How I'm solving problems faster at Amazon

Hey there! I’m Raika, a Senior UX and Conversation Designer at Amazon. If you’re new here, welcome! You can subscribe to my Secrets to Great UX Design newsletter for actionable ways to create great experiences, grow your career and more… for designers and non-designers.

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Have you ever solved a complex problem while doing something completely unrelated?

Often the breakthrough you're desperately seeking is waiting for you away from your desk.

Back at the beginning of my career my co-worker (we’ll call him Henry) came to me feeling guilty.

Henry’s teammate hadn’t left the conference room for hours on end, tirelessly trying to find a solution to the problem they had to solve for a client. Henry, on the other hand, took a break to get lunch and walk along the Chicago riverwalk. And the solution simply came to him as he stepped away.

Sometimes it’s stepping away that gets us to the solution faster—not giving into the desire to obsess and overthink.

I call it unconscious problem-solving.

Meditation has been my favorite way lately to step away and solve that problem faster as I work to solve big, complex problems at Amazon. Whether that’s guided meditations or breath work, I’ve found it to be the best way to re-center and gain mental clarity.

I get that it’s tempting to dismiss meditation as trivial. But mindlessly scrolling as a break is like junk food for your brain—it might feel good in the moment, but it doesn't nourish your mind or spark creativity. Meditation, on the other hand, clears the mental clutter and creates space for those 'aha' moments to surface.

See what meditating for 5, 10 or 15 minutes can do.

You’re not too busy.

I bet you’ll quickly see a dramatic boost to your well-being, reduced anxiety, and sharpened focus, all helping you solve problems not just faster but better.

Ideas will come to me both during and following the meditation.

These are three of my favorite ways to go about it. Pick one and give it a try:

1. Gratitude Guided Meditation

This one is a bit long but a favorite of mine. I’m big on gratitude, especially when I’m feeling stressed. While I perform well under pressure, I’m a big believer that pressure isn’t what’s creating a good outcome. Dispenza has some great meditations and I really enjoy this one for a mindset of abundance and gratitude.

2. Forest bathing

Getting outside and moving is so helpful for me to have “fresh eyes”. Ideally, I’m in in a forest or garden, but I’ll do this one wherever I am. I turn off my devices and to get out of my head I engage each of my senses. Moving slowly, a shift from my normal pace offers me another mental shift and helps me be more present. This ancient Japanese relaxation technique is simple but powerful.

3. Breathing Exercises

Breathwork is another great way to get back into the present. I love doing this one with Huberman and Rick Rubin for a quick, 5-minute coherence breathing exercise to up my HRV. It’s a 5.5-second inhale followed by a 5.5-second exhale using your nose. Another great way to change your state and mix things up.

Brilliant things happen in calm minds. Be calm. And remember, you're brilliant.

Find the style that works best for you. Have a guided meditation that you love? Reply to this email or share it in the comments :)

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Favorite Quote and Photo of the Week

"The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom." — James Allen

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That’s it for today. Thanks for reading! Have a topic you want me to cover? Reply to this email, I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time,
raika