Ever wondered why some of our most clear-headed moments happen while taking a shower? According to George Washington University neurology professor Dr. Richard Cytowic, it’s because our brains thrive with a fixed amount of attention at a given moment.
“Letting the mind wander while you carry out a ‘mindless’ task lets your subconscious thoughts roam beyond the activity at hand,” he noted, adding that multitasking or focusing intently on a problem eats up your brain’s “allotted bandwidth.”
Dr. Cytowic further clarified his definition of “mindless” tasks, explaining that they are typically solitary activities that enable disconnection from the outside world. These may include driving a habitual route, walking, hiking, or following a regular workout regimen.
If you’re the type of person who finds solace in taking showers, you’re not alone. According to Dr. Cytowic, the downpour of water serves as white noise, blocking outside stimulation and acting as a form of partial sensory deprivation.
“Ideas incubating in the background can rise to consciousness and lead you past a creative impasse,” he explained.
Delving deeper into the brain process while in the shower, University of Virginia professor Zachary Irving describes it as “unconstrained attentional thinking.” As he told Time magazine in an interview, it relaxes the brain and allows it to move at its own pace, resulting in new thoughts and ideas.
“Your brain codes that it doesn’t need you to engage in detail, it doesn’t need your perceptual attention or motor attention, and that allows your mind to have this random kind of movement,” he said.
While the shower seems to be a potent breeding ground for ideas, it’s not the only option. Apart from the mindless tasks that Dr. Cytowic mentioned, Irving also advises disconnecting from devices.
As he explained, gadgets create a “spontaneity deficit” and hinder us from letting our minds wander, which would promote creativity. He recommends turning off mobile devices or putting them on vibrate to focus your mind during a task you’re working on.
