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I’m amazed by the number of times I’ve awoken from a good night’s sleep with a clear answer to a specific problem—no conscious thinking required. That could be the opening sentence to a writing assignment I didn’t know how to start, the best way to overcome a disagreement with a coworker, or how to approach a crucial conversation with a family member.

It might not make sense on paper. But then again, neither do dreams, gravity, or the first time someone put peanut butter and chocolate together. And yet, they work—beautifully.

The truth is, our subconscious mind can do a lot of heavy lifting (if not all of it) when it comes to solving problems. Some of the greatest thinkers of all time—Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, David Ogilvy—were loud champions of stepping away, slowing down, and letting the back of their brain chew on things. Not by grinding harder. But by sleeping longer, walking slower, birdwatching, vacationing, or just staring into the ether until the fog lifted.

So how does that actually work? And more importantly, how can you bottle a little of that magic for yourself? Continue reading…