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You’re in the shower. The sound of running water comforts you. You’re used to the routine of soaping up and rinsing off, so you let your mind wander. Suddenly, this Aha! moment flashes right through your head, leaving you a little baffled and a whole lot surprised.

There's an entire subreddit dedicated to Shower Thoughts and is all about "sharing those miniature epiphanies you have that highlight the oddities within the familiar." Whether we’re talking about midlife crises, gummy worms or extra-terrestrial species, this powerhouse with more than 23.6m members is a collection of truly impressive insights.

We have taken some of their best posts that might leave you pondering all day long, so make sure to check them out below. And if you’re in the mood for some more, take a look at our earlier posts right here, here and here.

Since its creation in 2011, the subreddit has been growing into one of the most popular pages on the whole platform. According to the moderators, "'Showerthought' is a loose term that applies to the types of thoughts you might have while carrying out a routine task like showering, driving, or daydreaming." 

These flashes of genius are universally relatable and can let you in on the most amusing things within the mundane. Usually, when you think of such unexpected insights, you find yourself in certain circumstances: a familiar environment with no people to interrupt you and no devices to bother you. 

As your body and mind relax, the overwhelming number of thoughts that are racing through your head start to slowly fade away. This gives an opportunity for brilliant ideas to appear as if by magic. 

Bored Panda reached out to Nancy K. Napier, Ph.D., a Distinguished Professor at Boise State University (USA) and author of Unfolding Curiosity who has published widely on creativity and innovation. She was kind enough to have a little chat with us about the realizations we get while taking a shower.

When asked about the power of a shower and why is it considered to be a perfect place for the eureka effect, the professor told us that the reason behind it is simply because it’s an enclosed space, with warm comforting water, where you do something you don't have to think about.

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"As you wash yourself for those three or five or ten minutes, you can let your mind wander and that's often when an idea will hit. Also, during these times when we're with our families in shutdowns, it might be one of the few chances to be alone with your thoughts," she explained. 

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Sonia Reddel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what I think of the Mars station idea. If people can't follow basic rules here, how can we expect them to follow the very high number of rules living there would entail? One person could so easily sabotage the air or oxygen controls.

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According to Napier, it can be hard to allow your thoughts to drift because we usually have some sort of information—music, podcasts, radio—coming into our minds most of the day. "To have the experience of a wandering mind, we need to intentionally turn OFF the extra information and think about nothing."

However, the shower is not the only place where brilliant ideas can come to us. There are more ways humans can let their minds go free: "I read recently that taking a walk is another great place for ideas, but the key is to simply walk. Leave the radio and podcasts at home." 

"Then, while walking, look in three places and ideas will come: look above eye level (at buildings, trees), look straight ahead and look on the ground," Napier told us. She also mentioned that she tried it last week and came away with two new creative thoughts.

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Pharo Despairo
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My band played at numerous football games in the freezing cold and then our concert was canceled three days before it was supposed to happen. Since when did sports have higher value than the fine arts.

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gridsleep
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, the planetary impact that resulted in the creation of the Moon reduced the Earth (1.0) to a sterile ball of magma, which eventually became our Earth (2.0.) We have no idea what, if any life there was on 1.0, but it was completely exterminated even to the end of viruses and bacteria, if there were such things.

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Hearing other people’s shower realizations attracts a lot of attention: "Many of us are looking for ways to do things differently to get better, which is the ultimate goal of creativity." The professor said that we can always gain something from another person's idea, and the most wonderful part of it is "that we can always generate new ones." 

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Theater Kid
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because you can't wear sweatpants and start boredom eating at someone else's house

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eeeeeeeee
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I would apologise for the mess, but it's always like this". My greeting to everyone who enters.

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"Lots of people have noted that we no longer allow ourselves to become bored. Laying on grass and watching the clouds go by seems to be less common and yet it's another simple way to generate ideas," Napier mentioned. 

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Chris Freeman
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know we hear all of the stories of wasted money and broke lottery winners, but its a little bit of observation bias as well. The people who win the lottery and handle the money well, whether they were well off before or not, aren't as interesting so do not get published. The best winners you never hear about and simply quietly live a better life for them and their family.

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There’s a saying that creativity is like a muscle. If you want to become more innovative, you have to train it right. And as we found out, one way of achieving this goal is by simply doing… nothing. Nancy K. Napier leaves us with one encouraging thought for the next year: "Here's to setting aside 30 minutes a week to let yourself be bored in 2022!"

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Yara Balabanova
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've read that time goes faster when you're older because we no longer experience as many new things as when we're younger. When you're young you still do new things all the time, but when you're in your twenties or thirties you start to get a work/life routine that's mostly the same

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Timmy Pillinger
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not in the UK: Even our national parks are very human landscapes, pocked with abandoned mines and farms. Not to mention the Norfolk broads, a landscape entirely created by peat extraction.

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MyOpinionHasBeenServed
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This always confused me. When the Jets came back to Winnipeg, I don't think any of the players were from Winnipeg, or Canadian at all. All fans are doing is rooting of the idea of the team being in the city.

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Andy Acceber
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Studies have shown that people who are chronically homeless do develop PSTD symptoms from not having regular, safe, full nights of sleep.

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Ayra
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every cat crossing my path is good luck and even better if it lets me pet it.

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eeeeeeeee
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This. Can't watch those kind of movies without thinking of this the whole way through.

