If 72% of people have had ideas or breakthroughs in the shower, should you instal a shower at work?

If 72% of the people have had ideas or breakthroughs in the shower and 17% of the people feel inspired while showering, you shouldn't install a shower in the office to increase creative problem-solving. You should make sure there is time to "not think" about the problem and let the mind settle.

When you have a problem, and you focus hard on finding a solution, you’re stressed out, it’s super important, run against a deadline, management is breathing down your neck, clients are calling,… how often did you find the solution?

And how often did the solution come when you were not thinking about it? When took your mind of the project, went for a walk, hit the gym, took a shower,…? In my case, it’s more often the latter.

So the higher the pressure, the more we think about a seemingly unsolvable, the smaller the chances are that we will find a solution.

So how do I deal with finding a solution and get my creative juices flowing?

1. Everything can be put into perspective. Not every problem is as big as you think, a lot of times the way you look at something is the problem. Put it in perspective and you will see that you worry less about it.

There is no such thing as a "problem", we make up things "problematic" or not.

2. Give yourself some space, clear your head. Don’t focus on the (perceived) problem, don’t even focus on solutions. The more you think about it, the bigger it will become in your head, the more space it will take up, and the less chance you have in finding a solution.

3. Go for a walk, have a coffee, do some sport, take a shower, get some sleep,… and ideas will come naturally. The more your mind relaxes, the more ideas will pop up. More often than not, you will find solutions that way.

4. Look at the problem from a completely different point of view, so that it isn’t a problem at all anymore, but an opportunity. Most of the problems are in our minds which we create ourselves.

5. Don’t complain, don’t make up excuses, don't invent solutions that don't work just to please someone else. Take your time and relax. Let the magic happen!

Good luck with finding great ideas, and remember there is no such thing as a "problem", we make up things "problematic" or not.

Oh yeah, if you have colleagues who commute by bike, maybe install a nice shower in a clean space, it will do wonders for them.

(source of the statistics: https://www.pmmag.com/articles/96968-hansgrohe-study-the-brightest-ideas-begin-in-the-shower)