This is because environmental noise has a significant and negative impact on cognitive tasks that require concentration. Noise pollution leads to increased mental load, making it more difficult for employees to concentrate and causing errors to occur more quickly. This effect is particularly noticeable in tasks that require a longer duration and a high level of accuracy, such as problem solving or complex calculations.

Additionally, research shows that noise pollution does not directly affect the effort of employees, but it does affect their ability to think clearly. This means that employees may not be aware of the negative impact of noise on their performance, as they are still putting in the same amount of effort. However, the quality of their work suffers, resulting in lower productivity.

Related:

• A moderate level of background noise enhances creativity
• Active noise-cancelling headphones have no effect on your ability to concentrate in open office spaces
• An open office is a cheap short-term solution with high intangible costs in the long term

Research shows that a little background noise can help you think more creatively. This is because a moderate noise level, such as 70 decibels, stimulates your brain to think in a different way. This allows you to be more creative, as you look beyond the obvious solutions and discover new ideas. It’s similar to the effect of a café or a busy street, where the constant noise distracts your thoughts just enough to flow freely without becoming overwhelming.

On the other hand, too much noise, such as 85 decibels or more, can actually be detrimental to your creativity. At this high noise level, it becomes harder to think clearly, which can reduce your creativity. It’s like trying to solve a difficult problem in a concert hall; the loud noise makes it difficult to concentrate and think clearly. Therefore, it’s important to find a balance in the noise level of your environment if you want to be creative. A little background noise can be helpful, but too much can be counterproductive.

Related:

• An increase of 10 dB noise in the workplace reduces productivity by 5%

By setting aside time for tasks that are not urgent but important, you create space to think strategically and work on long-term goals. This prevents you from constantly being in a reactive mode, where you’re only focused on putting out fires. It gives you the chance to be proactive and concentrate on what truly matters, ultimately leading to greater satisfaction and less stress.

Time blocking is an effective technique that can help with this. By reserving specific time blocks in your schedule for these important tasks, you protect this time from daily distractions and urgent requests that often come your way. This ensures that you consistently make progress on important projects without feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to do everything at once. Additionally, planning these blocks can help you structure your workday better and use your energy more efficiently.

Related:

• Before you start (a task, a work session, a project…), set a time budget
• Creative tasks are best done while low on energy
• Most knowledge workers check their email within the first 30 minutes of the day
• The human mind and brain lack the architecture to perform multiple tasks simultaneously
• Try to get four hours of concentrated work into a workday, and never more than six
• Allow small tasks to accumulate until you can efficiently complete them in batches
• Work in 90-minute cycles separated by 20-minute breaks
• Morning productivity

Writing is often seen as the best medium for deep thinking because it offers you a structured way to organize and explore your thoughts. When you write, you force yourself to formulate your ideas clearly and coherently. This process of turning vague thoughts into concrete words helps you better understand and analyze difficult concepts. Additionally, writing allows you to look back on what you have written, so you can revise and improve your thoughts. This reflective aspect makes writing a powerful tool for deep thinking and self-discovery.

Moreover, writing is a way to acquire and process new knowledge. As some writers say, they write not only about what they already know but also to learn about what they do not yet understand. This learning process during writing stimulates critical thinking and creativity, as it challenges you to make new connections and consider different perspectives. By writing, you are essentially having a conversation with yourself, in which you ask questions, seek answers, and deepen your understanding.

Finally, writing offers a lasting and tangible way to capture thoughts. This allows you to revisit and evaluate ideas later, which is important for building knowledge and insight. Unlike fleeting thoughts or conversations, writing provides you with a permanent record that you can review and expand upon. Thus, writing becomes not only a means for deep thinking but also a valuable instrument for personal and intellectual growth.

Related:

• Use your own words to express your own thoughts
• Take regular ‘thinking walks’ to change your brain to enhance thinking, creativity and memory
• Reserve quality time for reading; only with full attention can you make the shift from ‘reading for information’ to ‘reading for knowledge’
• The words you use influence how you see the world
• When capturing information, give context by specifying why this note is important

The statement “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right” highlights the importance of your beliefs in what you can achieve. This phrase, often attributed to Henry Ford, suggests that your mindset greatly influences your success. If you believe you can do something, you are more likely to work hard and overcome challenges. This idea is similar to a growth mindset, where you believe that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and hard work.

