Get good ideas in the shower? There’s a reason for it

Today’s question: Why do I seem to think better and remember things when I’m in the shower?

It isn’t just you. Lots of people get some of their best ideas or come up with that missing answer that was right on the tip of the tongue or remember that missing song lyric while scrubbing away in the shower. Why? Why not?

You’re relaxed — so relaxed that you’re naked — comfortable under a soothing flow of warm water and busy doing some mindless, routine chore — cleaning yourself.

In your brain, your prefrontal cortex — where you make decisions or regulate your behavior or set your goals — takes a break. And what you call your default mode network takes over. That opens up the communication lines that connect different regions of your brain and lets you make connections your regular work-a-day conscious mind would have missed.

When you are relaxed, your brain releases dopamine, that neurotransmitter that among other things brings pleasure, and your alpha waves increase.

All in all, you’re feeling happy and relaxed and open to new ideas.

No wonder you get all brilliant when you’re sudsy.

Amazon sells a water-proof notepad you can mount on a shower wall so you can jot down all those great ideas, but to my way of thinking that sort of defeats the purpose.

If you expect to get a good idea in the shower, you probably won’t.

All and all, I’d say this boosts the case for a healthy amount of goofing off. Thinking really hard about a problem might keep you on track to finish a chore, but shutting down for a bit can also help.

Did you ever get stuck on a crossword puzzle and throw it down in frustration only to have to answer pop into your head an hour later?

It’s like that.

Have a question for Clay? Reach him at 602-444-8612 or clay.thompson@arizonarepublic.com.