Key takeaways
- Switching costs are real. For digital workers, it takes 25 minutes to switch back to a task after being distracted. Our brains aren't good at multitasking. The more we switch back and forth between tasks, more mental resources are spent and wasted.
- Consistent focus is unsustainable. Forcing yourself to do deep work and hyper focus induces stress and frustration. Instead, go between hyper focus and unfocused work to optimize productivity and creativity.
- Daydreaming is a good thing. Specifically, positive constructive daydreaming is when you let your mind wander as you do activities that aren't mentally stressful. These could be walking, gardening, or whatever activity fits you. This promotes the 'default mode network' of your brain which helps with creativity and better decision making.
Personalities in the episode
Gloria Mark, Ph.D.
Summary
The episode discusses the research on focus at work and how to optimize productivity. Some ideas are well-known like blocking off time for deep work, but others are less intuitive like daydreaming and introducing unfocused time at work.
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