Source of wisdom on how to improve the ratio of time feeling fulfilled to time feeling frustrated in research? - MathOverflow

Source of wisdom on how to improve the ratio of time feeling fulfilled to time feeling frustrated in research?

2010-05-23T05:13:06Z

I thought I remembered reading something along the lines of the following advice in Littlewood’s Miscellany, but it doesn't appear to be there.

Researchers spend the vast majority of their time feeling frustrated. To improve the ratio of time feeling fulfilled to time feeling frustrated, whenever you find a new result or succeed in completing a proof, take the time to enjoy it, preferably by taking a long walk. Definitely don’t dive into the next problem, or go back and check the proof. There is plenty of time for that later.

I'm offering a chocolate bar to the person who can supply me with the true source.

Answer by Greg Kuperberg for Source of wisdom on how to improve the ratio of time feeling fulfilled to time feeling frustrated in research?

2010-05-23T19:07:43Z

I may have spent enough time feeling frustrated that I can't find anything that resembles this quote in Google Books. :-) The closest that I came was a quote from Halmos in the book "Paul Halmos celebrating 50 years of mathematics". Halmos explained that he started walking a lot on his doctor's advice, as an alternative to hypochondria. This wasn't about walking in relation to research.

Are you sure that it wasn't e-mail?

Answer by Tom Ellis for Source of wisdom on how to improve the ratio of time feeling fulfilled to time feeling frustrated in research?

2010-06-06T22:01:51Z

I remember Alain Connes writing about working on problems whilst walking, but I can't remember where I read it and I don't think it had anything to do with enjoying fulfillment.