Why Do We Have Bright Ideas in the Shower?

[@SciShowPsych]

This episode is brought to you by the Music for Scientists album! Stream the album on major music services here: streamlink.to/music-for-scientists. Check out “The Idea” music video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qobchWxqlqygmMU.

[@problemsalving]

Whoever invented waterproof whiteboards is an absolute legend.

[@alien9279]

You just know that idea was also a shower thought lol

[@Ceelvain]

The number of times I wished I had a waterproof whiteboard in the shower. Or just a pen to write on the glass door as in the movies.

[@lucaspawprint1888]

@@alien9279 I immediately thought the same thing lol

[@morlath4767]

This is also the exact way writer's block over a key scene gets solved. The "I've bloody got it!" moment that completely unlocks the story/script you've been working on for months or even years.

[@pedroscoponi4905]

Same for Game Mastering! "Where's the story going next session?" or "How do I spice up the next combat encounter?", etc...

[@girlofanimation]

George RR Martin needs to take more showers

[@anelivb]

I have that experience when I drive. I have an hour commute each way and driving seems like let my mind work on the plot of my story.

[@bjornmu]

While working on my PhD I was struggling with some intricate problems with the software I was developing. But then I suddenly realized how I could restructure the program to solve those problems and also make it much simpler. And that revelation literally came to me in the shower.

[@trumpetpunk42]

Congrats! If you're into software, check out Rich Hickey's "Hammock-Driven Development" talk from ClojureConj as well as his RubyConf talk on simplicity vs complexity

[@bjornmu]

@@trumpetpunk42 My problem wasn't really about software as much as about logic. Principles of software development would not apply to my very specific problem.

[@trumpetpunk42]

@@louisfalcone5494 you ok? I don't like the idea of animal abuse either, but the guy you're replying to only mentioned software not doing anything with animals...

[@samuelbremont7057]

Newton ?! C'mon, THE original eureka moment happened to Archimedes in his bath.

[@benkom22]

Yah, it's really annoying, even the eureka effect is in connection with that (along with hering probably the first bathroom moment recorded).

[@seratheeducatedfeline4227]

Explains why I get wicked writers block when I’m busy (and why I come up with fanfic ideas when I’m brainstorming while falling asleep).

[@pigeonshit440]

I'd love to see you cover the idea of self-fulfilling prophecies

[@VictorPerez-vu1fo]

I think they already touched upon the subject. Or perhaps was a passing mention. I'm thinking about the lost causes and something with the positive word in it....

[@TechBearSeattle]

Then there is the story about Archimedes. You know, the Greek guy who kind of invented the "Eureka!" moment.

[@DrBunnyMedicinal]

Old school (and just old) PC gamers may remember that a shower thought by a Blizzard North employee was critical to Diablo 2. (Specifically how to stream data in the background to avoid loading screens within a zone.)

[@SoopCanSam-EthoPlaylists]

I'm so glad Brit joined SciShow. She's absolutely my favorite host.

[@marciabentley9557]

I absolutely experience the eureka effect. For me, it doesn't come in the shower, though. It very consistently comes in the morning - the moments as I emerge into consciousness.

[@NewMessage]

I dunno that I have any bright ideas in the shower, but I certainly have A-ha moments. I sing a lot of 80's stuff.

[@sogerc1]

Me too, never in the shower. Probably because I don't find a shower relaxing, it's more of a chore. I don't even sing during, I just want to get it over with.

[@Shrooblord]

Thanks, I hate it

[@horseenthusiast9903]

Oh, that's neat! Personally, insights mostly strike me when I'm sitting and sewing (a quiet activity which lets my mind wander), or when I'm in bed, or the shower, or while cooking. Some of my favourite ones are: -The song I composed in the shower (I'm usually kinda bad at songwriting, but that one turned out really nice! I'd been thinking about a river I went to as a kid that was strewn with yellow leaves, and rereading the Lord Of The Rings, and they suddenly connected and gave me a nice metaphor about the river using imagery from Lothlórien, which led to the rest of the song coming together) -Roughly six different scenes for a novel I'm slowly writing that came to me as I fell asleep while I felt like I had writer's block (and I bolted awake to write them down each time!!) -The idea I got for a fanfiction while I was frying eggs (I wanted to write about Nog from DS9 and what it was like for him at Starfleet Academy, but I had no idea where to start, so I mulled it over for a few days but then kinda gave up. Then when I was frying eggs for breakfast, a scene with him exploring San Francisco the day before he started classes came to me, and the rest of the fic came together around it) -And last but not least, the time I was sewing and suddenly understood a part of A Wizard Of Earthsea that had confused me around a week prior (it was the part where Ged was on the tiny isle with the two old people, and the old woman handed him a broken ring. I didn't understand it until that moment, but remembering the synopsis I'd heard of the Tombs Of Atuan, I guessed it was the ring of Erreth-Akbe. I was so delighted when I was proven right!!)

