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The limits of the thinking mind
Welcome to The Productivity Blueprint newsletter 🗞️
Last week we dove into the topic of a “growth mindset” and if it actually works. If you missed, you can catch up here 🙂
Today, we will look at cognitive bottlenecks, what they are, and possible ways you can overcome them!
“Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed”
Cognitive bottlenecks are factors that limit the human mind, which prevents you from processing information and performing tasks to maximum efficiency. We often recognize our physical limitations, such as not being able to see in the dark, but we frequently overestimate our cognitive abilities. This includes the ability to balance different streams of information at once. You may notice how you tend to fix this issue by learning how to multitask. However, multitasking is also limited to cognitive bottlenecks. Let’s take a look at the two main types bottlenecks:
Attention: you may find it difficult to organize your attention between tasks
Working memory: you are only able to process multiple pieces of information for a short period of time
Despite these restrictions, there are ways you can combat bottlenecks:
Offload thinking: Use external tools like note-taking and mental models to organize information and make decisions. Maintaining a "mind garden" or engaging with others in a community can provide additional perspectives and insights.
Planning focused work: Practice timeboxing and eliminate distractions such as phones to create a focused environment.
Practicing mindful productivity: Rather than getting frustrated by distractions, gently redirect your attention to the task at hand. Take breaks as needed to refresh your mind and establish reflective practices like journaling or weekly reviews.
TL/DR: Cognitive bottlenecks limit your ability to multitask. However, there are many ways you can apply to improve your mental limitations such as using offload thinking strategies, blocking your schedule, and practice mindful productivity.
 Manage your time management by having a to-do list and limiting your screen-time to motivate productivity! What we love: The app allows a mini tree to grow when you are away from your phone, but if you cannot resist the temptation of exiting the app and checking your socials, you end up killing the tree! |  Categorize tasks as productive/unproductive and you monitor how much time you spend on each. The app then gives you a summary of your time so you are able to adjust your schedule to prioritize certain topics. What we love: Get full reports detailed reports that show you how much time you're spending on each task and project. |
đź’ˇ Challenge of the week
This week to combat cognitive bottlenecks, challenge yourself to focus on mono-tasking rather than multitasking. Block out distractions, set clear tasks, and notice how it affects your productivity and mental clarity.
That’s all for this newsletter! We hope you enjoyed learning more about cognitive bottlenecks and how to combat them.
Until next week,
The Productivity Blueprint Team
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