Shower creativity: Why you have great ideas in the shower

Marie-Josée
3 days ago
3 min read

Why you have great ideas in the shower: The science behind sudden inspiration

Many people report experiencing flashes of brilliance - whether it’s solving tough problems or coming up with creative ideas - precisely when they step into the shower. What seems like a quirky coincidence is, in fact, the result of well-studied brain mechanisms.

Mind-wandering and the default mode network

Illustration of a human head under a shower releasing water while lightbulbs and neural network lines symbolize creativity, mind-wandering, and sudden ideas — concept for why innovative thoughts often appear in the shower, by NETO Innovation.

When you shower, you’re performing an undemanding, habitual task. This frees up your brain to operate in the background, activating the “default mode network” (DMN) - a set of brain regions engaged when your mind is at rest or wandering. Research by cognitive neuroscientists such as Kalina Christoff and John Kounios highlights that your DMN comes alive when you’re not actively focused, boosting associative thinking and helping ideas to collide in new ways [1-5].

A recent review in the neuroscience of creativity demonstrates the DMN’s critical role not only in spontaneous thought but also in evaluating and synthesizing creative concepts. This is why creative revelations often strike during routine, “mindless” activities like showering or walking [1].

Dopamine: The neurochemical creative catalyst

The relaxing environment of a warm shower is more than just comforting, it triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with improved mood, motivation, and especially creativity. Alice Flaherty, an american neuroscientist, notes that bursts of dopamine can activate creative drive by stimulating key areas of the limbic system [6].

Showering, exercise, and even driving all increase dopamine flow, which encourages your brain to make more creative connections than it does when you’re tense or stressed [7].

Creative incubation

Psychologists have long recognized a phenomenon called “creative incubation”: stepping away from focused work lets unconscious processes churn in the background, often leading to unexpected solutions. During incubation, you stop consciously attacking a problem, and your brain organizes information behind the scenes - forgetting mental fixations and generating fresh angles [8].

The legendary Graham Wallas introduced the concept of “incubation” in 1926, showing how creative solutions often arrive not during active effort, but while engaged in unrelated, restful activities [9].

Shower creativity: Why showers beat sitting at your desk

Not all passive activities are equally effective. Multiple studies conclude that tasks with a “moderate level” of engagement - like showering - optimize both mind-wandering and environmental stimulation. This balance enables your brain to escape rigid thought patterns while staying gently engaged enough to spark insight.

Harnessing shower inspiration

If you find yourself awash with solutions when shampooing, try capturing your ideas - a waterproof notepad, a phone memo, or jotting things down right after you finish. The key isn’t just having great ideas, but remembering and acting on them.

Science shows that by replicating these ideal mental conditions - relaxed, distracted, and mildly engaged - you can purposefully boost creativity in other settings too.

If creativity thrives in the moments when we finally slow down, imagine what becomes possible when we intentionally create the right conditions for innovation every day.

At NETO Innovation, we help organisations turn these sparks of insight into concrete strategies, successful proposals, and impactful innovation projects. From idea shaping to Horizon Europe funding, from project coordination to long-term innovation management, we’re here to help your best ideas take form.

Want more insights like this? Follow NETO Innovation on LinkedIn for weekly reflections, innovation tips, and behind-the-scenes glimpses from our team.

Ready to transform your ideas into funded projects? Let’s talk. Your next breakthrough might already be bubbling under the surface.

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