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Got Myself 4 Dwarves
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me it's more like putting them on silent, I still get notifications but not out loud. Fibromyalgia is a complete d**k - 9.30am and I'm maxed out on dihydrocodeine already - gonna be a long day

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Mohsie Supposie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What I find even more amazing is that even though Chris Pratt has his headphones on, we can still hear the song playing!

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eeeeeeeee
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Not-in-pain" is a feeling. That feeling of when pain goes away? Perhaps the best feeling in life.

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Ozacoter
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont even remember that feeling anymore :( Although being in less pain is very nice

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Got Myself 4 Dwarves
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd do just about anything to have a pain free day, the best I can hope for is a low level pain day - it's exhausting

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Laugh or not
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Five years and counting of chronic pain. I would kill for an efficient analgesic that didn't leave me loopy and sick after it wears off.

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Mazer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Virtual hugs for anyone snd everyone who lives with intractable pain

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albernistuff 4sale
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One day, about 10 years back, I woke up and went to work. On the walk I noticed no one was acknowledging me, and when I got to the office, I asked a co-worker if they could see me. Naturally assuming I was crazy, they asked what was wrong. I said "I woke up pain free today, and no-one interacted with me on the commute, so I though I might be dead."

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CHRIS DOMRES
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just wait until you are old and have daily chronic pain. The occasional day free of pain is like a taste of heaven. One savors every moment.

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Ozacoter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many chronically ill people is very young. Dont dismiss anybodys pain

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kristina law
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mine would be tooth pain. I have had 4 babies and would choose child birth over a bad toothache

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Scagsy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agreed! Toothache is unbearable at times. I can say that having just had an emergency consult with the dentist yesterday. The pain was so severe that it almost brought me to tears - and I'm a 20-stone 6 foot 2 man. For context, I once broke a bone in my hand and that was a one out of ten pain-wise. The tooth pain was an easy ten. Horrible. Just horrible.

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Amy Stone-Chandler
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have had a constant headache since 1996. Varies in severity..but always there. Super fun.

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tuzdayschild
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suffered migraines over 20 years. I don't get them now so I thank God every day I wake up without one.

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Chancey
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Several years back I developed a headache over my eyes every time I ate that eventually became constant. It lasted night and day for four years. I saw every kind of specialist available with little relief until I finally had two of my upper teeth surgically removed for an unrelated reason. The headache was mostly gone 24 hours later. I sympathize with all who experience headaches because those were the most miserable years of my life.

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Bobbie Meyers
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That'd be nice. I have a headache 24/7. Been that way for years. Doctors don't give a s h i t, so, it is what it is.

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InfectedVoice
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in the 5-10% of the population who have never had a headache, and probably never will but this can apply to anything, if you have a tooth ache you remember how easy it was just living life without a tooth ache.

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AnxietyRiddenMom
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to get terrible migraines when I was younger. I'd always try to go to sleep and when I'd wake up I'd do the whole, "am I still in pain"

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Boards Of Panada
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve had one for 10 years and never imagined it could even happen. :(

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Zalzany Games
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At 37 it reminds me why babbies get pissed off at to much info in one day. I am taking a programing class in college, its 2 hours long hour and a half in my head is splitting going, "too much new complicated stuff at once!" Like I take napes like a baby to let my brain proccess the lessons so damn head ache goes away, and I retain the info. But it reminds me when you expose a babby or toddler to one to many new things and they get cranky, its like I get that now..

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William Swedin
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had a headache constantly for 15 years and have severe fibromyalgia, locking joints, scoliosis and a dozen other medical conditions. I'm never not in pain... Honestly I don't remember what it's like to not have pain all the time.

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D K
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, or being sick in general. I got Covid in early 2021 and would have done ANYTHING to crawl out of my own body, it was miserable. Made me grateful for my health when I recovered. The multiple sclerosis is another story!

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Heather Steinbrink
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I often don't realize how bad a headache was making me feel until the headache is over it

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Victoria Pitt
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a person with a chronic pain disease, I never take any pain free day for granted! But I sure did when I was younger.

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Andy Acceber
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had 18 years of schooling, from preschool through a bachelor's degree. I've never once had a class that taught me where my organs are or very basic anatomy. I had a minor pain today and realized I had no idea what was there in my body. It seems like a very important part of education that was somehow missed.

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SykesDaMan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people let them blink for minutes after they've already turned. The only thing that'd stop the blinking is because they turned the wheel later.

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gridsleep
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unless someone was buried alive, and then that would be a haunt to avoid.

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Mazer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was curious how people living in northern climes got vitamin c, until I learned pine tree needle tea had more vitamin c than an Orange

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Sonnovab Kegeles
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me believe that the author thinks the websites are actually trying to filter out people. Requiring 18+ is a great form of enticement to 14 year old's.

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Sonnovab Kegeles
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's cuz ears mouths and brains don't communicate well with each other, kinda like cia, fbi, and nsa

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Andy Acceber
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to do this math while biking home after my shift working at a bar. I was paid $2/hr plus tips. Some nights, the bar was really slow, and I'd make less than $15 for a full shift. Sometimes I'd see pennies, nickels, or dimes while cycling and calculate if it would be worth it for me to stop, turn around, get off my bike, and pick it up. Some nights, yes. Other nights, no. If I had a good shift, I'd gamble if the coin would still be there the next day and pick it up then. (P.S. Serving minimum wage sucks. If you live somewhere where tipped employees can be paid less than minimum wage, always tip. Tipping is an awful practice, but if you choose to be cheap about it, you're only hurting the worker.)

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