[@AdamShaiken]

I proffer that it is because this is the environment where we feel most relaxed and are in a state that is highly conducive to free association and that is where new and novel ideas(highdeas) arise !!! Peaced.

[@s.4155]

I experience shower thoughts regularly. Happy to see the science behind it!

[@sonias9722]

Am I the only one who has literally never gotten any bright ideas in the shower? I'm just shampooing my hair and my brain goes 💭 my brightest idea be like maybe I'll wash my feet next ✌️

[@mikes4163]

You're not alone. My ideas generally come while I'm lying in the bath - far more relaxing than a shower 😊

[@B_Skizzle]

It doesn’t usually happen _in_ the shower for me, but rather while I’m drying off afterwards.

[@oopsy444]

Thats a horrible bright idea. Wash your feet last m8 since you're gonna just have the dirty water hit it after from washing anywhere else

[@FireHax0rd]

I was going to comment this, but you beat me to it. I cannot relate to this video topic at all. The idea in this video does sound familiar in certain scenarios when I am resting or about to fall asleep (which was mentioned in this episode), but this sort of train of thought has never happened for me in the shower.

[@sophierobinson2738]

I used to, but, since rheumatoid arthritis struck, it's more "don't fall, don't fall" until I'm at the point where I can sit on my shower chair.

[@AMD64EVER]

Not a shower thought, but I just realized that this presenter is really good! Her excitement about what she's talking about feels genuine and her comedic timing is also great. Been listening to Scishow for years and never really had a favorite presenter, until now :) Well, favorite outside of the man himself, Hank Green!

[@natureleague]

Cheers! -Brit

[@xzonia1]

Agree! And I absolutely love her voice. :)

[@maggieo]

I'm surprised that there was no mention of the release of Dopamine when you hit the warm water, be it in the shower or the bath, and how that chemical is related to insight and creativity.

[@whoever6458]

Another pro tip: If you have a really hard problem, "sleeping on it" is something that helps. The reason is that it lets you look at it with a slightly different mind set the next day. Well, even more effective is to get yourself into different states of mind to think about it, like thinking about it drunk or stoned. I would recommend that you just write the ideas that you have down separately and then look at them when you are sober but you can tease out a lot of brain power thinking about some difficult problem in a different mind state.

[@Luaqunix]

I never get any bright ideas on the shower, but I usually get it when I'm trying to sleep and it made me unable to sleep.

[@TheMightyDozen]

2:00 Man, then I really do know what I'm talking about when I tell people I like to process problems "passively" over time - turns out i've been using incubation for a long time now. Even when I'm programming, often times I feel the need to just, zone out for a moment and take in the big picture, to mull things over before continuing.

[@nanszoo3092]

I always thought it was because it was the only place I ever had of being alone long enough to actually hear myself think ... This used to happen to me all the time when I was super busy either working and taking care of my kids (or both) for all but about 15 minutes of my waking hours.

[@Miss-Anne-Thrope]

Yeah,the first 5 minutes of a shower is spent getting clean and the next 15 minutes so is spent on pondering the meaning of the universe and answering life's most difficult questions... With a minute of two of swearing after I nick my legs with the razor!

[@RedwoodGeorge]

I tackle a lot of complex problems - both design and implementation and probably have two or three "ah-ha" moments a month. 80% of them are in the shower (while not thinking about the problem) and the other 20% are right there in front of me when I wake up. The alarm goes off and I wake up thinking "Of course! This is how we can make that work!" I then wonder if I've been working on the problem all night long and if I should bill the company for overtime :-)

[@MrT3a]

And this is the reason why I had snacks to snack on for every major exam I had. Give something to the conscious mind to chew on and relax, while letting the subconscious work freely.

