Idealists believe, and the world agrees, that there is no substitute for hard work. However, like always, it seems that science has an alternative. It may be intriguing for you to know that the most complex solutions were realized not when our great scientists were going berserk over the problem but when they were relaxing. Ideas were realized when they were not even thinking about it. They came out when these great people were struck by a phenomenon called Incubation

Albert Einstein described the process of incubation that led to his special theory of relativity, as follows: "Hard, indeed? It took me 10 years to get from my first questions about light, to my nervous conflicts. Then one day, it came to me suddenly. It was a beautiful day and my friend Besso and I were walking out. I was doing the most of the talking. I told him that I had been struggling with the question and needed his help but as I started speaking, the answer came to me. I stopped in mid sentence and ran home. The next morning I met him again. Thank you, I said, I have solved the problem completely.”

Many a times it happens that during your leisure time, you conceive the solution of a problem, which had been bothering you for a prolonged period. In addition, when that happens you get extremely fired-up and energized, as you immediately know, "That's it." This is the mysterious process of incubation.

Incubation can be described as a process in which you 'consciously' work on a challenge often for a long period, and then completely set it aside. In this way your 'unconscious' mind gets the opportunity to recombine thoughts and deliver the solution.

The Greek Mathematician Archimedes was pondering over a tough problem proposed to him by the King of Syracuse: How to confirm if the laurel crown of the King is made from pure gold? When Archimedes decided to take a bath to relax, he conceived the solution to his challenge-'Objects of different density displace different volumes of water.'

Similarly, Friedrich Stradonitz conceived his breakthrough solution of the ring structure of Benzene when dreaming of a snake biting its tail.

All these breakthrough moments occurred when three people were taking some time off from working on their problem

Do you currently face a tough and important problem? If yes, then activate the process of incubation by following these steps-
1) As Thomas Jefferson puts it-"The more I do, the luckier I get." Deeply explore the
Problem over a period.
2) Try collecting possible solutions to your challenge and keep adding more.
3) Once you feel that you won't get any closer to the solution-Stop. Be courageous enough to let go of the problem completely. Believe that the solution will appear.
4) After you have completely forgotten about your challenge, if you are lucky, the breakthrough solution might appear 'out of the blue.'

Once this happens, you will feel as if you have been struck by a bolt of bright energy. Archimedes got so excited by his discovery that he even forgot to dress. He ran naked into the street shouting "EUREKA!" (I have found it!) So people break free and take off your thinking caps because incubation will make sure that you solve your problems the easier way. Whenever in a problemrest more and work less!