Why do some of the best ideas come to you while taking a shower?

As we grow older and the responsibilities and to-do lists pile up, it can get harder to stop and rest our minds. It wouldn’t be unheard of for one to take solace in the bathroom, using it as a “break” from all the noise from the outside — and, sometimes, even the noises inside our heads.

Curiously, eureka moments and great ideas have come from this place too, usually while taking a shower. And it’s not just you—this phenomenon is common enough that waterproof notepads have been invented so you can capture those shower-inspired ideas.

Science, fortunately, offers some insights into why this happens.

“When we shower, we are at a semi relaxed state, so it makes sense that we can easily reach that optimal level that is conducive for creativity or new ideas,” Stephanie Balid-Attwell, PhD, a Clinical Psychology and Clinical Trial Site Management Associate at the Oncology Clinical Trial Unit of The Children’s Hospital in Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, told GMA News Online in an interview.

Research shows that certain brain areas work together as a system known as the default mode network (DMN). It’s aptly named because the brain “defaults” to this active state whenever one is at rest or doing something routine, rather than focused on a specific task.

Ever notice how those “Eureka!” moments seem to pop up when you’re doing something totally routine?

“This is not just confined to taking a shower. We can take advantage of other types of activities like taking a stroll, exercising, doing dishes, washing the car, or anything that also allows our mind to wander,” added Balid–Attwell.

These everyday tasks don’t need much attention, allowing your mind to go on autopilot, wander, and make connections out of the blue.

The brain’s wander mode activates when you’re passive or at rest and switches off when you’re engaged in “attention-demanding” and outward-focused tasks. Specifically, it’s highly active when you’re mind-wandering—when your mind drifts away from the task at hand to internal thoughts, such as past memories and future plans. Think of it as a close cousin of daydreaming, though daydreaming tends to be more focused and intentional.

The DMN and Creativity

The DMN helps boost creativity because parts of your brain that become active can spark new ideas and make fresh connections—something many people experience during those relaxed moments in the shower.

In a 2022 study, researchers worked with patients having brain surgery while awake. This type of surgery lets doctors map out what each part of the brain does by asking patients to do simple tasks, like reading, picture naming, and experimental tasks. To learn more about creativity, they asked patients to think of new uses for a common object, like a paper clip. They found that patients with stronger “wander mode” connections were better at coming up with creative ideas, showing that this part of the brain is important for creative thinking.

Referring to a study by Irving et al., which looked at how different levels of activity affect creativity, Balid-Attwell explained that our minds switch between two modes: focused thinking and free-flowing, random thoughts. Finding a balance between these can be helped by being in the right kind of environment.

“[Irving’s] team discussed this phenomenon of how moderately engaging activities promote the mind's creativity. The brain needs to be allowed to wander while the person intermittently attends to what is going on in the immediate environment so somehow it places some constraints on thought,” she added.

Do you love daydreaming? If so, you’re activating your DMN to spark some creative inspiration.

Another study found that “positive constructive daydreaming”— which pertains to “planning, pleasant thoughts, vivid and wishful imagery, and curiosity”—is linked to creativity.

Daydreaming activates the DMN, but it also engages parts of the brain responsible for focused thinking and decision-making. This shows that daydreaming involves a balance between free-flowing ideas and focused thought.

The “mind-wandering” phase is crucial for creativity because it lets us break away from rigid thinking and combine ideas in new ways. Like daydreaming, the DMN works with other networks of the brain to help refine ideas—letting us imagine possibilities and shape them into workable concepts.

Balid-Attwell noted that while many theories aim to explain this phenomenon scientifically, it remains uncertain.

"There are many theories that try to make sense of this, but overall, it’s still inconclusive,” she explained.

However, she said that examining different aspects can help us understand how exactly “mind-wandering” is tied to creativity.

• Brain structure: Balid–Attwell said that imaging studies show that being in a “less controlled condition” promotes creativity.
• Sensations: Balid-Attwell explained, “It can be the sensation of water trickling down when we shower, or the feeling in our joints as we take a stroll,” referring to a 2022 Japanese study. The study found that Japanese high school students showed increased creative thinking when engaging in activities like talking or physical exercise, rather than just sitting idle.
• Environment: “The temperature of water, the white noise it produces, or if we play music that can affect it too, the time of day, and even the familiar scent of the products we use,” explained Balid–Attwell.

Sparking Creativity

Creative ideas often strike when you’re not actively searching for them, but you can create the right conditions to make them more likely.

One study found that professional writers and physicists were more likely to experience “aha” moments during mind-wandering or when engaged in a simple, non-work-related task and thinking about something unrelated to the idea that emerged.

So, take some time for activities that don’t require much mental focus and have no immediate demands, like going for a walk, gardening, or—yes—taking a shower. Showers, in particular, provide a unique environment with no distractions, allowing your mind to wander and explore new ideas.

Balid–Attwell invited readers to experiment and identify the best conditions for them. She also suggested trying other moderately stimulating activities to see how it affects one’s thinking.

“Try and observe the following conditions: taking a bath vs. taking a shower, adding some music, warm shower vs. cold shower, long shower vs. short time in a shower, shower at night after a day's work or shower in the morning after a night's rest," she said.

“It is not a one size fits all and it is up to the individual to discover the sweet spot of what activities work and the timing of when to do it."

— CDC, GMA Integrated News