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If one remembers that the subconscious makes up approx 80% of the brain[0], there is a lot of problem solving potential in switching off the conscious and "back

If one remembers that the subconscious makes up approx 80% of the brain[0], there is a lot of problem solving potential in switching off the conscious and "backgrounding" problem solving to the subconscious. Which in a way, the author is indirectly describing. Engaging in activities that are "automatic" (e.g. showering, long walks) also allows the conscious to drift and frees the subconscious to interrupt the conscious with some solutions. Hence the best ideas under the shower. Taking a break from the problem can sometimes be the faster way to a solution, illogical for modern bosses who believe only working on the problem will solve it. [0]=if you don't believe this then try to consciously pick up a cup of coffee and drink from it. The coordination of muscles, swallowing, and everything besides is the subconscious. The conscious, if at all, had the thought "I want to drink coffee" or it might just have been a feeling between messaging and eating a breakfast toast!

metalspot 3y ago
in my own experience i feel like my subconscious mind does most of the problem solving and my conscious mind is mostly used for identifying the problem, selecting the input data, and then observing the result. if you flip your perspective you might also consider that while you are using your brain to program a computer you are also using the computer as a tool to program your brain. what makes computers so unique is that they give you the ability to control the input to the audio/visual centers of your brain so that you are able to manipulate the stream of information that is passing through your (very limited) short term memory. typing plays an interesting role here as well because there is subconscious muscle memory and so once you practice enough you write code the same way a musician plays a piano which is subconscious reaction between visual symbols and muscle memory. whats different with computers is that instead of reading from a printed music sheet you are able to control the sequence of visual symbols that trigger the subconscious muscle memory reactions that result in typing. if the brain is actually a biological neural network then this is not surprising. input takes time to propagate through the layers of the network and sleep is a necessary part of how that biological process works so the information needed to solve a problem might take a nights sleep to propagate to the depth where it can be solved or it might need a variety of other inputs that take time to acquire before enough information is ingested to reach a solution.
nickjj 3y ago
> Taking a break from the problem can sometimes be the faster way to a solution, illogical for modern bosses who believe only working on the problem will solve it. Yep this is the most important part. If you go on a walk or shower but think about how to solve the problem you're not going to get this benefit. Sleeping is ideal because you have no opportunity to consciously think about it but it can be done while awake if you find yourself truly disengaged from thinking about your problem.

metalspot 3y ago

in my own experience i feel like my subconscious mind does most of the problem solving and my conscious mind is mostly used for identifying the problem, selecting the input data, and then observing the result. if you flip your perspective you might also consider that while you are using your brain to program a computer you are also using the computer as a tool to program your brain. what makes computers so unique is that they give you the ability to control the input to the audio/visual centers of your brain so that you are able to manipulate the stream of information that is passing through your (very limited) short term memory. typing plays an interesting role here as well because there is subconscious muscle memory and so once you practice enough you write code the same way a musician plays a piano which is subconscious reaction between visual symbols and muscle memory. whats different with computers is that instead of reading from a printed music sheet you are able to control the sequence of visual symbols that trigger the subconscious muscle memory reactions that result in typing. if the brain is actually a biological neural network then this is not surprising. input takes time to propagate through the layers of the network and sleep is a necessary part of how that biological process works so the information needed to solve a problem might take a nights sleep to propagate to the depth where it can be solved or it might need a variety of other inputs that take time to acquire before enough information is ingested to reach a solution.

nickjj 3y ago

> Taking a break from the problem can sometimes be the faster way to a solution, illogical for modern bosses who believe only working on the problem will solve it. Yep this is the most important part. If you go on a walk or shower but think about how to solve the problem you're not going to get this benefit. Sleeping is ideal because you have no opportunity to consciously think about it but it can be done while awake if you find yourself truly disengaged from thinking about your problem.