 Scientists have all kinds of evidence-based advice that may seem out of left field, but this one's quite effective. If you have a major decision to make or a problem to solve, research from the University of Virginia finds that doing an activity like taking a shower or going for a walk helps your mind relax. And the reason it works is because when you focus on problem solving, you're focusing on what you think is relevant about the problem and what you think is important, but sometimes you're wrong. When your mind is wandering, it's usually random.