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> Personally, I have found that 1 hour + is a good threshold to aim for for some really quality thinking. After about an hour I've already processed normal stuf

> Personally, I have found that 1 hour + is a good threshold to aim for for some really quality thinking. After about an hour I've already processed normal stuff about family or work and have moved on to deeper topics. I find this kinda pointless for myself. Most of the time I just revisit the same subjects over and over and come to the same conclusions no matter how I try to solve it. Once I’m done with the menial tasks - the “deeper” topics just make me upset to think about because they make me realize how hopelessly fucked I am. I’d rather not focus on that and instead do a bit of hedonism while I can.

stevesearer 5y ago
Interesting, the way I think I think while walking/hiking is much less wrestling one specific topic to come to a conclusion and more bouncing around between many things. Maybe I don't even really conclude things but instead just move an idea along.
- uuyi 5y ago
  Been hiking for a long time and do really long hikes. Eventually an epiphany or moment of self realisation will appear out of the blue. I had one at the weekend which was somewhat life changing.
- nicbou 5y ago
  It's a good time to let thoughts resurface on their own, consider them for a moment and let them go. It gives me time to zoom out, to untangle my feelings, to make sense of them. It's a sort of personal retrospective slash backlog grooming session. We need that idle time. When I go on long motorcycle trips, I return with a clear head and a much better idea of what I want to do next.
stonewashed 5y ago
This, very much. I need to keep myself distracted, otherwise I get very upset.
- TedDoesntTalk 5y ago
  Look up “walking mediation” and try it.
- DiggyJohnson 5y ago
  Does that lead you to want to work on the thing that is causing you to be upset (constantly? it sounds like) or to ensure you remain distracted? I’m genuinely asking, because I couldn’t tell from the context of your comment.
leobg 5y ago
Maybe you should try the reverse of listening to audiobooks/podcasts. Use your phone as a voice recorder, and just talk about anything that’s going through your mind. Basically an audio brain dump. Since you know that your thoughts are being recorded, you are much less likely to “run in circles“ mentally.
SamPatt 5y ago
I find this only to be true when some aspect of my life is troubling me greatly. Negative rumination. When things are going well, I don't get frustrated by free form thinking.

stevesearer 5y ago

Interesting, the way I think I think while walking/hiking is much less wrestling one specific topic to come to a conclusion and more bouncing around between many things. Maybe I don't even really conclude things but instead just move an idea along.

uuyi 5y ago
Been hiking for a long time and do really long hikes. Eventually an epiphany or moment of self realisation will appear out of the blue. I had one at the weekend which was somewhat life changing.
nicbou 5y ago
It's a good time to let thoughts resurface on their own, consider them for a moment and let them go. It gives me time to zoom out, to untangle my feelings, to make sense of them. It's a sort of personal retrospective slash backlog grooming session. We need that idle time. When I go on long motorcycle trips, I return with a clear head and a much better idea of what I want to do next.

stonewashed 5y ago

This, very much. I need to keep myself distracted, otherwise I get very upset.

TedDoesntTalk 5y ago
Look up “walking mediation” and try it.
DiggyJohnson 5y ago
Does that lead you to want to work on the thing that is causing you to be upset (constantly? it sounds like) or to ensure you remain distracted? I’m genuinely asking, because I couldn’t tell from the context of your comment.

leobg 5y ago

Maybe you should try the reverse of listening to audiobooks/podcasts. Use your phone as a voice recorder, and just talk about anything that’s going through your mind. Basically an audio brain dump. Since you know that your thoughts are being recorded, you are much less likely to “run in circles“ mentally.

SamPatt 5y ago

I find this only to be true when some aspect of my life is troubling me greatly. Negative rumination. When things are going well, I don't get frustrated by free form thinking.