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Comment by eddd | Hacker News Reader

I had this problem until I realised, most of my work is being done while doing something else less brain challenging. I have awesome ideas on the shower, while walking, running, throwing out trash. Smoking really helps here as well (but I am not so proud of it). Just because I am not starring at the screen it doesn't mean I am not working on the problem. If my brain finds something interesting, it is working on it subconsciously.

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I couldn't agree with you more. I can't even tell you how many times I've figured out something while on a run or walk -- far too often I've started writing code without thinking it through adequately. Getting away from the keyboard, away from google, away from every possible distraction and just letting your brain have some time to reflect on things is sadly lacking with today's constant barrage of information.

I've started doing something in the past year - when I go for a run, I pick one "small thing" to think about. It might be trouble I'm having with code (javascript Promises, anyone?), or something as unrelated as "why do we drive on the right side of the road in the U.S." I don't always intend to try to find an answer, I just want to get in the habit of just thinking without distraction.

+10. Blogged this a while ago:

Tech Video: Rich Hickey: Hammock-Driven Development:

http://jugad2.blogspot.in/2016/03/tech-video-rich-hickey-ham...

Some people don't understand this, and it was one of the reasons I was so happy to get to work from home. It's really hard to work this way in an office, but at home people really only see the end result and assume you got there using whatever methods they think are best. Nobody knows or cares I took a couple laps around the block mid-morning, they just know I fixed the issue.

Most managers, especially in Europe don't get it. They need to see you that:

- you are working at least 9-3 (or pretending it)

- you are talking to your colleague in the kitchen (in manager terminology: knowledge sharing, my favorite one)

- you are present at unproductive meetings

- you are hitting you keyboard

- you have opened excel sheet, sharepoint, and other required tools major of working time.

I spent almost 6 years in corporate open office plans. Last year was working from home. Now, I am not able to go back to the standard 8 hours open office.

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