If you think you can’t do something, it can lead to actual failure. This negative way of thinking can cause you to put in less effort, give up more easily when faced with difficulties, and be less creative in finding solutions. Research shows that how we think about things, like stress, can sometimes have more impact on our health than the stress itself.

In short, the statement emphasizes the importance of having a positive and flexible attitude. Talent and intelligence are important, but often it is our beliefs and the willingness to learn and grow that truly make the difference. By believing in ourselves, we increase the chances of success and personal growth.

Related:

• There is no evidence of any effects of growth mindset interventions on academic achievement
• Start with a simpler version of the task to boost your confidence; then move on to a more challenging one
• When you get stuck, talk to the duck

Natural light is very important for regulating our biological clock, which helps us sleep well and stay healthy. Research shows that daylight can reduce stress and improve your mood, allowing you to concentrate better and work more efficiently. Additionally, natural light can help with certain health issues, such as seasonal depression.

A workplace becomes more productive when there is plenty of daylight. By designing offices to allow a lot of natural light in, companies can ensure that their employees feel better and are more satisfied. This can be achieved by strategically placing windows, using glass walls, or installing systems that distribute light well. This creates a workplace that not only looks beautiful but also helps improve work performance.

Related:

• Clean air boosts your mental power

Artworks can create a calming and inspiring environment, which helps improve the overall work experience. This is because visual stimulation through art can contribute to a positive mood, which in turn reduces stress and promotes a sense of well-being.

Additionally, art in the workplace can stimulate creativity. Artworks can serve as a source of inspiration and new ideas, which is especially useful in creative professions or during brainstorming sessions. By being regularly exposed to art, employees can improve their imagination and problem-solving skills, leading to innovative solutions and a dynamic work environment.

Lastly, art contributes to increased productivity. A pleasant and aesthetically appealing workspace can increase motivation and engagement of employees. When people feel comfortable in their work environment, they are more likely to work efficiently and with more dedication. Moreover, art can serve as a social signal that a company values culture and creativity, which can contribute to a positive company culture and attract talent.

Related:

• Choose a workplace where you can see other people focused on their tasks. This will help you concentrate better.
• Creative tasks are best done while low on energy
• Physical cues affect our state of mind and can be used to switch between different productive modes

Videoconferences require participants to focus their attention on a small part of the screen. This limits their thinking processes, which can lead to less creativity and fewer new ideas. Research shows that videoconferences make it harder to come up with new ideas because people have to concentrate on the screen, which narrows their thinking ability.

The body’s response to the visual field plays a role in this. When people are relaxed, their pupils become smaller so they can see everything around them. But in stressful or exciting situations, the pupils become larger and they see less of their surroundings. This works both ways: when you are relaxed, your attention broadens, and with a wide attention, you become more relaxed.

The increased cognitive load during videoconferences, as shown by the increase in pupil size, makes it harder to think outside the box. The need to constantly stay focused on the screen and its interactions means that the brain has less room to wander and make new, creative connections. All of this leads to a reduction in divergent thinking, which is essential for innovation and problem-solving.

Related:

• Choose a workplace where you can see other people focused on their tasks. This will help you concentrate better.
• Scatterfocus

Sorting emails into different folders may seem like an efficient way to keep your inbox organized. However, research shows that creating complex folder structures does not necessarily lead to higher efficiency in retrieving emails. The process of manually sorting emails into specific folders takes a lot of time and effort (an average of 67 hours per year!), and these preparatory actions often turn out to be inefficient. Instead of spending time categorizing each email, this time can be better spent on other productive tasks.

An alternative approach is to use a single archive folder for all emails. This method utilizes the powerful search functions that are available in most email programs today. By simply searching for keywords, senders, or dates, users can quickly and effectively retrieve the necessary emails without the need for an extensive folder structure. This not only reduces the time spent organizing emails, but also increases the speed and efficiency of retrieving information.

Additionally, data supports the idea of opportunistic access, where people who rely on search and threading features have more success in finding emails than those who use complex folder structures. This suggests that using a single archive folder, combined with search functionality, is a more practical and efficient approach to email management. It not only simplifies the process, but also utilizes modern technology to increase productivity.

