We all have our own shower routine some of us like jamming out and busting out our karaoke skills while others like to take the time to reflect - and judging by the subreddit thread shower thoughts, there is some profound thinking that goes on between suds.
According to the group, a shower idea is "a miniature epiphany that makes the mundane more interesting. Maybe it's all the head scrubbing that knocks out these interesting thoughts, but if you are searching for life's meaning, the answer may be underneath your shower head." Scroll down below to check out more of these soapy epiphanies, and don't forget to upvote these genius ideas!
This post may include affiliate links.
While a lot of good and weird thoughts do come to us in the shower a 'shower thought' doesn't have to occur in the shower. The term has come to mean any idea you get while perform a mundane activity. Studies have shown that these epiphany moments usually occur in one of the 3 Bs - bathtub, bed or bus. Washington University psychologist R. Keith Sawyer, author of the new book Explaining Creativity: The Science of Human Innovation explains: "When we take time off from working on a problem, we change what we're doing and our context, and that can activate different areas of our brain. If the answer wasn't in the part of the brain we were using, it might be in another. If we're lucky, in the next context we may hear or see something that relates—distantly—to the problem that we had temporarily put aside.
A lot of funny shower thoughts are silly more than profound, but some famous discoveries have come between scrubs. In 1990 NASA scientists were trying to fix the lenses of the Hubble telescope while it was already in orbit. The engineer on the project Jim Crocker was taking a shower in a German hotel and noticed that the European-style shower was mounted on adjustable rods. That's when it hit him - Hubble's small mirrors could be extended into the telescope if they were mounted in a similar way on folding arms. You never know when clever ideas will hit!
What is it about the shower that makes it the perfect environment to think? Our brain releases its best ideas when dopamine is triggered, which can occur during a warm shower. At the same time we are in a relaxed state and thus more likely to reflect inward. Lastly we are distracted. Activities like washing the dishes or washing ourselves are so automatic that it give our brain a break and allows our subconscious time to play in a more creative way.
when being a parent you don't realize that watching your kid grow up, you are also growing up with them.
Except, that it is actually a left over from a time when most marriages were arranged. It's also why brides wore a veil. So, the "bad luck" was if the groom saw the bride before they were officially married and thought she was unattractive, he would call off the wedding.
Seems I've done so many things wrong in my life... I remember him sitting nearby, happily eating chocolate, watching me while I fight a huge white glittering-cream-pie-like dress. Tried 4 dresses in 30 minutes, bought no. 3, had a lot of fun together.
That sounds so lovely. There is definitely nothing wrong with that.
Load More Replies...
Why are there so many downvotes on comments that basically say the same as the comment that has the most upvotes? It's a fact that most men just don't see any fun in shopping for clothes or shoes. It's not a sterotype. All of my male friends and co-workers are willing to pay big money just to avoid shopping. It doesn't mean they don't love their partners, it just means they hate shopping a lot.
I don't know, I'm a guy and actually kinda love shopping..
OK, not only was ur comment awesome, but ur account is literally me.
Load More Replies...
"Honey, I love you, and I want to be with you forever. Just not while you're dress shopping. Why? Er, bad luck? Yeah, let's go with that."
As a woman, I think it's ridiculous to spend that much money on a dress to wear for a short time.
The only things I like shopping for is boats,fishing equipment,ski gear and food......yeah
If the idea of spending a day shoping with her seems so horrible, maybe you dont love her enough and shouldnt marry at all...
Got that comment from my (then future) wife. I agreed to go always shopping with her if she'd agree running every marathon with me. She didn't, so I didn't. We're happily married for 34 years now.
Load More Replies...
Actually, it saved men from learning in advance of the wedding that their wife was the kind of controlling, inconsiderate person who would even think of dragging her husband while clothes shopping.
not for their entertainment. They are just picking the court fool for the queen
I have literally never heard that phrase before in my life. Is it common?
