Shower Thoughts

Hola and welcome to The Summit, my biweekly newsletter where I share my unfiltered thoughts on navigating the peaks and valleys of adulthood.

My mission is to question everything, grow every day and have fun along the way. The Summit’s mission is to invite you to do the same.

Tuesday Deep Dive: Shower Thoughts

Have you ever heard of the term "Shower Thoughts"?

If you haven’t, let me enlighten you. It’s that magical moment when a random, often bizarre idea pops into your head while you’re doing something mundane – like, you guessed it, taking a shower.

For example: you’re standing in your nice warm shower (or cold 😉), shampoo in your hair, and suddenly, you’re hit with a revelation. It could be anything from “Did I leave the oven on?” to “I wonder how many people in the world are showering right now?”. We've all been there.

Seriously, the shower is like a brainstorming session with your brain, where anything goes. You might find yourself planning an entire imaginary conversation, a hypothetical fight to the death with a grizzly bear (👀) or even contemplating the existence of parallel universes while trying to remember if you bought toilet paper last week.

You can read some more entertaining examples here.

But Why the Shower?

Why do we get these bursts of creativity in the shower of all places? It’s simple: it’s one of the few moments in our busy lives when we’re truly disconnected from everything and everyone else. No phone going off, no emails demanding your attention, just you and your thoughts.

It’s just the same as those epiphanies you have right before you drift off to sleep. You know, when all you want to do is sleep but you can't help solving world problems and figuring out the meaning of life, all at 11pm...

I've mentioned this before, but these are just more examples of boredom sparking creativity. Because doing mundane tasks - like showering and drifting to sleep - forces your brain into 'boredom'. But don't take it from me, take it from any of these scientific studies (if you feel like reading long research papers 🥱); all of which found that engaging in mundane tasks - like showering - allows the mind to wander and ultimately boosts creativity:

• Why Being Bored Might Not Be a Bad Thing after All | Academy of Management Discoveries

• The Unexpected Value of Boredom for Well-Being and Creativity | Psychology Today Canada

• Does Being Bored Make Us More Creative?: Creativity Research Journal: Vol 26, No 2

Now, I know this isn’t new or ground-breaking information, but it’s definitely worth pondering. Where else can you carve out time in your day to disconnect and let your mind run wild? What benefits could this bring?

Nature Walks: The Great Outdoors Shower Alternative

For me, the easiest solution has been going for a walk in nature. Now I must admit I am a little biased considering this is my current backyard:

However, the reality is, it doesn't matter where you are, you can reap the benefits anywhere!

Like a spa day for your brain, nature has a way of nourishing the soul and clearing the mind.

Once again, don't just take it from me, take it from the countless number of researchers, philosophers, historical figures and leaders, who have all written and spoke of nature’s extraordinary benefits.

I did think that walking was stupid though - I must admit. 'Honestly, what an inefficient form of exercise; I could burn way more cals running instead'. But... what I didn't realise, was that the shower thoughts only come when you slowww down. Which often, is exactly what I need to do. Maybe you do too?

Note: I have also started implementing slower zone 2 runs into my training, which not only achieves the benefits of zone 2 training but also allows me to tap into those shower thoughts (as opposed to running hard which requires more focus)!

The Best Ideas Come When You’re Moving

Since I’ve purposefully started walking more (the last couple of months) – phone turned off, of course – I must admit it’s been fantastic! I can’t tell you how many of my 'best ideas' (or at least I think so 😆) have come to me during these walks. Most of my 'walk thoughts' are what I end up writing about here :)

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re soaking in the shower or wandering through the woods, don’t underestimate the power of disconnecting from screens and the chaos of everyday life. Embrace shower thoughts and nature walks – they might just lead you to your next big lightbulb moment.

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to share it with a friend who might also enjoy it; and if you’re the friend, feel free to subscribe here 🙃!

_{As always, if you have any feedback, you can respond to this email! I’d love to hear what you think :)}