Related:

• Messy work environments have no effect on either creativity or executive functions

Psychologist Carol Dweck has discovered that how we think about willpower affects how tired we feel after making decisions. People who believe their willpower is quickly depleted often feel exhausted after a difficult task. However, those who believe that willpower is not quickly depleted are less affected and may even perform better after a challenge.

This idea is related to Dweck’s theory of the “fixed mindset” and the “growth mindset.” People with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities and resources, such as willpower, are fixed and limited. This can cause them to become tired more quickly and give up more easily when faced with problems. People with a growth mindset believe they can grow and that their willpower can be replenished, allowing them to better handle difficult situations.

To believe that willpower is not limited, you can start by challenging this thought. This can be done by achieving small successes in situations where you would normally give up, and using these successes as evidence that your willpower is stronger than you thought. It is important to realize that the moment just before giving up is often the hardest, but pushing through can lead to a change in your way of thinking and a stronger belief in your own resilience.

Related:

• People who do not experience stress often have a lower level of cognitive ability

It is important to keep essential knowledge at hand so you can use it immediately when needed. This means training your brain to recognize and remember important information, allowing you to respond faster and better in different situations. This process helps you become less dependent on external tools because you already know a lot yourself.

An important part of this is actively engaging with information. This means not just reading or hearing information, but also working with it by discussing it, trying it out, and applying it in different situations. This helps you remember the information better. It is an ongoing process of learning and repetition, training your brain to recognize patterns and automatically come up with solutions. This way, you can act quickly without first having to search for information.

While digital tools can be handy, it is important to first make the most of your own brain. This means investing time and effort in truly understanding the information you encounter. By filling your brain with knowledge and actively using it, you build a strong foundation that allows you to respond quickly and effectively to new challenges and situations.

Related:

• Any personal effectiveness system that helps to get tasks out of your mind is Getting Things Done
• A Zettelkasten is an intelligent conversation with my past thoughts
• Reserve quality time for reading; only with full attention can you make the shift from ‘reading for information’ to ‘reading for knowledge’
• Rephrasing a text helps me to better understand what the author means
• Working slower promotes deeper thinking processes and better results

Zoom chooses to prioritize speed over image quality when streaming camera footage. This means that if you use a virtual camera in a Zoom meeting, the images are often less sharp than when you share your screen. Zoom ensures that the video runs smoothly, meaning the images move faster but are less sharp. This is done so that the video does not stutter when someone is speaking.

When you share your screen, image quality is more important. This is because you often share static images or text that need to be clearly readable. Therefore, Zoom makes the images sharper, even if they move less smoothly. This difference means that virtual cameras, which Zoom sees as regular cameras, are always less sharp. As a result, presentations via a virtual camera may appear less sharp than via screen sharing.

There are ways to improve image quality if you still want to use a virtual camera. Zoom has screen sharing features that you can use to enhance quality. For example, you can use the share “Content from a a 2nd camera” option and adjust the settings by choosing “Optimize Screen Share for Video Clip”. This can help find a better balance between speed and image quality, depending on what you need and what your computer can handle. Until you have a more powerful computer, it may be wise to avoid virtual cameras and instead use Zoom’s screen sharing options.

David Allen, the creator of GTD, says there is no standard way to use his method. Although his books and workshops provide a lot of explanations, it is important for everyone to create their own system that suits their needs and preferences. The goal of GTD is to get tasks and responsibilities out of your head, so you have space for creative and productive thinking. This works best when the system you use fits you well and feels easy.

Adapting your GTD system means trying out what works for you. This may mean setting reminders for things that interest you or developing habits that help you feel better. The most important thing is that GTD is not about strictly following rules, but about creating a system that helps you clear your mind. Whether you use an app or a paper notebook, it’s about finding a way that helps you stay organized and focused.

Related:

• Any personal effectiveness system that helps to get tasks out of your mind is Getting Things Done
• Do the right thing, in the right way, and at the right moment
• Our (productivity) issues are not new. Read the great masters and find answers to current issues

It may sound surprising, but research shows that while people without stress are less likely to have chronic illnesses and often feel better, they also perform worse on tests that measure memory and cognitive flexibility. It seems that a little stress can help keep our brains sharp. Stress acts as a kind of training for the brain, allowing us to use our cognitive skills better and more efficiently.

