Why Do We Get Our Best Ideas In The Shower?

"Why do we get our best ideas in the shower?

Amid the mist and suds, a good shower can relax not only your body but also your mind, unleashing streams of consciousness, clarity and creativity.

The sweet spot of mind wandering can aid creativity

The shower effect on creativity is the product of mind-wandering, where your thoughts are anywhere but on the task at hand.

An activity such as taking a shower or a walk (or watching a rom-com video) “takes some of your attention so that they can influence your thoughts, but doesn’t take all of it so that you have no attention for these creative ideas that are incubating in the background,” said Zachary Irving, assistant professor of philosophy of cognitive science at the University of Virginia and author of the study.

How to use the shower effect to improve creativity

Give yourself breaks. Take a walk or a shower. Not only does it relieve stress, but it can also help you get into a different mode of thinking.

Seek out a change. Changing our environment might lead us to novel insights by subjecting our brains to new stimuli. But make sure it is something moderately engaging. “Most of the day, we are wearing clothes, we don’t have water pouring down on our heads,” Schooler said. “And so just the sheer sort of distinctiveness of the experience might also give showers a particular edge.”

Persist. Your creativity, like a muscle, will get better with repeated work.

Think about what puts you in a creative thinking mode. Irving suggests thinking about what your mind is doing during different activities so that you can seek out experiences that put your mind in a more creative state."

Read the full article on The Washington Post

✨Takeaway: The value of mind-wandering for creativity is something we learn from the science of shower thoughts. A relaxing shower can open up your mind and body to new streams of thought, clarity, and creativity.

✨Reflection: Where do you get your best ideas? Do you feel you become more creative in the shower?

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