The Science Behind Eureka Moments

Eureka moments may seem unpredictable and unreplicable. But there are ways to coax these inspired ideas from their hiding places. One of the best is to take a break from thinking about a problem or dilemma.

They are linked to the story of Archimedes and the gold crown ( when he realized while taking a bath that he can use displaced water to assess the density of the king's crown and, therefore, its gold content).

“When you’re completely stuck on a problem, setting it aside can lead to new ideas or even flashes of insight.” 

A 2019 study titled “When the Muses Strike” found that many physicists and writers had creative insights while they exercised, showered, gardened, or engaged in other predominantly physical activities which gave them a mental break.

...not distractions. Activities like checking email and watching TV stop our background thinking and do not let the mind wander in places that make for creative insight.

• Creativity is closely related to play, not work, so do not have an agenda.
• Lighten up and let yourself loose, free to roam and explore.
• The mind left to itself starts to work creatively in the background at a subconscious level.