Why Sleeping on a Difficult Problem
Helps You Get the Answer
We’ve all been faced with challenges and
difficult choices. It can be tempting to agonize over the best response or
obsess over a solution, but even with your best effort, you may not be able
decide what to do.
The more you think about your problem, the
more difficult it becomes to get the answer. You may feel frustrated as your
desire to resolve the issue grows. Impatience sets in, and your brain gets more
stuck than ever.
Soon you’re tired, cranky, and mentally
exhausted because your mind has been running in circles all day. But sometimes
the solution is as simple as sleeping on the problem.
Stop
spinning your wheels and go to sleep
In periods of high stress, taking a rest may be
the the furthest thing from your mind, but it might be the best thing for you.
If you allow yourself to sleep on the issue, the answer will come to you.
A study in Memory and Cognition found
that people perform problem-solving tasks more effectively after sleep.[1]
The effectiveness of sleep in the problem solving equation may be related to a
psychological concept called the “Incubation Effect.” The Incubation Effect,
put forth by Graham Wallas in 1926, suggests that the brain is more effective
at overcoming obstacles when it is given time to rest.
If you have ever been unable to produce an
answer to a question that you should know only have the answer pop into your
head in the middle of the night, you have experienced the Incubation Effect
firsthand.
Psychologists aren’t sure if this happens
because the brain is less distracted during sleep, or if the subconscious
continues to work on the problem even when you aren’t consciously processing
through it. Either way, science supports sleeping to solve complex problems.
Dreams
will secretly inspire you
Some of the greatest scientific discoveries
and artistic and literary masterpieces were inspired by dreams. For example,
Otto Loewi discovered that nerve impulses were caused by chemicals during a
series of dreams.
When you sleep, your brain is able to process
and consolidate the experiences you had when you were awake. Sleeping after you
learn something new helps your brain encode the new information into your
long-term memory.
Beyond just processing information, certain
phases of the sleep cycle are essential for problem solving. REM sleep
stimulates associative networks to unlock new potential connections and
solutions that may have gone unnoticed during your waking hours.
Focusing
on a problem intently can keep you from solving it
Your brain operates in two distinct modes:
focused and diffused mode. Focused mode is the state in which you are actively
concentrating on stimuli. When you’re intent on finding an answer, your mind
stays in focused mode. This can cause you to get tunnel vision, and it can make
it impossible to think outside the box.
The phenomenon known as the Einstellung
Effect can also prevent you from finding novel solutions to complex problems.
The Einstellung Effect arises when the information that you already know blocks
your creativity and impedes innovation. As you gain experience with a certain
type of problem, your brain attempts to run on autopilot instead of critically
analyzing the issue.
When
you get frustrated, it’s time to take a break
If you’re feeling stuck, it’s best to step
back and take a break. Your frustration will only serve to block your ability
to find a solution or make a decision. Allow yourself a solid night of sleep
before you make your choice or attempt to solve your problem.
You’ll be amazed at how capable your brain is
when you let it to work as it was meant to work. When you’ve hit a wall in your
problem-solving process, stop thinking about it, and get some sleep.
It may be difficult to let the issue go, but
you have everything you need within yourself already. You only need to give
your mind the chance to work things out for you.
Brian Lee
https://www.lifehack.org/635094/why-sleeping-on-a-difficult-problem-helps-you-get-the-answer
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