Solving the Unsolvable

Got a hard problem? You can get better at solving strategy, math, leadership, relationship or mind-heavy puzzles from just about any domain.

Put neuroscience to work.

Many people are familiar with how sleep and the glymphatic system clear toxic proteins from the brain. And a lot of people (myself included, for sure!) have learned that exercise will help you work through thorny problems.

Yes, that’s neuroscience too: dopamine + distraction (from the linked abstract: “engaging in an undemanding task during an incubation period led to substantial improvements in performance on previously encountered problems”). I think that is science-speak for: let your mind wander and you’ll get a better answer.

I recently had to replace the alternator on my SUV. It gave me a spark of creativity.

But my best ideas come when I don a helmet and clip in for a long bike ride. The more complex the challenge, the more I seek a desolate road. Sitting here, I can picture a lonely climb about 25 miles from my house where I distinctly remember being struck with insight about realigning a struggling team — and I hadn’t even been thinking about the problem.

There’s more than dopamine and distraction going on too. I just recently heard Dan Harris (author of 10% Percent Happier) talking about mindfulness and the misconception that a wandering mind indicates you’re meditating poorly. Not so, says Dan. Just be aware of (and present in) the wandering. In my experience, mindfulness is brain training...so in combination with the dopamine and distraction, practice and training can enhance our ability to grapple with complex challenges.

I’ve also found that getting outdoors helps too. The sunshine, the colors and the cacophony of sounds in the great outdoors provide a massive influx of background stimulation that actually helps positively distract the brain and improve mood. And on a nice day, it just makes exercise better.

So the next time you’re looking to solve the unsolvable, my prescription is MENDS: Mindfulness, Exercise, Nature, Diet (I know - I didn’t mention that above, but we have to be well-nourished) and Sleep.