The Brain as a CPU with a Finite Set of Registers

To maximise problem solving efficiency, upload the minimal set of information into brain CPU for any given problem.

An Endogenous Cause of Stress

We schedule time to do a task. The task is conceptually simple (a computer based task involving creating a diagram or presentation). The task fits into a list of other tasks that have to be accomplished on the same day. However, we allocate too little time to the task and it takes longer than we expect. Instead of 1 hour it takes 2 hours (twice as long) and still it's not finished. We start to feel stressed. We realise our original plan as to how we would do the task is tougher than we thought, we cannot use the tools we thought we could use and there is a learning curve for the new tools. The key stressor here: we did not expect to have to learn new skills to accomplish what we thought was simple. Instead of feeling excited and motivated by the opportunity to learn new stuff, we sink into the quicksand of obligated learning, or more accurately, obligated learning under time constraints. The key thing is to embrace the learning opportunity as an exhilirating new experience. Accept it will take extra time to accomplish and allocate that time. After the process you will have learned something new. Acceptance is the best strategy, postpone other tasks and focus on the present one. If it must be done, it must be done. Don't fight the necessity to learn, accept and allocate time. Else you will be stressed, in a rush and won't make good progress. Take a few deep breaths and remind yourself: "Acceptance".

Rhythm

Needed to motivate repetitive thought processes, software tasks and repetitive physical exercises.

Practising Mind Zoom

Being able to zoom into minutest details and zoom out to the big picture in an instant is an awesome skill. Such a skill is needed to understand complex spreadsheets quickly, both from super-broad high-level perspective to super-precise low-level perspective. Practising mind zoom is more efficient than doing a full context shift to move between high and low level components. A problem many high-level executives might have is they are able to zoom out quite well, but then they "zoom-in and zone-out" and fail to follow the intricate low-level detail precisely. You should be able to zoom-in and zoom-out in less than half a second and not end up in "mind-fog" at the first sign of zoom-in. Mind zoom is defined formally as the ability to zoom in and out of a complex problem instantaneously, fully harnessing the "telescope" of the mind.

Quantitative Subjects

Quantitative subjects take time to understand and internalise. They also require sufficient practise to ensure competence. Once intuition is obtained, they are relatively easy, but the initial learning phase requires many hours of patience, calm mind and hard work. Practising mathematics is like practising tai chi, it requires stability of mind and union of mind and body in order to be effective. The same principles apply to understanding a complex Excel formula, connect mind and body through the breath and even infinite length formulas crumble like sand castles.