The funny thing is, sitting alone thinking doesn’t “look” like work. Even more so if it’s away from your computer. However, my own process for brainstorming and ideating often looks like this:

Load my brain with all the context of a problem.

Step away from the computer and go live — do the dishes, go for a run, vacuum the carpet.

Once potential solutions distill in my mind, go back to my desk and write them down or sketch them out.

Prepare a presentation, demo, or prototype to convey my idea to others and gather their feedback.

Rinse & repeat.

I recently had a conversation with a long-time colleague, someone I know and respect. I found it interesting that even he, who has worked in software since the 90’s, still felt odd when he wasn’t at his computer “working”. After decades of experience, he knew and understood that the most meaningful conceptual progress he made on problems was always away from his computer: on a run, in the shower, laying in bed at night. That’s where the insight came. And yet, even after all these years, he still felt a strange obligation to be at his computer because that’s too often our the metal image of “working”.