In my EE work, I tend to use formal analogies in my thought processes, sometimes unconsciously. For example, water and electricity behave in same way [1]. You don't design the whole circuit in the water domain, but you might temporarily flip over to water to understand a particular aspect, then flip back to electrical. Typically I won't write anything down in the alternative domain, using it just enough to clarify my thinking in the electrical domain, then recording things in electrical terms. There's all sorts of other domains too: acoustics, mechanics, pneumatics, ... Pick the one you are most comfortable with in the situation.