When I have an important (or tough) problem to solve, I often afford myself the luxury of shelving it for a few days, even if I think I can already see a solution. During this time, I don’t think about it and it does not weigh on my mind – I’m busy doing other things. Although I’m not consciously thinking about it, it percolates away in my subconscious, and a solution often announces itself when I least expect it.
If a few days pass without a magical solution bubbling up, I’ll start thinking about the problem again. 
However, I quite often realize that there’s a better way to define the problem – and this time it’s much easier to solve.
I am often amazed by the simplicity and elegance of the solutions I arrive at using this method. Each time this happens, I’m quite sure that I would not have been able to produce the solution deliberately using a linear, logical thought process.
The time that I’m most prone to receiving these insights is when I’m not working, and usually doing something physical rather than cerebral. My morning run or a long drive often offer up solutions to such problems.
This has highlighted for me the importance of not spending every waking moment on work. I admit that this is a constant battle, but the fact is that my creativity and the quality of my work suffers significantly unless I regularly engage in non-work and non-cerebral activities. The mind needs to rest, and I now understand the true meaning of “healthy body, healthy mind.” I imagine that I’m not unique in this respect, and I’m convinced that today’s typical overloaded employee who works a 60+ hour week could achieve more by working less.
When will companies start noticing that this overload is adversely affecting their bottom line?
Email programs have not changed much in the past decade, but the amount of email we get has grown by a tremendous amount, significantly impacting our email productivity. The average information worker gets far more mail than s/he can cope with, and an increasing number of people suffer from "email overload". In this blog, Itzy Sabo analyzes the causes of email overload, discusses strategies to cope with the constant bombardment, and provides practical tips for getting the most out of our email programs. 
23 responses so far ↓
Eip // April 28, 2006 at 7:26 pm
I find that my brain is most productive when I am asleep.
Knox // April 28, 2006 at 8:14 pm
Yep, I totally agree. Some of my best ideas and solutions tend to pop up in that hazy twilight period between wakefulness and sleep (usually in the mornings, after the “first” alarm has gone off).
I think there’s much to be said for letting our subconcious mind gnaw away at a problem for awhile.
Claire Tompkins // April 28, 2006 at 8:34 pm
Itzy,
Great post! I agree that companies need to take notice of this problem, but workers are also somewhat guilty because they crave the novelty of new emails, etc.
You might be interested in this Inc.com article about brainstorming. Research shows that group brainstorming is not nearly as effective as individual brainstorming, which surprised me.
At the end of the article, there’s also an explanation of why you get good ideas in the shower. It has to do with lack of distraction and feeling uninhibited by the opinions of others. Interesting stuff.
John Markos O'Neill // April 28, 2006 at 8:57 pm
I notice that programming problems seem to get solved magically after a good night’s sleep. It helps if I was thinking about the problem right before I went to bed.
Also, I recommend biking to and from work as a way to get a free workout, freedom for the mind to generate insights, and a break on gasoline prices all at the same time.
Charlie // April 28, 2006 at 9:15 pm
Here’s a related trick: If you have a lot of things to do the next day write down your to-do list the night before rather than the next morning. You will find that you can accompish your tasks more quickly because your brain prepares for the work while you sleep.
Roger Gale // April 28, 2006 at 11:44 pm
Absolutely, all the best decisions are serendipitous; the worst ones in decision-making sessions.
Shirley // April 29, 2006 at 1:44 am
I agree with you that taking ones mind off the problem will help solve the very issue of concern. Although, the scenario is quite different, I recall once, awaking in the night, and being quite sure I was short changed at the bank during the day. Checked my money, went back to the bank, and it was confirmed. Without my even considering it, my mind worked on the problem. Amazing critters–our minds. Enjoyed your post.
Blessings,
Shirley
Atholas // April 29, 2006 at 4:18 pm
In solving problems that involve creativity and insight, I often find brute forcing a solution, given that it is possible, by linearly connecting one step to another (whether or not the steps are produced in a linear order is irrelevant) is inelegant or inefficient. When I allow the matter to quietly settle in my mind as I sleep, I usually wake up the next morning with the answer staring at me in the eyes.
Concentrating on a problem for a prolonged period of time, to me, is often a waste of time. Because when your mind is focused, my focus is restricted to a narrow band of thoughts directly relating to the problem (hence “focused”, because everything else is blurred out), and I might not be able to come up with an effective solution at all. I must have to agree that it is a constant battle, between a sense of duty of getting the work done quickly (concentrating on the task and keep working on it), and the idealistic desire of wanting it to be done in quality (set it aside for a while). However, as you have quite rightly pointed out, this overloading can be extremely counter-productive.
