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The Surprising Secret to Breaking Through a Mental Block, According to Science
Using The Incubation Period
When you're struggling with a problem or decision take a break from thinking hard.
Some studies say an incubation period as short as 10 minutes might be enough to gain a new perspective. But that’s not unanimous, so you might want to experiment to discover what works for you.
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The Incubation Period
That’s a scientifically recognized phenomenon where an idea is unconsciously worked out by the brain. It often happens when we are trying to solve a hard problem and take a break to do an unrelated task.
Concentrating harder won't force the 'eureka moment' when you're experiencing a mental block.
The “Incubation Period” Mechanisms
- Eliciting new knowledge: when you stop problem-solving, your brain keeps working on it in the background and may come across memories you may have ignored when you were actively trying to think about the problem.
- Selective forgetting: an incubation period weakens the unhelpful solutions that are distracting you.
- Problem restructuring: stepping away from the problem lets your brain reorganize the problem.
Using The Incubation Period
When you're struggling with a problem or decision take a break from thinking hard.
Some studies say an incubation period as short as 10 minutes might be enough to gain a new perspective. But that’s not unanimous, so you might want to experiment to discover what works for you.
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Systematic approach
Having a systematic approach to how you deal with problems, as opposed to just going by gut and feelings, ca...
Study the problem first
Detectives and investigators use the process. They ask both obvious and unthinkable questions.
Get close and collect information about how the problem is manifesting. Understand where the problem does and doesn’t happen, when the problem started, and how often the problem occurs to generate critical insight for the problem-solving effort.
Question for great answers
- Don’t look for solutions immediately; Keep redefining the problem until you arrive at the root cause.
- Don’t try to guess the solution; try to understand how the obstacles, or challenges manifest first.
- Gather data to analyze all potential root causes.
- Consider all options, regardless of how irrelevant they currently appear.
- Find a way to connect the dots. Make better analogies. One good analogy is worth three hours of discussion.
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Brainshift: how our perceptions alter
Under particular circumstances (involving high anxiety or a major reward) our brains cause us to perceive the world around us in ways that contradict and distort objective reality. It's when we'...
Why we stick to bad decisions
Psychologists call this “the anchoring bias.”
After we’ve made a decision, even an illogical one, we tend to cling to it. That is, we filter out dissenting information while seeking data that confirms our original viewpoints.
How to avoid brainshift
- Be aware that we are all vulnerable to the consequences of brainshift, regardless of our ethics, social status, or IQ.
- Know the situations that stoke your fears and desires: Those involving money, sex, and fame/recognition are good places to start.
- Answer to these questions: What’s the worst thing that could happen? How would I feel if that outcome occurred?
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Combinatory Play
We’ve all experienced that flash of insight, that fleeting moment when a solution we’ve been grinding away at reveals itself in an unexpected place.
Einstein, for example, was known...
How The Brain Works
The brain’s building blocks are neurons: nerve cells that receive and transmit signals along neural pathways. Certain pathways are forged at birth. Others can be manipulated by learning.
So when you’re stuck in a rut, your brain’s neurons could literally be stuck on a neural pathway you’ve carved out through your behavior. But you can get unstuck by choosing to make new connections.
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