Thinking About Thinking (pt 1)
Estimated reading ⌛️ time - 11 minutes

Hello Reframers!

I often think about how much noise and distraction exist in today’s world, and I can’t help but think about the damage this does to our attention, focus, and mental clarity. If you’re tired of being unproductive or want to address brain fog, keep on reading!

The infinite dopamine rush that is scrolling through funny videos and raccoon memes on IG (I’ve never had TikTok, but I hear/know it’s more addicting) led me to explore how to take the power back (timeless) and regain control over my attention, focus, and learning.

As someone who was formally diagnosed with ADHD and formerly took Adderall to get work done - using some of the below principles and concepts, I have been able to find natural and proven ways to increase my focus and ability to think clearly, and learn more efficiently and effectively. (This does not constitute medical advice - just things that have worked well for me!)

Keep on reading Reframers, or as my cousin thinks we should refer to ourselves… Reframies. The logic here is that Taylor Swift fans are called Swifties and not Swifters and it’s hard to argue such sound logic.

The Inspiration

I recently listened to a podcast by Shane Parrish, The Knowledge Project, where he provides insightful clips from 5 of the top minds on learning, thinking, and focus. This episode provided such insightful takeaways that I wanted to deep-dive into some of the concepts and introduce other themes and ideas from the guests.

In addition to some of the major concepts from the podcast, I have incorporated other findings from my readings and research. Each section will start with the main takeaways from the podcast and be supplemented with or supported by my additional findings and research.

Since this is a lot of material - I’m only covering the first three contributors listed below and will continue part 2 next week!

First, let me give you some background on the guests…

Daniel Kahneman - renowned psychologist and Nobel laureate, best known for his work in behavioral economics, exploring how psychological factors affect economic decision-making.

Barbara Oakley - engineering professor and author, widely recognized for her contributions to the field of learning and for her online courses and books on learning effectively.

Adam Robinson - author, educator, and co-founder of The Princeton Review (and wicked good at chess), known for his expertise in test preparation and insights into the human mind and decision-making.

Tyler Cowen - an economist, academic, and writer. Cowen is a professor at George Mason University known for his blog Marginal Revolution, which focuses on economics, technology, and culture.

Adam Grant - renowned organizational psychologist, author, and professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, known for his research on workplace dynamics, leadership, and the psychology of success.

Let’s Jump In

Daniel Kahneman: The Architecture of Clear Thought

Crafting Thoughtful Spaces 

Kahneman’s research suggests that we might need to step into environments that inherently foster concentration to think clearly. For some, that might be amidst the gentle hum of a café rather than the silence of a library.

For example, I am sitting in my gym’s cafe, overhearing two middle-aged women discussing their jealous husbands and location tracking.

Para mi, overhearing Sunday gossip amidst the background of strawberries, bananas, and whey protein whirring together to become smoothies in the background is just the energy I need to focus on this newsletter. It just works for me.

If I’m working from home, I enjoy listening to a podcast in the background, so I’m constantly learning/hearing new things, and I feel like other people are in the room with me (sad, I know). For intense, deep-focus work, I listen to instrumental house music or classical piano music to help me get into a flow state. (I’m listening to a YouTube French House Mix as I type this 🔥)

These are just a few things I do to learn and work more effectively - aligned with Kahneman’s suggestions.

Do you need complete peace and quiet to do your best work? Try a library, your home office, or book a meeting room at your company’s office for a few hours. You may find that your focus style changes depending on the work you are doing.

A Book Plug (of Course)

Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking, Fast and Slow" is a seminal work exploring the dichotomy between two modes of thought: "fast" intuitive, emotional thinking (System 1) and "slow" more logical, deliberate thinking (System 2).

Here are some key 🔑 takeaways from the book that I found practical, interesting, or just plain cool.

System 1 Example

How many animals did Moses take on the ark?

(Answer revealed further down the newsletter)

My main takeaway is that sometimes, your intuition could lie to you. Step back to ensure your “gut feeling” isn't leading you astray and “reframe” your thinking.

Barbara Oakley: The Learning Dance

Two Modes of Thinking: Diffused vs Focused Thinking

Oakley explains that two primary modes of thinking contribute to learning: focused and diffused.

The main takeaway is that one is not better than the other, but alternating between them can enhance the learning process.

Check out Barbara’s Ted Talk on Learning how to Learn

3 Takeaways: Learning How to Learn About Learning

Overcoming Procrastination Oakley discusses how procrastination is often linked to our brain's natural response to potential discomfort or pain. Overcoming this starts with understanding that initial discomfort with something challenging and finding strategies to push past it.

The Pomodoro Technique 🍅 Francesco Cirillo founded this technique at University (as the Europeans say), which involves 25 minutes of focused work followed by a short break.

This typically follows an undistracted 25 min work bout followed by 5-10 min of rest. I like 45 min - 1 hour of work followed by 10 min of rest, but that is more of a technique I learned from a book called “Deep Work” by Cal Newport, who recommends 90 min - 120 min of intentional, focused work with 2-3 Deep Work blocks per day.

(Update: I now exclusively use the Pomodoro technique for doing work. Especially when I’m not motivated)

FYI: Pomodoro is Italian for tomato. Named after the tomato-looking kitchen timer used by Francesco Cirillo, who founded this technique

Try out this free online Pomodoro timer. This is the one that I use! (Nothing fancy)

Exercise and Learning Oakley emphasizes the integration of exercise with learning to enhance cognitive function and learning efficiency.

I couldn’t write a focus and attention newsletter without mentioning exercise.

She advocates for active breaks during study sessions, such as walking or stretching, to stimulate focused and diffused thinking modes.

Regular aerobic exercise boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), another Andrew Huberman special, aiding in neuron growth and memory. Hit that zone 2 people, you may be smarter for it! I’m typing this while walking on my under-desk treadmill.

Integrating physical activity into your daily learning routine can energize the brain, facilitate creative connections, and improve overall learning effectiveness.

Oakley’s emphasis on the balance between focused and diffused thinking, along with practical techniques like the Pomodoro method, offers useful takeaways that are easy to implement daily.

Adam Robinson: The Intuition of Insights

Robinson reminds us that our most profound insights often defy logic and come from a place beyond conscious thought.

Surprise as a Beacon 
When the world defies our expectations, it's not the world that's off-kilter—our understanding of it might be wrong. Robinson encourages us to explore the illogical, which may lead us to our most significant breakthroughs.

Adam Robinson on Learning and Thinking

The Nature of Thinking

Robinson emphasizes that thinking is more about asking relentless questions than following a strict logical path. (If you’ve ever spent time around a 3-year-old, they are constantly learning and utterly relentless with their “why?” questions. But, you have to admit they learn a lot by doing so.)

He suggests that our most significant insights often come spontaneously and unexpectedly and seem illogical initially.

Adam Robinson's insights shed light on the more nuanced aspects of thinking and learning. He suggests that true understanding often emerges from synthesizing structured, logical thought and our unconscious mind's more fluid, intuitive insights.

His emphasis on rehearsal as a learning technique underscores the need for active, practical engagement with material rather than passive review or memorization. His ideas offer a unique perspective on better approaching learning and thinking in all aspects of life.

Hopefully, you can carry some of these new insights and takeaways into your next week (preferably indefinitely, but one step at a time 😉)

Stay tuned for part two next week!

-Chief Reframer (for now) and CTO (Chief Thinking Officer) 🙂 

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