Take a break to solve a problem…

​Douglas Silas,
Specialist SEN Solicitor
22nd November 2021

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You have to remind yourself to take a break sometimes, if you want to solve a problem properly.

In order to solve a problem, you often need to be not actively be thinking about it in the first place. If you do this, your brain will then suddenly (almost miraculously) and unconsciously solve the problem for you without you asking! Some people call this background thinking because your thinking takes place in the background, rather than in the foreground. 

Also, the more you think about a solution to a problem, the more the solution will usually run away from you. The irony of this is that the less then you think about a solution, the more likely you are to come up with a solution to the problem! 

The trick is to also do something quickly, because the more time you spend on something, the more difficult it is going to be to come up with a quick and simple solution. Remember, simplicity is the key as the more complex your problem, the simpler the answer is. 

The key to doing this successfully is also to either be doing something different, or actually be somewhere different. It is not just about a different way of being mentally, it is also about a different way of being physically. For example, many people do their best thinking when they are in the shower, sitting in the garden or on the sofa, or just taking a walk or going to the park.  

Unfortunately, you often feel chained to your desk or workplace and can be reluctant to leave it, because it feels as though you will then not be doing your work. But you actually get your best ideas about work when you are not at your desk or in your normal workplace. Even just getting up from your desk and going to the bathroom, or going for a coffee break, sometimes helps you to solve a problem that you were trying so hard to solve at your desk. 

The funny thing is that also, if you are sitting at a desk in front of a computer, you will often get distracted by so many things that you can do, so you then often find it hard to do the one thing that you are supposed to  do!  In this example, you may wish to take your phone, tablet, or laptop, and go and sit in the garden or on the sofa. 

There is an irony here, as many people trying to solve a complex problem, often feel that they need to get away for a weekend or even a holiday, just to think about it properly and solve it, but they then often think of the solution to the problem quite easily on their way to their destination, so that they have already solved their problem by the time that they get there!

There is also another irony here because you often need to think of solutions to problems when you are under time pressures and then, paradoxically, will feel guilty and not feel that you have the time to take a break, because you will then not be spending time focusing on that problem. Yet, it is actually taking that break that will help you solve the problem in much less time. So you need to let yourself have that break, even if you feel that you cannot spare that time, as you need to think of that time as a necessary part of the work you have to do to come up with a solution to the problem.

So, this week, try taking a break when you are getting stuck on a problem and looking for a solution. You will be amazed at how doing this so often helps you to then more easily come up with a solution to that problem, as I have described above.

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In terms of news, here are the articles that I found of interest this week:

Ofsted inspections for all England's schools and colleges
Plan to speed up Ofsted inspections of schools in England sparks fury
School uniform costs: 'It amazes me how much I spend on my children'

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​Again, aside from clicking on the relevant links for more information, I would also remind you of the very useful resources and information provided on the following websites:
 
- IPSEA
- Council for Disabled Children
- Special Needs Jungle

I would also highlight again the magazines: SEN Magazine and Autism Eye which are both very helpful to any parents or professionals involved with children/young people with SEN.
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Keep safe until next week.

With best wishes
 
Douglas

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