We all have different ways of processing our thoughts. My wife thinks by talking; whenever she needs clarity, she starts a conversation with me or whoever’s nearby. It’s her version of the programmer’s “rubber duck debugging” method.

In contrast, many personal knowledge management experts insist the best thinking happens through writing. Their standard advice: “To think clearly, write it down.”

My mind works differently from both approaches. I’m not effective at thinking while speaking. When I try, my speech becomes awkward, filled with hesitations and lacking structure.

My process is sequential: first I think, then I speak. I need to mentally prepare what I’m going to say. Only then can I express myself with clarity and organization.

With writing, something similar occurs. Before writing any text, I construct it completely in my mind. I review ideas, identify inconsistencies, and refine the structure. When I finally write, the text is already essentially finished in my head.

I don’t think while writing; the thinking has already happened. My mental clarity doesn’t emerge from the act of speaking or writing, but from the time I dedicate to processing ideas internally.

This doesn’t mean my wife thinks better by talking or that experts think better by writing. I simply recognize that my best thinking happens in silence, within my mind, before any external expression.

An Inipi ritual is a traditional cleansing ceremony originally from the Lakota Indians of North America. The name “Inipi” means “to receive life again” and refers to the main goal of this ceremony: cleansing the body, mind, and soul. In the Netherlands, this ritual is also known as the sweat lodge ceremony. Although this specific form comes from the Lakota, similar rituals with hot stones have existed for thousands of years worldwide— from the Finnish sauna to ancient Irish sweat lodges, remains of which have been found by archaeologists dating back more than 10,000 years.

The ceremony takes place in a low, dome-shaped hut built of willow branches and covered with blankets. In the center of the hut, a pit is dug where glowing hot stones are placed, brought in from a ceremonial fire outside. When participants sit in the dark hut, water is poured over the hot stones, creating intense steam and heat. The ritual usually consists of four rounds, each with its own theme, such as welcome, connection, prayer, or thanksgiving. During these rounds, people sing, pray, or sit in silence.

The Inipi ritual goes far beyond mere physical cleansing, as in a regular sauna. It is intended as a spiritual experience where people connect with ‘All That Is’ and can experience the power of gratitude. The hut symbolizes the womb of Mother Earth, and the entire process represents rebirth and healing. Participants use this time to let go of their daily worries, give attention to those in need, and achieve personal growth and insight. The ceremony concludes with the expression “Mitakuye Oyasin,” meaning “we are all related,” emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life.

Related:

• Spiritual and social values make us happier than self-interest

Research shows that not all interruptions during your work have the same effect. There is an important difference between work-related and non-work-related interruptions.

Work-related interruptions (such as your manager stopping by to ask about a task, or a colleague messaging you about a project you’re working on together) actually have a positive effect on how engaged you feel during your workday. This goes against the common belief that all interruptions are bad for your productivity. Work-related interruptions don’t break your concentration; instead, they help you stay more connected to your work and colleagues.

Non-work-related interruptions (just chatting about the weather, sports, or what you’re going to eat tonight) do have the negative effect you might expect: they make you less engaged and disrupt your work rhythm so much that it really gets in the way of your work.

Related:

• Interruptions aren’t intrinsically distinct from other events, they’re just events most professionals don’t want around. The distinction is in our head.
• Messy work environments have no effect on either creativity or executive functions

When you create a podcast and want to publish extra content related to a specific episode, this bonus content receives the same episode number as the original episode. This means that both episodes, the main episode and the bonus episode, are published under the same number in your podcast feed.

Picture this: you’re drafting an important email and want to make sure your tone is just right. Today, that means copying your draft, opening ChatGPT in a new tab, pasting the text, waiting for suggestions, then copying those back to your email and fixing the formatting of the text. All that tab-switching and copying/pasting just to get some quick feedback. It’s clunky, and it breaks your flow.

The future of AI isn’t about jumping between chatbots and specialized tools, it’s about having AI seamlessly woven into the fabric of our existing workflows. Think about how we use spell checkers today: they’re just there, quietly helping us write better without any fuss.

The Current Reality

I’ve experienced this seamless integration firsthand through my note-taking app, Tana. Instead of copying text to ChatGPT and back, I can just ask questions and get help right where I’m working. Whether I’m journaling or crafting an email, AI assistance is right there at my fingertips.

Microsoft is moving in this direction too with Copilot, embedding AI directly into their Office suite. This isn’t just convenient, it’s transformative for how we work.

The real magic happens when AI becomes invisible, operating in the background like spell check does for non-native languages. No more context switching, no more lost trains of thought. Just fluid, uninterrupted work with AI enhancement when you need it.

Looking Forward

Today’s standalone AI tools are just the beginning, stepping stones to something much more powerful. The real revolution will come when AI is so deeply integrated into our daily tools that we barely notice it’s there.

What excites me most is how this shift will boost our productivity. Not through flashy new apps, but through subtle, contextual assistance that enhances our existing workflows without disrupting them.

This is my vision for AI’s future: not as a separate destination we visit for help, but as an invisible assistant embedded in every tool we use, making us more capable without getting in the way.

“Revenge bedtime procrastination” is a phenomenon where you deliberately delay your bedtime to regain a sense of control over your life. This often occurs in people who have little personal time during the day due to busy schedules or demanding jobs. By staying up later at night, you try to reclaim some personal time, even if it comes at the expense of your sleep.

Although the term is relatively new, the behavior it describes has been known for a longer time. After a long day, you want to relax, for example by watching TV or scrolling on your phone, even though you know you have to get up early the next day.

While it’s understandable that you want this time for yourself, delaying your bedtime can have negative consequences for your health. Lack of sleep can lead to fatigue, reduced concentration, and even long-term health issues. Therefore, it’s important to find a balance between your personal time and getting enough sleep.

Related:

• Good sleepers are more productive and earn more
• Well-rested people are more positive
• The optimal amount of free time seems to be between 2 and 4 hours per day
• Hard work