Rest to win

Table of Contents

“I almost got it! Surely if I fix this one error, the damn thing will work! Right? …Right?”

Creative solutions for analytical problems

So often, coding problems require the creative side of our minds.

But what coding invokes, is the analytical side of us. The logical thinking, the 1-point-focus type of thinking.

I believe all software engineers recognize the situation where trying harder doesn’t work. Trying to push forward through the problem, only to get more and more stuck. To start looking over things that otherwise would be deemed simple.

The only way to get un-stuck, is to engage our deeper and unconscious self.

Engaging our deeper self

Taking a step back. Doing something completely different. Going for a walk and listening for the sounds in our area.

It seems hard to justify on the surface as working, but our unconscious is chewing at the problem.

We allow new connections to be formed, we allow new insights to emerge.

This is a crucial part of software engineering and life in general. To trust our deeper self to find links and connections in the chaos that’s before us.

Some problems, however analytical they might be, just cannot be solved with that part of our brain.

Takeaways

So the next time you get stuck and feel powerless about the situation,

Step away from the problem and gain perspective
Engage your senses in relaxed concentration
Explore something new and engage your curiosity
Trust yourself and let the answers come to you when you least expect it