This does not mean that we should always be stressed to think well. It’s about finding the right balance. A little stress can help us be more productive and think better, but too much stress can lead to negative feelings and be bad for our health. People with stress also give and receive emotional support more often, which can lead to a richer social life. Therefore, it is important to find a level of stress that keeps us alert without harming our health.

Related

• Decision fatigue only affects people who believe that willpower runs out quickly
• Cold showers temporarily reduce your cognitive performance

Our productivity problems, such as information overload from emails and chat messages, may seem like a modern issue, but they are not new. As early as 1916, similar problems were discussed, showing that this has been an ongoing issue. Often, this is due to poor management of information and communication. Great thinkers have long ago devised solutions for these issues. By looking at their ideas, we can learn how to better handle our current problems.

Thinkers from the past, such as Aristotle and Seneca, and later figures like Peter Drucker, have written extensively about working efficiently, managing time well, and how we easily get distracted. They often emphasize the importance of focusing, setting priorities, and managing time effectively. These ideas are still useful and can help us better handle the constant stream of notifications and information. By following their advice, we can become more productive and find a better balance between work and leisure.

It is important to learn from the past and apply the wisdom of these thinkers to our modern work. This means not only studying their strategies but also adapting them to how we work today. By listening to these experts and learning from their insights, we can find ways to work more effectively and with greater satisfaction, despite the challenges of today’s technology.

Related:

• Do the right thing, in the right way, and at the right moment
• Your own implementation is the correct way of doing GTD

Our brain can only work well for a limited time. Research shows that people can usually only think well for a few hours a day. Most people cannot do difficult thinking work for more than 4 hours a day without making mistakes. By working shorter but more concentrated, we can get more done without becoming too tired.

We often think we need to work 8 hours a day. But this is not always feasible for work that requires a lot of thinking. While it is possible to work many hours on simple tasks, “real” work is mentally demanding. People sometimes feel guilty if they don’t work 8 hours. But this may not fit how our brain works. It’s better to look at what you accomplish rather than how many hours you work. By working well for 4 hours, and maybe 6 hours on good days, you can achieve a lot and stay healthy.

It helps to start working early and take smart breaks. Start the day off right and keep breaks short. Pay close attention to yourself: if you notice you’re working less effectively, it’s time for a break. By consciously choosing shorter working hours, you can get more done and feel better.

Related:

• Before you start (a task, a work session, a project…), set a time budget
• A 5-minute unstructured break is enough to regain your focus
• Schedule two hours every day for important work that doesn’t need to be completed immediately; this helps you become happier and more productive
• Start with the difficult work and do the easy things later
• Work in 90-minute cycles separated by 20-minute breaks
• Hard work

Language is not just a way to communicate, but also a way to shape our thinking. For example, if you tell yourself “I can’t eat X,” it feels like a restriction. But if you say “I don’t eat X,” it feels like a conscious choice. Research shows that people who say “I don’t eat…” are more likely to make healthy choices than those who say “I can’t eat this.” This small difference in words can greatly affect how we see ourselves and how motivated we are.

How we talk to ourselves is important for how we tackle problems and achieve goals. Research shows that people who ask themselves questions like “Will I do this?” perform better than those who say “I will do this.” Asking questions helps us think about what we are doing and why, and it makes us more motivated. By using questions in our self-talk, we can better handle challenges and make choices that suit us.

The language we use, both in our heads and with others, determines how we experience the world. By consciously choosing words that give us power and freedom of choice, we can positively influence ourselves and our behavior. It is important to pay attention to our choice of words and how we talk to ourselves, as this directly affects our well-being and how well we perform.

Related:

• When you get stuck, talk to the duck
• Writing is the best medium for deep thinking
• Motivation

It is good to spend some time planning your day, tidying up your inbox, and setting goals. This helps you clearly see what you need to do and how to approach it. But be careful not to lose too much time on these preparations. Overplanning can lead to procrastination and spending more time thinking than doing.

Finding the right balance between planning and doing is important for your productivity. It can be tempting to plan everything in detail, but often it’s better to quickly make a list of your most important tasks and start right away. You usually already know what is important to you; it’s about writing down these priorities and then taking action. By getting started immediately, you prevent getting stuck in endless preparations and can use your energy to achieve real results.

