Holly CumminsTIL there's a technical name for why ideas happen in the shower: the "default mode network" is a pattern of brain activity, measurable using fMRI, that happens when we're unfocussed. When the brain goes into idle mode (reduced activity), this part of the brain actually becomes *more* active. What does the default mode network do? Research is ongoing, but part of it definitely seems to be making connections, which is associated with curiosity and creativity.
I had an idea once that - in opposition to what Shopify are doing, by reducing meetings - organisations should have *more* meetings. The more terrible, tedious, and dull, the better.
Why? In bad meetings, our mind wanders, and we become creative. Meetings - if they're bad enough - are a bit like the shower of the modern workplace.
(Well, except that showers make you happy and clean, and bad meetings make you irritated and grubby. And stupid, because of carbon dioxide levels.)
Uberto Barbini@holly_cummins or maybe forcing people to have showers during office hours. ;)