Ask HN: How do I think more holistically?

1 points by jsmcgd 15y ago ↗ HN

I have noticed a trend: when I am developing and I find a solution to a difficult problem it is normally because in some way I have regained sight of the bigger picture. For example, I might see any easy way to sidestep the issue all together or I might gain an understanding of how seemingly disparate objects influence each other. To make matters worse, the more difficult a problem gets, the narrower and more intense my focus seems to come which blinds me even more to the bigger picture.

Does anyone experience this? Does anyone have a solution that works for them? Is "sightedness" just an attribute of inherent intelligence that I have no real control over?

1 comment

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rcfox 15y ago ↗

Try doing something else and letting your subconscious do some work. I try to have three or four tasks at once so that if I run into a problem, I can switch to a different task. Once I come back to the first task, something will usually click and let me continue.