Related:

• Before you start (a task, a work session, a project…), set a time budget
• Do not set SMART goals
• Do the right thing, in the right way, and at the right moment
• Professionals spend about 60% of their time on work about work
• Modern work is unconfined work
• Take the time before doing something you can’t undo
• Before you start (a task, a work session, a project…), set a time budget
• Start with as little as possible and add complexity as you go
• Explore a map for each month’s cycle that not only includes things to do, but also things to avoid
• Working slower promotes deeper thinking processes and better results
• Allow small tasks to accumulate until you can efficiently complete them in batches
• Work in 90-minute cycles separated by 20-minute breaks

When starting a new habit, routine, or project, it is essential to think about future maintenance costs. This means not only considering the initial effort or costs but also what is needed to sustain it in the long term. Just like a ship that requires regular maintenance to function well, habits and projects also need ongoing attention. For example, setting up a complex system to manage your tasks might seem useful at first. However, over time, maintenance tasks can accumulate, leaving you with less time for actual work.

It is important to realize that maintenance costs can add up. A small maintenance task might not seem like much, but having multiple such tasks can consume a significant amount of time and energy. This can lead to a situation where you spend more time maintaining your system than achieving your goals. Therefore, it is wise to choose simplicity and flexibility when establishing new habits or projects. Start small and only add complexity if truly necessary. This way, you keep maintenance costs manageable and can focus on what truly matters.

Related:

• Our go-to approach for problem-solving is to incorporate something new, rather than eliminate something existing
• Take the time before doing something you can’t undo
• Messy work environments have no effect on either creativity or executive functions
• Start with as little as possible and add complexity as you go

Interruptions are often seen as unwanted disruptions in our work, but they are actually no different from other events. The difference lies mainly in our perception. Just as weeds are simply plants that gardeners prefer not to see, interruptions are simply events that professionals try to avoid. This idea emphasizes that the distinction between desired and undesired events is primarily in our minds. By viewing interruptions as a natural part of our day, we can learn to accept them instead of avoiding them at all costs.

Interestingly, trying to eliminate interruptions can make us more aware of the remaining ones. Research by Gloria Mark even suggests that interruptions can sometimes help complete tasks faster. This is because they force us to work more efficiently and focus better when we return to our original task. By embracing interruptions as a normal part of our work, we might even benefit from the unexpected advantages they offer.

It is important to realize that striving for a perfect, interruption-free life can only cause us more stress. Instead, we can learn to handle interruptions flexibly and see them as opportunities to strengthen our resilience and adaptability. By changing our mindset, we can develop a healthier and more productive work attitude.

Related:

• Before you start (a task, a work session, a project…), set a time budget
• Avoid excessive task switching to increase efficiency
• Do the right thing, in the right way, and at the right moment
• Physical cues affect our state of mind and can be used to switch between different productive modes
• Reduce mobile phone use to improve your life satisfaction, well-being, and health
• Work-related interruptions help you stay more engaged during your workday

Imagine how your life would look without the beautiful moments from your past. This idea, also known as the “George Bailey effect,” can be surprisingly powerful. It involves thinking about how your life would be different without those positive events. By imagining that those special moments never happened, you realize how much they mean to you. This can help you be grateful for what you have experienced and more content with your current life.

Often, we take the beautiful things in our lives for granted. We only truly appreciate them when we are at risk of losing them. By consciously considering the possibility that certain positive events never occurred, you can reappreciate those moments. This helps you break out of the daily grind and remember the value of what you have. It can also help you avoid constantly wanting more to be happy.

Related:

• Take the time to think about, dream of, and look forward to future activities

The idea is to start with something simple that works and then, if necessary, add more complex elements. This is similar to minimalism, where you try to avoid unnecessary complications. By starting with a simple system, you can better see what works well and what doesn’t, and you can make improvements step by step without disrupting the foundation.

In systems thinking, it is often said that successful complex systems usually evolve from simple systems that already worked well. This means that designing a complex system from scratch often causes problems and inefficiencies. It is smarter to start with a simple system that works and gradually expand it. This way, you can identify and improve weak spots without the risk of everything collapsing.

