Episode 42: Thinking Time: Your New Secret Weapon
On this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark discuss the idea of making time and space for thinking, planning, and reflection, as inspired by the book “The Road Less Stupid” by Keith Cunningham. What if you were to spend the same amount of time thinking as you do mindlessly scrolling through social media? You may be surprised by how much clarity you can gain from setting aside this intentional thinking time, even if it is only 15 minutes a day. In his book, Cunningham outlines the 5 core disciplines of thinking time.
5 core disciplines of thinking time
1. Find the unasked question
Ask yourself better and better questions until you nail down the core problem.
2. Separate the problem from the symptom
Don’t stop at just diagnosing the symptom; there is always a root issue that needs to be uncovered and addressed.
3. Check your assumptions
Don’t rely on your feelings or perceptions about how things are going; rely on facts and try to be objective.
4. Consider second-order consequences
Think about the long-term implications and the potential domino effects of your actions.
5. Create the machine
Design the process, execute, and surround yourself with adequate resources.
Also within the book, Cunningham offers self-reflection questions for further discovery.
Thinking time preparation tips
1. Have a dedicated space for thinking
2. Have materials that help you think (music, pencil and paper, etc.)
3. Set a timer during your thinking time
4. Schedule thinking time and stick to it
Action Item: Block off 2 hours of dedicated thinking time for next week.
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