Why does the solution to a problem you’ve been stuck with, sometimes come to mind all of a sudden? Is my mind working on it “behind the scenes” without me “knowing”?

Question

I like to develop games as a hobby, and therefore usually encounter a lot of programming challenges, in other words: features i want to implement but dont really know how.

Ocasionally i spend a lot of time try to solve it, without success, and then, usually in the next couple of days, the thought containing the correct solution will suddenly appear in my mind, without me consciously focusing or even thinking about that topic.

What happened? Did my mind keep working on it, without me even “knowing” and then presented the solution?

Thanks!

In: Biology

Answer 1

Your subconscious can do way more tasks/”calculations” than your conscious can. There’s a reason they say “sleep on it”, I guess. For years I’ve done this thing where I try to go over all the small details of an issue or decision I have to make and just sort of sit on it. Almost completely forget about it and if the answer doesn’t surface, I just go with my gut. More often than not, It’s helpful.