Ever wonder why you get your best ideas in the shower or on a long car trip with everyone asleep in the back seat? Manoush Zomorodi, founder of the ZigZag and Bored and Brilliant podcasts, talks at TED about how your brain solves problems and connects ideas while it’s on autopilot doing routine tasks.

When we are constantly shifting attention, the chemical process that facilitates these changes uses brain nutrients, especially glucose. Nowadays, we switch our attention on average every 45 seconds — and that’s in the workplace, not chasing toddlers. A cautionary tale with obvious links to constant phone-checking and overscheduling kids’ time.

See the whole talk here.