A Go-To Diversion

We've all been there: struggling against some challenge, banging our head against the wall. The ideas aren't coming. Maybe it's a work problem, or even a personal challenge.

I've written elsewhere about the power of the subconscious, randomness, and even napping in helping us crack thorny problems. Today, I wanted to mention the power of productive a diversion. I was struck by what Albert Einstein's son said about how he often used music to break through:

"His mother, an accomplished pianist, gave him a gift that would last throughout his life. She arranged for him to take violin lessons. At first he chafed at the mechanical discipline of the instruction. But after being exposed to Mozart's sonatas, music became both magical and emotional to him. 'I believe love is a better teacher than sense of duty,' he said, 'at least for me'...

"Music was no mere diversion. On the contrary, it helped him think. 'Whenever he felt that he had come to the end of the road or faced a difficult challenge in his work,' said his son Hans Albert, 'he would take refuge in music and that would solve all his difficulties.' The violin thus proved useful during the years he lived alone in Berlin, wrestling with general relativity. 'He would often play his violin in his kitchen late at night, improvising melodies while he pondered complicated problems,' a friend recalled. 'Then, suddenly, in the middle of playing, he would announce excitedly, "I've got it!" As if by inspiration, the answer to the problem would have come to him in the midst of music.'"

From Walter Isaacson's, "Einstein: His Life and Universe." And yes, I'm on a bit of a Walter Isaacson kick these days. Don't judge me.

The forgoing paragraphs made me marvel at how deliberately Einstein employed the violin to help him approach a problem from a fresh direction, and it made me wonder: what's my go-to diversion (does ping pong count?)? And more broadly, what are the characteristics of a productive diversion?

Would love to hear if you have thoughts or experiences or resources to point me towards.

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