This is a linkpost for http://squirrelinhell.blogspot.com/2016/09/neutralizing-physical-annoyances.html
I disagree. Sure, research shows that memory formation is improved when you relax. If I want to remember a specific fact though, it helps me to mentally search for contextual clues around where I learned the fact.
Maybe I'm doing it wrong though - any research or convincing anecdotes on this?
All I've got is personal experience. Sometimes relaxing is speeding up the process of "When I stopped thinking about it, it popped into my mind".
I search for contextual clues, and sometimes it works. However, if I'm stuck on some idea about what the right answer is, but that isn't working, relaxing can help.
I have moved this post to my blog: http://squirrelinhell.blogspot.com/2016/09/neutralizing-physical-annoyances.html