It is important not to overcomplicate and to avoid unnecessary organization when applying this principle. Often, it is better to just start and add extra elements later. This prevents you from getting stuck in planning and organizing, and gives you the flexibility to respond to changes and new ideas. By starting small and slowly adding more, you build a strong and flexible system that can grow and adapt to future needs.

Related:

• Make reversible decisions as quickly as possible
• Professionals spend about 60% of their time on work about work
• Start with a simpler version of the task to boost your confidence; then move on to a more challenging one
• Spend a little attention on planning and organizing your tasks, but not more than necessary; then, get to work
• When starting a new habit, routine, or project, it is important to consider the future maintenance costs that may arise

People with ADHD are often motivated by activities that captivate them, stimulate creativity, ignite competition, or provide a sense of completion. This is because traditional external motivators, such as rewards and punishments, are often less effective for people with ADHD. Their minds tend towards intrinsic motivation, where the activity itself must be attractive and stimulating to hold their attention. Actions that captivate, such as exciting or new tasks, can pique their interest and help them stay focused.

Creative activities provide another source of motivation for people with ADHD. The process of creating, whether it be art, writing, or coming up with new ideas, can help channel their thoughts and use their energy in a productive way. Creativity provides an outlet for their often overactive mind and can give them a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Competition and completing tasks are also powerful motivators.

Competitive situations, whether it be sports, games, or work-related challenges, can hold the attention of people with ADHD through the excitement and desire to win. Similarly, completing tasks, no matter how small, can give a sense of achievement and satisfaction, motivating them to continue and set new goals. These intrinsic motivators help people with ADHD stay focused and productive, despite their tendency towards a wandering mind.

Related:

• Take regular ‘thinking walks’ to change your brain to enhance thinking, creativity and memory
• Messy work environments have no effect on either creativity or executive functions
• Motivation
• Scatterfocus

It is important to determine in advance when you want to stop a task, work session or project. This helps you stay focused and efficient. By setting a clear stop moment, you prevent yourself from overworking. If you know in advance when you want to stop, you can plan and prioritize better. This leads to more productivity and less stress. In addition, you prevent yourself from taking on too much work, which often happens when people are too optimistic about what they can do in a certain amount of time.

An important part of this approach is using time as a way to measure attention. Attention is limited and difficult to measure, but time is easy to measure. By using time as a benchmark, you can organize your work better. This idea is in line with Parkinson’s law, which states that work takes up the time available for it. By setting a clear end time, you force yourself to work more efficiently and prevent tasks from taking longer than necessary. This also helps to reduce indecision, as you spend less time constantly re-planning and prioritizing.

Finally, by scheduling a stop moment, you can better deal with interruptions and unexpected events. This helps you find a balance between work and rest, which is important for long-term productivity and well-being. It is a simple but effective way to organize your work day and ensure that you achieve your goals without overworking yourself.

Related:

• Avoid excessive task switching to increase efficiency
• Link the desired behavior to a clear signal
• Schedule two hours every day for important work that doesn’t need to be completed immediately; this helps you become happier and more productive
• Spend a little attention on planning and organizing your tasks, but not more than necessary; then, get to work
• Spend a little attention on planning and organizing your tasks, but not more than necessary; then, get to work
• Although time pressure makes us work faster, it does not automatically mean we work better
• A little time pressure while working on your tasks helps to reduce ‘attention residue’
• Try to get four hours of concentrated work into a workday, and never more than six
• Interruptions aren’t intrinsically distinct from other events, they’re just events most professionals don’t want around. The distinction is in our head.
• Work in 90-minute cycles separated by 20-minute breaks

Convince yourself that the effort part is the good part, and you’ll start generating Dopamine and learn to enjoy the process.

Related:

• People with a wandering mind (ADHD) are motivated by actions that captivate, create, compete, or complete
• There is no evidence of any effects of growth mindset interventions on academic achievement
• Link the desired behavior to a clear signal
• Start with a simpler version of the task to boost your confidence; then move on to a more challenging one
• Do things that makes you happy everyday, since happy workers are 12% more productive
• Cold showers temporarily reduce your cognitive performance
• The words you use influence how you see the world
• Use AI to reduce unnecessary difficulties, not to avoid essential effort