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Completely agree.

Excuse the crudeness, but for me your 'Step 2' is to go and sit on the toilet. I have solved untold amounts of problems by stepping away from the computer and sitting on the pot for 20 mins.



That can help, or just the classic shower insight, but for me I often get even bigger dividends by stepping way away from the computer.

I've had absolute avalanches of new insights when I've been away from any sort of computer for days. It feels like the process of loading more "problem" into the working buffer interrupts or even resets these background processes to some degree.


it's the shower for me too

something about the sound that helps detune the parts of the brain that aren't needed, giving maximum energy/flexibility to the background cores


Works in the tub as well. I believe it's a combination of white noise from the water, lack of windows and screens and hot water feeling relaxing.


Hmm, for me I think part of it is the certainty that you won’t get interrupted or distracted while sitting or showering.


No shame there. I figured out the answer to a question posed by a professor (which later evolved into my master's thesis), while sitting on the porcelain throne. Letting go of a few solids perhaps let's your mental obstacles loosen.


No shame, in fact I think this reflects on a more important part of society: on how you just can't get away from it. The toilet is the most commonly available, most socially acceptable way to just have some minutes to yourself.


Pacing around in the parking lot has worked for me many a times.


I still miss working a block away from Yerba Buena. Office parks are nice but not quite the same.


Having a good walking trail near your home is way underrated.

Nearly all my good thoughts come when walking.


When I go hiking (99% alone), about half way through my brain is so intellectually under-stimulated that I start having a conversation with myself about a difficult problem. So many epiphanies have come to me that way. The same for travelling alone. Walking long distances in foreign places really makes you mull about things a different way.


Walking is like DEFRAG.EXE for the soul.




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