boredom makes me better

I think there’s something about boredom that makes me better.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve found the solution to a problem or a better way of doing something when I’m not coding. Maybe I’m in the shower, having lunch, or just chilling.

I remember one time I was working on an event-driven notification system. There were so many constraints and requirements, and I just couldn’t figure out the best way to do it better and reliably. I was stuck. So I took a break and focused on other things, and then randomly, just sitting in a chair, it hit me. I couldn’t believe it. I’d been thinking about it for days, genuinely stressed about it, and the solution came when I was not thinking about it at all. Just like that.

I did some research and turns out there’s a name for this. Something called the default mode network. When you step away from anything that requires active focus, your brain doesn’t actually switch off. It shifts gears and starts connecting things quietly in the background, finding patterns, seeing the “bigger picture”.

What I find interesting is that you can’t really manufacture this. I’ve seen people suggest ways to “hack” the default mode network and I’m skeptical. I don’t think you can trick your own brain into its most natural state. You just have to actually stop. Actually, not be busy.

So that’s what I’m committing to. More walks. More staring out the window without reaching for my phone. Not as a productivity hack, just as a way of living my life. And since it definitely works, I can confidently say... cheers to more eureka moments!