speed does not do well for thinking) and I’m not gonna risk getting harassed because I’m out walking too late.