1286: If you’re faced with a problem…

Sometimes staring at a problem is neither fruitful or productive, today I’m sharing two approaches that I find really help!

Episode transcript:

Good morning, Daily Peppers, and a very happy Tuesday to you. Now it is fair to say a lot of us spend a lot of time in our heads. We spend a lot of time trying to fix problems, trying to come up with different solutions, thinking of ways to improve things. And for me, I get pretty stubborn and try and stare down a problem until I know what to do. But the thing is that doesn't always work. There are many times I've got myself way more frustrated, overwhelmed, and wound up because I'm just looking at it and looking at it, and nothing is changing. And then I just start to freak out more. So if you've got a problem that you're trying to fix or something that you're mulling over that you just can't get to the bottom of or you feel like the answer is just out of reach, I really recommend doing something that takes very little brainpower and almost intentionally try not to think about the thing.

Some of our best ideas come in the shower. Sometimes we'll have a light bulb moment while we're doing the washing up and tidying up can really lead to some breakthroughs. So for today's daily pep, I just want to remind you that sometimes staring down the problem isn't actually that fruitful or productive. An example I can give of this is yesterday, I had no idea what to do yesterday's daily pep on, but I realized that my fan had been collecting a lot of dust. So I took it apart, gave it a good wipe down, and I figured that while I was doing that, I would probably think of something and I did. And it was really two birds with one scone. I came up with an idea for the episode and also my fan now works a lot better than the existential dread and the fear that can come with just staring down at the proverbial blank page. So try this on for size, but if you feel like you really, really have to solve the issue right now, one of the things I do recommend doing is writing down a list of 20 different ways you could solve the problem.

Our brains are hardwired for creativity and problem solving, and when it starts to get hard, then we come up with the wacky ideas and sometimes they are the best. So whatever is on your mind today, take one of these for a test drive and see how it goes. I can't wait to be back here bright and early as always tomorrow morning. And in the meantime, remember that everything changes when you believe you matter.

Transcription produced by Castmagic.io

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A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!

The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you.

Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines.

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