Sometimes to make two steps forward is to take a step back.
joshpriniski // April 29, 2006 at 10:10 pm
I completely agree. The hardest part, however, is trying not to think about something. I find that during my run or when I am walking, it gives me a chance to think about stuff. So my mind naturally does not rest. However, I agree, decisions come much easier if you give your brain an opportunity to do its own thing without you trying to give it direction. If only I could do it more often.
Radical Mutual-Improvement » Blog Archive » Sleep on it (Exercise #7) // April 29, 2006 at 11:03 pm
[...] How to solve problems: let your subconscious do the thinking (Email Overloaded) [...]
Alvin Saldanha // May 1, 2006 at 4:01 pm
More power to your elbow, Itzy, for throwing light on a critical, indispensable and inexplicably little used means of ‘problem solving’. The subconscious mind in fact, ‘harbours’ the largest store of your problem solving skills - in fact, it has access to ‘resources’, ‘methods’ and ’solutions’ YOU DONT EVEN KNOW YOU POSSESS. One way in which you can dramatically increase your usage of your subconscious mind is to state to your subconscious mind the issue you want resolved, and by when you want it resolved (for eg: by 900 a.m. tomorrow morning). Your success rate is magnified when you respect the possibility that this will happen just so. (Dare I use the word faith?) Believe that your subconscious mind is able to do it, know that its keen to do it, remember that this is its right function, and …. you begin to realise a little bit the full implication of : Ask and you shall recieve, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Sandhya Seshadri // May 1, 2006 at 4:09 pm
I work in advertising, and while most copywriters and art directors use their sunconscious minds to arrive at ideas, I am still amazed that many are not even aware that they are doing it. I wonder sometimes how much more fertile their imaginations would be, and how much of the stress they would save themselves, if they stopped to realise that this was the tool they were using all this time, and made a little conscious use of it.
haikushoe // May 2, 2006 at 5:54 am
“When will companies start noticing that this overload is adversely affecting their bottom line?”
Never because they can “right-size” at any time to make corrections to the bottom line.
Matthew Cornell // May 3, 2006 at 2:23 am
I agree, but I think my mind needs the *space* to handle “background processing” like this. For me, this is achieved by having a system to manage my information and work flows.
Bhakthan // May 3, 2006 at 7:44 pm
I very much agree with you..
When trying to solve an issue,conscious brain tries to solve it with all its ability..But it is the subconscious mind that comes for the rescue most of the time to find the best solution.The subconscious mind is so good to look at the things laterally!
On Choice « blogempire // September 8, 2006 at 7:03 pm
[...] Futher investigation by psychologists suggest leaving the really big decisions (buy house, take a job, move away etc.) to your subconscious as researchers in the Netherlands propose. Here’s instructions on how to do it! [...]
M M HUSSAIN // September 16, 2006 at 10:58 pm
In 1974 I was hypnotised by one of my friends, quickly I manged to solve mathematical problem but I failed to solve it after out of trance.
I read in old books that the great scientists along the history use to use selfhypnosis to find theories and solutions to technical problems. I ‘ve hypnotised one guide, sent him to my house, he discribed my houe to me..
please add, or comment
M M HUSSAIN
David McD // October 31, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Rather than ‘unconscious’, what if information is stored in your physical body and the configuration of it? Change your body position and the information you access and the way you think also changes. I’ve written my webiste about this idea and how to make a decision and why breaks at work are important. Cheers!
Success Resources // January 23, 2007 at 11:23 am
Soving Problem With Subconscious
So, if you need a solution to your problem, please impress your subconscious of what your problem is and tell it that you are looking for the best solution. Tell the subconscious also that you would let it to decide for you and that you would trust it …
BK // March 2, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Hey, I shared the similar thought. A lot of time, the solution to my problems popped up when I was not thinking of it in the first place. It is amazing how the subconcious mind works.
Hazel // July 31, 2007 at 5:20 pm
The mystery of complete rest in sleep where the subconscious mind is in total operative mood has yet to be discovered in its totality. I believe that every step man take in discovering the state of mind, we are one step closer to realise our potential in this universe.
shreenivas // March 27, 2008 at 10:28 am
yes def. subconcious mind work and gives answer. no doubt about it. But your belief inyour sub-conciious mind mind is more important
christophercdean // June 3, 2008 at 7:43 am
Definitely, this method works. The subconscious mind really is a marvel at work.
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