Shower Creativity: The Science of Why Ideas Flow

Shower Creativity: The Science of Why Ideas Flow

Welcome to Effective Habits, a weekly newsletter where I share evidence-based strategies and tools to help you live a happy, healthy, and productive life.

Today at a Glance:

• The Science of Why You Have Great Ideas in the Shower

• Stretching Protocols to Increase Flexibility and Support General Health

• The 85% Rule for Learning

The Science of Why You Have Great Ideas in the ShowerStacey Colino

Lights, Camera, ... Have you ever had a brilliant idea while in the shower or on a walk? It may not be a coincidence. Research suggests that people are more likely to have creative breakthroughs or epiphanies when they're engaged in a habitual task that doesn't require much thought. This is because these tasks allow the mind to wander and engage in spontaneous cognition or "stream of consciousness" thinking. This type of thinking helps retrieve unusual memories and generate new ideas. The key to this phenomenon is a pattern of brain activity called the default mode network, which becomes more active during mind-wandering or passive tasks. Just keep in mind that sometimes you have to do the work to create a problem space which then sets the groundwork for spontaneous ideas to emerge.Action!

• When stuck on a problem, take a break and let your mind continue working on it subconsciously by engaging in passive tasks that don't require much attention.

• Build a daily habit of engaging in activities that allow your mind to wander, such as going for a walk, or taking a shower.

• Give your mind the freedom to wander without distractions like music or podcasts, and continue until you become relaxed enough mentally, free from the pressure of productivity and goal-setting.

• Pay attention to the thoughts that come to mind as soon as you wake up. This is a time when your ideas are often free-flowing.

Stretching Protocols to Increase Flexibility and Support General HealthDr. Andrew Huberman

Lights, Camera, ... Stretching is an essential practice to keep our body's flexibility, balance and stability. As we age, our flexibility declines by ~10% each decade, but a dedicated stretching routine can improve the range of motion in our limbs and joints. In addition, stretching can reduce inflammation and may even have the potential to reduce the risk of cancer. It is important to note that it is not necessary to stretch intensely or for a long time. he key to success is consistency and frequency, not intensity. A stretching routine can take as little as 5 minutes per day and will pay dividends for long-term flexibility. Action!

• Try microstretching (defined as 30-40%, where 100% would be slightly painful), which is more effective than increasing the intensity of a stretch.

• Do static stretching as the most effective way to increase long-term flexibility.

• Do 2-4 sets of 30-second static holds per muscle group, 5 days per week (Goal: 5 minutes per muscle per week). Ensure that each stretch is at least 30 seconds.

• Check out the original article for specific stretching protocols.

The 85% Rule for LearningScott H. Young

Lights, Camera, ... Want to optimize your learning? Aim for an 85% success rate! According to recent research, a sweet spot between not too easy, not too hard, is where learning progresses the most quickly. This means that if you're constantly succeeding, you may not know what to improve, and if you're constantly failing, you won't learn what works and are too frustrated to continue. But when you have a mixture of success and failure, you can draw a contrast between good and bad strategies. This 85% rule applies to various skills and tasks, whether it's studying for a test or learning a new language or instrument. Action!

• Whenever you’re learning something new adjust the level of difficulty or support so that you are succeeding only ~85% of the time. An easy example is working on practice problems - if you’re getting more than one out of every five problems wrong, you might want to add extra help or lower the difficulty. If you’re getting nearly all the problems right, it’s time to up the difficulty.

TOOL TIP

Grammarly: A free online tool that provides comprehensive feedback on spelling, grammar, punctuation, clarity, and writing style.

FUN FACT 

Since 2020 the mass of man-made materials exceeds the weight of all global living biomass.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not liable for any risks or issues that may arise from using this information.