Leading Like a CEO – How to Run Your Practice Without Running Yourself Into the Ground

Embracing the Zone: How Letting Go Unlocks Your Brain’s Eureka Moments

Wait… Why Do My Best Ideas Happen in the Shower?

Ever had a moment of pure genius hit while you’re shampooing your hair? Like, you’re just going through the motions—lather, rinse, maybe repeat if you’re fancy—and BOOM. Insight.

Turns out, there’s actual science behind this. Our best ideas don’t come when we’re forcing them. They show up when we let go.

Why Zoning Out = Big Brain Energy

Contrary to popular belief, creativity and problem-solving don’t happen when we’re hyper-focused. They happen when our brains are in a low-frequency state—aka zoning the hell out. Showers, walks, mindless chores… these are the breeding grounds for insights because our brains are just chillin’, quietly shuffling ideas around in the background.

This is why forcing solutions doesn’t work—your brain needs room to breathe.

The Case for Mental Downtime

Same logic applies to meditation, long drives, staring out the window like some philosophical main character—these moments of “nothingness” actually give your brain the space it needs to connect the dots.

And yet, we’re out here treating productivity like a contest—packing every second with tasks, meetings, and more thinking. But real talk? Productivity isn’t just about managing time. It’s about managing energy—and your brain’s energy works best when it gets a break.

Energy Management > Time Management

Instead of obsessing over squeezing the most out of every minute, start thinking about where your energy is actually going. Are you burning out from constant task-switching? Or are you building in space for those golden moments of insight?

Because let’s be honest—when was the last time you forced yourself to have a great idea? Yeah. Exactly.

Let Your Brain Breathe

So next time you catch yourself zoning out, don’t fight it. Lean into it. Give yourself permission to step back, shut off, and let your brain do its thing. You might just come back with your next big idea.

About the Author

Dr. Tara Vossenkemper is a gently-candid consultant who’s been in the trenches of group practice ownership since 2017. With a hearty blend of depth, irreverence, and a solid dash of humor (or so she hopes), Tara helps practice owners navigate the can-be-messy process of hiring, culture-building, vision generating, people-y issues, and all the other things that keep you up at night. When she’s not consulting, she’s probably wrangling her animals or homeschooling her kids—because why not add more chaos to the mix?

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