I remember catching my reflection in my daughters eye when she was little and thinking I looked awful, then realizing she thought I hung the moon, anyway. ;)
The one about language really struck me, as I was chatting with my cashier at Wal Mart last week -- she was lamenting her English, although really it was quite good -- but as we were chatting she told me she was an accountant in her native country and has a degree in business management, but here (US) she is working at Wal Mart while she tries to improve her English. She was obviously intelligent and driven, she was definitely warm and friendly, and I can't help but wonder how many redneck idiots in my area treat her badly for her English when they go through her line. As much as I enjoyed talking to her, I really hope next time I'm in there I won't see her -- because I hope by then she'll be on to something where she gets the respect she deserves.
Must be truly frustrating to be highly educated in one country and finding yourself somewhere you initially struggle with the language.
Load More Replies...
No they've cut these down! There's only 30 now. *shakes fist* damn you, bored panda gods!
My shower thought today: I am 100% more motivated to wake up when there is leftover pizza in the fridge. It's better than an alarm clock.
why does bored panda always delte a huge part of the list after they upload it. Like there were 120+ before now it's only 30
A copy paste of Minerva15's comment- For all of you wondering why the list was cut is because BP may have taken some of the submissions without the original posters consent, then they learned of this article and asked BP to remove their submission.
Load More Replies... 
If your eyes are shut in flash photos, you are literally faster than the speed of light.
The title said '154 Shower Thought...' but I only see #103. I feel like there's 51 shower-thoughts that are missing or lost...
It's down to 30 now, although they did change the tittle. A shame, but you can go to the actual sub reddit to read more of the responses if you like.
Load More Replies...
I always found it kind of gross that when swimming in a pool with other people you are likely to accidentally drink some of the pool water. This water has touched every body part of everyone in that pool. Even if you don't drink it, it still gets in your eyes, ears etc.
That's right. Because dangerously overweight people have no idea that they are overweight without your commentary. And they don't deserve to feel beautiful by people who find overweight people attractive.
I heard that showering makes you creative because it ionizes the air. Don't know if there's real science behind it.
Where'd the rest (#31-#102) go? i was in the middle of reading em!
They're originally from Reddit, the original posters may not have felt comfortable of their comments being used for other purposes. I know this for a fact because Reddit often gets annoyed at Bored Panda for doing this.
Load More Replies... The one about language really struck me, as I was chatting with my cashier at Wal Mart last week -- she was lamenting her English, although really it was quite good -- but as we were chatting she told me she was an accountant in her native country and has a degree in business management, but here (US) she is working at Wal Mart while she tries to improve her English. She was obviously intelligent and driven, she was definitely warm and friendly, and I can't help but wonder how many redneck idiots in my area treat her badly for her English when they go through her line. As much as I enjoyed talking to her, I really hope next time I'm in there I won't see her -- because I hope by then she'll be on to something where she gets the respect she deserves.
Must be truly frustrating to be highly educated in one country and finding yourself somewhere you initially struggle with the language.
Load More Replies... No they've cut these down! There's only 30 now. *shakes fist* damn you, bored panda gods!
My shower thought today: I am 100% more motivated to wake up when there is leftover pizza in the fridge. It's better than an alarm clock.
why does bored panda always delte a huge part of the list after they upload it. Like there were 120+ before now it's only 30
A copy paste of Minerva15's comment- For all of you wondering why the list was cut is because BP may have taken some of the submissions without the original posters consent, then they learned of this article and asked BP to remove their submission.
Load More Replies... If your eyes are shut in flash photos, you are literally faster than the speed of light.
The title said '154 Shower Thought...' but I only see #103. I feel like there's 51 shower-thoughts that are missing or lost...
It's down to 30 now, although they did change the tittle. A shame, but you can go to the actual sub reddit to read more of the responses if you like.
Load More Replies... I always found it kind of gross that when swimming in a pool with other people you are likely to accidentally drink some of the pool water. This water has touched every body part of everyone in that pool. Even if you don't drink it, it still gets in your eyes, ears etc.
That's right. Because dangerously overweight people have no idea that they are overweight without your commentary. And they don't deserve to feel beautiful by people who find overweight people attractive.
I heard that showering makes you creative because it ionizes the air. Don't know if there's real science behind it.
Where'd the rest (#31-#102) go? i was in the middle of reading em!
They're originally from Reddit, the original posters may not have felt comfortable of their comments being used for other purposes. I know this for a fact because Reddit often gets annoyed at Bored Panda for doing this.
Load More Replies... 