[@catman8965]

It you followed the Hubble Telescope problem, it was not only solved in the shower, but the showerhead provided the first model for the solution. I'm surprised that they used eureka, but failed to mention Archimedes was in a bath tub.

[@jarterburn116]

I listened to the Patrick Olson album. Mostly spooky elevator funk with some bluesy after-bible-study jam. "Moons of Jupiter" though, true beauty. Thanks for the plug.

[@Noukz37]

I'm just too busy having my "navy showers" instead, I'd rather save water. I get plenty of mindful moments during the day, especially when doing the dishes, but without listening to music at same time. Multitasking is the foulest myth of all!

[@Masonio]

As someone who has been trying to write a book, there have been SO MANY things I've thought of in the shower. Or using the toilet.

[@thevorace]

Allageon is another band with a lot of science related music, like their albums Apoptosis, Proponent for Sentience, and of course the song, All Hail Science.

[@LelouchVelvet]

Wow Brit you look great! Not sure what you're doing, but it's definitely working :)

[@kaspervanha8031]

people with ADHD tend to be more creative because our minds wander so often! constantly actually. that's when you get ideas, when your DMN (default mode network) is activated, instead of your task positive network, executive mode. when you're just chilling like in the shower, doing something mindless, thats when your DMN is active, your mind wanders, but when you are focused on, lets say work, your DMN shuts off and task positive network takes over! they are never on at the same time, you couldn't get anything done! but... ADHD brains can never shut off the DMN, so the mind wanders all the time, even when the task positive network is also on! so creative ideas pop up!

[@brickbunny9686]

0:00 Because that is when we are alone with our thoughts and most cares and concerns of the world are being washed away!

[@joshuastoltzfus4910]

This is the first SciShow Psych I've seen in months from Brit and she looks really good! She's really thinned down and it appears to of happened in just a few months. That's super cool.

[@xzonia1]

She's lovely as always, but my first thought whenever I see someone's lost weight is I hope they're healthy / well.

[@Ceelvain]

I can't count the number of problems I solved in the shower. It really helps me think about the problem in a more global and abstract way. I also can't count the number of false-good-ideas I've had in the shower. ^^' It's those times when I wished I had a waterproof smartphone. But now that I do, I realize that keeping my mind busy is bad for coming up with creative solutions.

[@Chris-op7yt]

the shower or bath is the one time we generally allow ourselves not to self burden with "pressing" matters...if we're not in a hurry. the one truly playful time..and not talking about hands getting busy.

[@DemonXeron]

I have a method that works pretty well to trigger these eureka moments (at least for me). 1. Observe a set of difficult problems (I find multiple works best for some reason) 2. Think of ideas how to solve them 3. Do something else unrelated for a while 4. Meditate/relax/shower 5. Some time into your relaxation, passively approach each problem in your head 6. Eureka? If not, you can repeat or stick with the old solving method. More often than not this yeilds results for me. As a programmer, this is ideal as coming up with solutions to difficult problems is basically my living. I often find that the solution I come up with needs tweaking, but it gets over that hurdle of an initial idea. Of course this is merely annecdotal, but give it a go and let me know if you can replicate my results, I would be pretty interested.

[@darkangelprincess101]

I've never had one of those shower moments. I either cry because I hate my life or I day dream or escape my life

[@nebulan]

So we should get a +2 bonus to insight when in the shower? (Actually probably wisdom checks... hmm when relaxed? Should i argue with my GM?)

[@roberttrimmier3276]

As a DM, I would completely give you that.

[@Kierfnen]

Another excellent explanation! Brit is such a lovely host. And I feel the need to add (as respectfully as possible because this is a science channel and it absolutely does not matter) that Brit is looking extra lovely.

[@roberttrimmier3276]

I think that she looks way too thin. It makes me worried about her health.

[@apcolleen]

It sounds like the reason why people with ADHD are so creative. Part of our brains are taking a shower.

[@MultivectorAnalysis]

"...and that's when you came up with the idea for the flux capacitor"

[@militantpacifist4087]

I don’t. I have them when I stay awake until around 2 a.m.

