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I Fixed a Bug By Doing Nothing.

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Yes, literally nothing.

No refactoring. No googling. No rubber duck.

Just closing the laptop, walking away, and doing… anything else.

And when I came back?

The solution appeared in seconds.

This wasn’t a fluke. It happens all the time — and now I intentionally do nothing to fix bugs faster.

Here’s the science, the logic, and how you can use this weird trick to become a more productive developer.


The Bug That Broke My Brain 🧠

I was stuck on a stubborn async bug in a React component. The data wasn’t loading right, the UI was glitching, and I’d tried:

  • Logging every variable
  • Rewriting the component
  • Swearing at my monitor

After an hour of getting nowhere, I gave up. I closed the laptop and took a walk.

When I came back 15 minutes later, I opened the file and immediately saw the issue:

useEffect(() => { fetchData(); }, []); // <-- forgot to include the dependency! 
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

A simple mistake I couldn’t see because my brain was too busy trying.


The Weird Truth: Doing Nothing Is Productive 🧠✨

Here’s why this works:

🧩 1. Your Brain Has Two Modes

Psychologist Barbara Oakley describes it like this:

  • Focused Mode: What we use when actively coding or debugging
  • Diffuse Mode: What kicks in when we're relaxed, daydreaming, or walking

When you do nothing, your brain switches to diffuse mode, which connects ideas, surfaces memory, and solves problems in the background.

💤 2. Stress Blocks Insight

When you’re stuck and panicked, your brain locks in on the wrong assumptions. Walking away helps reset your thinking.

🌀 3. Sleep, Showers, and Walks Are Superpowers

Ever solved a bug in the shower? That’s your brain working without you.


What I Do Now (To Debug Better) 🔄

When I hit a wall, here’s what I intentionally do:

⏸️ Step 1: Stop the Grind

If I’ve been stuck for 20+ minutes, I stop. Close the laptop. No doom-scrolling.

🚶 Step 2: Do Something Physical

Take a walk. Stretch. Wash dishes. Let your brain relax while your body moves.

📝 Step 3: Return With a Fresh Mind

I often see the problem within 1–2 minutes of returning. Not kidding.

📓 Bonus: Keep a "Stuck List"

Write down problems before stepping away. When you return, your mind is primed to solve them.


Does This Always Work? 🤷‍♂️

No. Sometimes you really do need to:

  • Ask a colleague
  • Google the error
  • Rethink your logic

But if you’ve been grinding for an hour with no progress?

There’s a good chance the fastest path forward is: step away.


Final Thoughts 🧘‍♂️

Modern dev culture glorifies “grinding” and “pushing through.” But some of the best developers I know aren’t the ones who work the longest — they’re the ones who know when to pause.

Next time you’re stuck on a bug, try this:

Do nothing.
Walk away.
Let your brain work behind the scenes.

You might be surprised how quickly the solution shows up.


Have you ever solved a bug after you stopped thinking about it? I’d love to hear your story in the comments 👇


❤️ Found this helpful? Give it a like or share it with a dev who needs a break.


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