3 Ways to Trick Your Brain Into Doing Hard Work

Summary

The speaker discusses their morning routine and the use of a 'distraction journal' for jotting down thoughts that pull them away from reading. They compare creative work to a non-Newtonian fluid, emphasizing the importance of easing into tasks to achieve a 'flow state'. The video offers three strategies to enter this state: starting small, allowing for imperfect work, and working in non-ideal places. The speaker also shares personal experiences with writing a book and producing music to illustrate these concepts.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker starts their day with a reading routine, using a distraction journal to jot down thoughts that pull their attention away from the book.
• ☕ The distraction journal, meant for quick notes, often ends up being used for outlining significant creative work, even unintentionally.
• 🎬 The speaker relates creative work to a non-Newtonian fluid, suggesting that easing into tasks helps to overcome the initial resistance and enter a flow state.
• 📝 The idea of starting small is emphasized as an effective method to begin a task without feeling overwhelmed, which can lead to significant outcomes over time.
• 📈 The speaker's book '10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades' was initially a small project that grew into a full book through consistent daily writing goals.
• 💭 The notion of allowing oneself to create 'garbage' during the initial stages of work is presented as a way to overcome the pressure of perfectionism.
• 🚀 The process of writing the book involved setting a modest daily word count goal, which helped in maintaining momentum and eventually achieving a larger goal.
• 🎼 The concept of working in non-ideal places, like a distraction journal or after a shower, is introduced as a way to trick the brain into being more productive.
• 🎹 The speaker shares personal examples of music production, illustrating how starting with a simple idea and gradually adding layers can lead to a finished piece.
• 🔗 The video ends with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content, subscribe, or explore related content on other platforms.
• 👋 The speaker concludes with a light-hearted reminder of personal autonomy, encouraging viewers to do what they wish without feeling pressured.

Q & A

What is the speaker's favorite part of their morning routine?

The speaker's favorite part of their morning routine is the time spent reading, accompanied by a cup of coffee, a pen for marking, and a distraction journal.

What is the purpose of the distraction journal mentioned in the script?

The distraction journal is used to jot down notes about anything that distracts the speaker while reading, allowing their brain to dismiss the distraction without worrying about forgetting it.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between their distraction journal and their creative work?

The speaker finds that their distraction journal, meant for quick notes, often ends up being used for outlining significant and creative work, even unintentionally.

What is the analogy used by the speaker to describe the nature of creative work?

The speaker compares creative work to a non-Newtonian fluid, which acts like a liquid under gentle conditions but becomes rigid when struck quickly, illustrating the need to ease into creative tasks.

What is the concept of 'flow state' as mentioned in the script?

The 'flow state' is a psychological concept where one is completely focused on their work, finding it enjoyable and losing track of time, which is a state the speaker aims to achieve through their tactics.

What are the three tactics the speaker suggests to help get into the flow state?

The three tactics are: 1) Start incredibly small with daily goals, 2) Assume that you are creating garbage initially, allowing for a less pressuring creative process, and 3) Jot things down in non-ideal places to trick your brain into working.

Why did the speaker's first attempt to write a book fail?

The speaker's first attempt to write a book failed because they intimidated themselves with a grand gesture of attending a conference called 'Finish Up Weekend', which did not result in any progress.

How did the speaker's approach change for their successful book writing?

The speaker started with a smaller goal of writing a 5,000-word PDF, created an outline, and used a habit-tracking app to set a daily goal of writing 500 words, which they consistently achieved.

What is the significance of writing 500 words per day according to the speaker's experience?

Writing 500 words per day allowed the speaker to maintain consistency, which eventually led to the completion of a 27,000-word book, demonstrating the power of small, daily efforts.

How does the speaker use the concept of creating garbage in their writing process?

The speaker allows themselves to write 500 words without the pressure of perfection, knowing that not all of it will make it into the final work, which helps to build momentum and overcome writer's block.

What is the rationale behind jotting things down in non-ideal places according to the speaker?

Jotting things down in non-ideal places can help to reduce the intimidation of the task and the environment, potentially leading to more work being done than initially intended due to the ease of entry into the flow state.