[@sonias9722]

So ruminating brings a solution sometimes 😁👀🦉

[@a-aron2276]

I use the wonderful plant we all know and love.(adhd kid turned adult who needs to clear away the distractions and noise to concentrate properly) i smoke about 0.5-.7g per day and if that sounds like alot, my 'proper' medication was Concerta prolonged release or I was using 0.12g (3x36mg) of amphetamines everyday and it came at the cost of my personality and god knows what else. What would you choose keeping in mind that weed for medical use for the treatment of adhd is illegal in Ireland.

[@Heothbremel]

The waterproof notebook someone gave me has saved me SO MANY TIMES

[@goldendoqqs7685]

OMG, i always thought i get more good ideas or solve more problems by doing what i call "turning my whole ass brain off". Always thought i was just lucky, turns out it was a really good idea in disguise

[@Marcus_Sherman]

Ooh yay I’m early! I figured out the problem I was having with the knee joint for an exoskeleton I’m building for my mom who has MSA while showering

[@sophierobinson2738]

Wow! that's cool!

[@Marcus_Sherman]

@@sophierobinson2738 thanks, i am thinking about doing a KZbin series on its construction.

[@DinosaurBess]

Totally explains complicated conspiracy theories too! It feels good to think you've figured out how everything is connected.

[@xxPYROxxJONESxx]

Well done on the weight loss Brit. Excellent video

[@FFwachten]

She looked a lot better about a year ago

[@xxPYROxxJONESxx]

@@FFwachten dude, weight loss is weight loss. And its not all about looks. Dont be so negative

[@vikingthedude]

Yeah kudos to her. And she also looks like a friendly Brie Larson

[@pillmuncher67]

What do you call it when you solve a problem while dreaming? I've had that happen to me several times. I'm a programmer, BTW, and they were programming problems.

[@whoever6458]

Pro tip: You don't need a white board for the shower when they have these crayons for little kids to draw on the walls during a bath. I use those when I have an excellent thought in the shower because just stepping out of the shower makes me forget my thought nearly always.

[@arnusdarnus4944]

This influenced me to wonder if Borderline Personality Disorder is at least in part a hyper-activity of the Orbitofrontal cortex.

[@psfreak333]

Can’t say I relate to this at all....if it’s just simply having time to yourself to think there are many other areas in which that happens but not really the shower

[@AnnoyingNewslettersPage6]

Also, if I admit to not knowing an answer, that's when it'll just come to me.

[@jessical4866]

I was given a pencil and notepad that are waterproof and have little suction cups to hang in the shower. I haven’t used them too often, but it’s fun. I might try shower crayons next for some color. ☺️

[@silliepixie]

This video was really great! excellent delivery and content. Thank you!

[@gloomyxbabee]

I never have good ideas in the shower. I'm too busy screaming pre hiatus fall out boy songs

[@kathrinkaefer]

I have never understood what people mean by this, I don't experience it at all. My bright ideas usually come at 2 am when I'm tossing and turning in bed

[@Williamtdw]

Are you more happy than normal? Thanks for the video, and hey! Amazing how you look. :)

[@JadeDRail]

Also has great acoustics for coming up with songs.

[@abhibhoir027]

Just a couple of days ago I asked myself why do we get such great ideas in shower while showering and lo and behold! Scishow came to the rescue.

[@ThaZMP]

same thing happens with meditation aka the mind wandering mode

[@kaspervanha8031]

it's called the default mode network! it's pretty cool!

[@AnnoyingNewslettersPage6]

A lot of my eureka moments at work happen if I'm working in the freezer, so maybe there is a temperature component at play.

[@mackenziebennett6949]

I usually get really good creative ideas in the shower, especially for writing music

[@thetommantom]

I always heard about singing in the shower I think it gets the blood flowing by opening up your blood vessels and raising your blood pressure

[@Master_Therion]

You know it's time to take a shower when all of your ideas stink.

[@logoimotions]

wow, i did this and mt productivity increased by 2.34% so happy right now

[@jh5401]

definitely had that thing mentioned at 4:00

[@Brainwashed101]

I wonder if psychosis happens in part because the reward system for insights somehow gets hijacked in the service of believing delusions while the sufferer is in the midst of extreme emotional turmoil.

[@Meleeman011]

Never, it's always when I'm drawing, or doing something completely random

[@kaspervanha8031]

same thing, your mind has the freedom to wander!

