If you’re an engineer working on a problem and you’re stumped by your technical problem, chugging caffeine at your desk and chaining yourself to your computer, you’re going to be really frustrated. You’re going to waste lots of time. You may look productive, but you’re actually wasting time. Instead, at that moment, you should go for a walk. You should play some ping-pong. You should find a way to relax.

— Dear TG: Today’s show with Jonah Lehrer explains why we should have a ping-pong table in the Fresh Air office. (Pretty please?)

This is so very true, even if you’re not an engineer. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve spent a frustrating day at work, hacking through a particularly tedious problem, only to leave work and discover the solution to that problem while pulling weeds in the garden. Sometimes, the best thing you can do in that state is to take a break and do something fun and relaxing. That’s usually when those “Ah-ha!” moments happen.

[via Wil Wheaton]

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