Tue, 29 Jul 2008

Time to Think

As you know, I have been thinking about thinking. I have given some thought to tools to help you capture, organize and express your thoughts. Today, I read an article from the BBC regarding "No Time to Think". It raises some points that I have considered for some time. First, is making some time to actually think. The article is against lunching al desko (at your desk). I am too. I find that if I eat at my desk, the day seems longer and things seem more chaotic. I need a bit of time to get away and decompress. I use this time to think about things -- maybe even things at work -- but I get away.

The article mentions choosing your location to think. Have you ever noticed that a majority of really good ideas don't come to you at work? They come when your in the shower, on the road, in the bathroom, . . . In other words, in places where you mind is free to think.

One really interesting point is giving yourself less to think about. That is, turning off the source of input with which we are constantly bombarded. It's the reason that cell phones, televisions, computers, radios have off switches. Use them to limit the amount of input that your brain has to process in order to let it work out something that is already there.

The last point is also a good one. You have to want to think. Thinking is what we do that differientiates us from other animals. You have to give yourself time when you are thinking and doing little else. For examle, walk with the intention of thinking about something or go to the gym or garden or something which is not related to thinking itself, but gives you the time to think.

I think, I'll stop now and take my own advise.

posted 11:15 [/Thinking] permanent link