[@swimdownx6365]

It's the little i side your head . But another of the many things inside out got wrong was ideas come below head quarters as suggestions. They should really remake Osmosis Jones

[@MammaMia]

Oh man, that thing about believing your insights even if they're wrong... 😅

[@m1kmain]

shower thoughts remind me of high thoughts you forget them and they are so genius

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

WOW!!! Who knew that was actually a thing. 😲 I've had those.... but NO waterproof White Board!

[@Mgidynasty]

Ya know, when I get off of work and I’m playing games, I always figure out problems while playing

[@TamarZiri]

Brit, you are awesome.

[@dukemandu]

I do get good ideas in the shower. Sometimes I have to be careful not to run out the hot water with too deep a thought. However, personally, they're a far cry from the inspirations I have at night. It's almost like a transformation. Btw, Brit, you're looking well.

[@sdfkjgh]

1:39 Wait, is she accusing Stephan Chin of murder?

[@natureleague]

I mean, who else? /Classic/ Stefan 😂 -Brit

[@Allieg806]

I dont know if it's that showers are relaxing cuz I have shower anxiety it seems more likely that it is one of the few times where you are stuck in one place with a boring task to do and no distractions so your mind wanders

[@Amandcr]

I sometimes get these great ideas right before bed or when I wake up in the middle of the night 😕

[@TomJohnson67]

I don't have any bright ideas in the shower. Mostly because I spend the time either having an existential crisis or singing 1980s jazzy Christmas singles.

[@sobertillnoon]

This episode brought to you by 80s synth pop.

[@dragonskunkstudio7582]

Did you know that you can ask your subconscious a questions that only it knows. eg: I went to a party, many were saying that they have a cold. So when I got home I asked my subconscious a yes/no question. have I been infected? When I woke up without any thoughts in my mind. NO. No what? Oh my question. Good!

[@ToyKeeper]

I write most of my best software in the shower. A moment of insight can save weeks of work.

[@micahwatts]

You guys ever start telling someone something Important, then forget what you were going to say? Then 3 weeks later you remember what it was and have a teeny tiny eureka moment?

[@pohldriver]

I literally had an ah-ha moment a year and a half ago for a propulsion method that would make flying cars a reality, but would be capable of taking us to Mars in weeks and the stars in years at near relativistic speeds. It would make SpaceX look like carriage builders. But, with no time or money to build or patent it, it probably will remain a bright idea that dies with me.

[@Benni777]

“Letting your mind wander might help with eureka moments” Me with ADHD: *ya don’t say…* 😏😂

[@Dexy83]

I've showered far less being on lockdown, maybe that explains why I've had less ah ha moments since March 2020. 🤔🤣

[@logicandlaughs]

Love shower thoughts... have come up with some great ideas in there.

[@evahanson4090]

You get stoned first, THEN get in the shower. I turn into a god damn rocket scientist!

[@chrissidiras]

It's called braingasm.

[@alien9279]

Water proof white board? Sounds like a shower thought if I've ever heard one lol

[@honkeykong9592]

Error 4:04 a study like this is done how exactly? I find an insight to be hard to confirm (some ppl “aha” and are still wrong) so timing this would be hard. Then you must test it more times in different ways, “a study” lol

[@madinfects]

What are the odds I get out of the shower with a new idea, write it down, then immediately see this video?

[@gertboltenmaizonave2421]

I'm not proud of saying this, maybe it's because it's been a long time without a video with you but... Wow. You look so damn nice!

[@camilasalcedo9469]

brit, you look so pretty 🥺💕

[@SoopCanSam-EthoPlaylists]

It looks like she's been losing weight

[@roberttrimmier3276]

She looks way too thin to me. I hope that it is not a body image thing. She looked great before.

[@SoopCanSam-EthoPlaylists]

She looks great before and after. I hope she isn't insecure about her image.

[@connecticutaggie]

I frequently have "Shower Insights" and I have been wondering if that is because I take showers in the morning and that provides a relaxing time just after sleep. Is there any data to compare frequency of insight for evening vs morning shower people. Is there anyone here that takes evening showers that also has frequent "Shower Insights"?

[@keyser1884]

Brits looking great. My wife and I both noticed... lost weight, been working out or just getting a ton of sleep maybe?

[@roguedogx]

4:45 well no wonder I'm having them all the dang time. lol

[@StraightUpHealth]

Why do my bright ideas always come when I am wishing I was sleeping but I'm still awake?