5 ms·

Strongly agree on number 2 - multiple times a week, a solution to something that has been bugging me all day suddenly appears in the shower, when getting ready

Strongly agree on number 2 - multiple times a week, a solution to something that has been bugging me all day suddenly appears in the shower, when getting ready for bed, when going for a walk before work etc.

WalterBright 5y ago
Same for me. Going out for a run is the most intellectually productive part of my day.
- stavros 5y ago
  Same here, if I'm showering, driving, or doing some other mindless activity, I come up with all the good stuff.
  - WalterBright 5y ago
    True, but I find that driving requires enough attention that I cannot do any useful thinking that goes into "the zone". But with running, it's easy to get into the zone, and the miles go by that I can't even recall.
    - stavros 5y ago
      For city driving yes, but I find that long highways are basically automatic.
- dcx 5y ago
  I run as well actually! I have found that the quality of thinking I get when walking is different enough that I try to make time for a walk as a separate thing. YMMV though, I am not super fit, perhaps my brain has a harder time with contention for oxygen than yours!
  - almostarockstar 5y ago
    Second this. I'm not super fit either, but I have very different mental processes when running vs walking. Both positive, but distinct.
- jrop 5y ago
  Reminds me of the routine kept by maintainer of D language (Walter Bright, if I'm not mistaken). First thing he does every day is open up his laptop and review issues that he needs to solve. Then he immediately closes his laptop and goes on a run.
  - mprovost 5y ago
    (Look who you replied to)
    - Cockbrand 5y ago
      This is certainly one of the more beautiful threads on HN.
    - Cd00d 5y ago
      Thank you for your comment. I would have missed that detail, and it brought me joy.
  - WalterBright 5y ago
    It's close, but I only use a laptop when traveling. The screen is too small, the keyboard is too cramped, it's too slow, not enough disk space, etc. I like my desktop with dual big monitors, full size keyboard, mouse, and lots of places to plug things in. But the rest is on point :-) I almost never have a good idea while at my computer.
bimboler38 5y ago
That's diffused thinking!

WalterBright 5y ago

Same for me. Going out for a run is the most intellectually productive part of my day.

stavros 5y ago
Same here, if I'm showering, driving, or doing some other mindless activity, I come up with all the good stuff.
- WalterBright 5y ago
  True, but I find that driving requires enough attention that I cannot do any useful thinking that goes into "the zone". But with running, it's easy to get into the zone, and the miles go by that I can't even recall.
  - stavros 5y ago
    For city driving yes, but I find that long highways are basically automatic.
dcx 5y ago
I run as well actually! I have found that the quality of thinking I get when walking is different enough that I try to make time for a walk as a separate thing. YMMV though, I am not super fit, perhaps my brain has a harder time with contention for oxygen than yours!
- almostarockstar 5y ago
  Second this. I'm not super fit either, but I have very different mental processes when running vs walking. Both positive, but distinct.
jrop 5y ago
Reminds me of the routine kept by maintainer of D language (Walter Bright, if I'm not mistaken). First thing he does every day is open up his laptop and review issues that he needs to solve. Then he immediately closes his laptop and goes on a run.
- mprovost 5y ago
  (Look who you replied to)
  - Cockbrand 5y ago
    This is certainly one of the more beautiful threads on HN.
  - Cd00d 5y ago
    Thank you for your comment. I would have missed that detail, and it brought me joy.
- WalterBright 5y ago
  It's close, but I only use a laptop when traveling. The screen is too small, the keyboard is too cramped, it's too slow, not enough disk space, etc. I like my desktop with dual big monitors, full size keyboard, mouse, and lots of places to plug things in. But the rest is on point :-) I almost never have a good idea while at my computer.

bimboler38 5y ago

That's diffused thinking!