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Abstract

do every day. And you give your brain a rest.</p><p id="af15">A shower meets the 3 “Rs” of creativity: relaxation, repetition, and rest.</p><h1 id="13fc">Relaxation</h1><p id="7568">A warm shower is relaxing, allowing your mind to wander. It’s in a small and safe space where you feel comfortable. It is most likely the only time you can get away from the daily stresses of life and be alone during the day. When you relax, your brain releases <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/dopamine">dopamine</a>, a feel-good chemical that helps pass information between neurons.</p><p id="6812" type="7">“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.”</p><p id="f921" type="7">— Mark Black, author, coach and motivational speaker</p><h1 id="8be0">Repetition</h1><p id="f277">Research reveals you are more likely to be creative when you are doing something uninteresting like <a href="https://readmedium.com/5-key-benefits-of-exercise-on-your-health-and-mindset-37660e5bec44">exercising</a> or showering. We spend <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-to-replace-bad-habits-with-better-ones-280fbdb785a5">40% of our time on autopilot</a>. Being in the shower is one of those times of the day when you ar

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e on autopilot. You are doing something repetitive you do every day: you wash your hair and body.</p><p id="7b54" type="7">“Repetition of the physical action develops into a habit which becomes an automatic reflex.”</p><p id="dc29" type="7">— Norman Vincent Peale, an American minister and author</p><h1 id="a87d">Rest</h1><p id="8d02"><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25245940/">Research</a> shows when you rest your brain, your default network lights up, and parts of your brain connect that usually don’t talk to each other. These parts of the brain are associated with your ability to focus on goal-oriented information and your low-level imaginative processes.</p><p id="70ad" type="7">“Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing”</p><p id="bc56" type="7">— A.A. Milne, an English author</p><h1 id="bbfb">The Shower is the Perfect Place for the Perfect Idea</h1><p id="743d">Relaxation, repetitive tasks, and rest are important things that encourage creative thinking. According to research, the 3 Rs is why 72% of people get creative ideas in the shower. Why do you get your best ideas in the shower? It’s your creative sweet spot. Creativity often comes when you least expect it.</p></article></body>

Why Do We Get Our Best Ideas in the Shower?

A shower meets the three key requirements of creative thinking.

You’re in the shower washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner when a brilliant idea comes to you. You just solved that problem that you have been trying to solve for months.

It was an aha! Moment. You wonder to yourself: why do my best ideas come to me in the shower?

Your best ideas happen in the shower because it’s the perfect place for creative thinking.

Why?

You are relaxed. You do something monotonous that you do every day. And you give your brain a rest.

A shower meets the 3 “Rs” of creativity: relaxation, repetition, and rest.

Relaxation

A warm shower is relaxing, allowing your mind to wander. It’s in a small and safe space where you feel comfortable. It is most likely the only time you can get away from the daily stresses of life and be alone during the day. When you relax, your brain releases dopamine, a feel-good chemical that helps pass information between neurons.

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.”

— Mark Black, author, coach and motivational speaker

Repetition

Research reveals you are more likely to be creative when you are doing something uninteresting like exercising or showering. We spend 40% of our time on autopilot. Being in the shower is one of those times of the day when you are on autopilot. You are doing something repetitive you do every day: you wash your hair and body.

“Repetition of the physical action develops into a habit which becomes an automatic reflex.”

— Norman Vincent Peale, an American minister and author

Rest

Research shows when you rest your brain, your default network lights up, and parts of your brain connect that usually don’t talk to each other. These parts of the brain are associated with your ability to focus on goal-oriented information and your low-level imaginative processes.

“Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing”

— A.A. Milne, an English author

The Shower is the Perfect Place for the Perfect Idea

Relaxation, repetitive tasks, and rest are important things that encourage creative thinking. According to research, the 3 Rs is why 72% of people get creative ideas in the shower. Why do you get your best ideas in the shower? It’s your creative sweet spot. Creativity often comes when you least expect it.