the mental bandwidth problem
one of my weaknesses is that I let my emotions overload my working memory
when I give advice to another person they're not part of the equation, and the course of action seems straightforward
if I'm capable of becoming aware of this problem I can start to fix it sometimes I forget how small is my mental bandwidth
when i start to ruminate and think anxious thoughts my functional IQ drops down -100 points if I become aware that thinking is exhausting, i would be able to accomplish more by cutting off these habitual thinking loops i don't believe @NewmanAES deals as much with this problem, since his genetics don't predispose him to default mode network over-activation (like my case) in a practical note:
if i go out for a run and start my routine, rumination is my #1 mental energy vampire.
it's not productive, it just makes me dumb.
and i can't expect to have any "original thoughts" since my neural net hasn't been given high-quality inputs.
it's better off i my DMN is turned off (until my brain is fixed with greater mental bandwidth and a constructive neural net) it's two problems:
- emotions overloading working memory
- rumination draining my mental energy
when both are coupled the functional IQ I can use to get anything done is -90%
WHAT THAT MEANS IS your first step is to become aware.
If you notice rumination (basically thinking when you don't want to think), you should be aware that it's dumb and shouldn't entertain it, or turn it off.
if notice your emotions start to overload your working memory you should take a breather and calm down until you can think clearly again.
if either or is happening (or both for the same matter) then you should again become aware, step away and take a breather, then go back to what you're doing once you're stable.
practicing this will free you from the chains of low-clarity thinking mantra:
rumination makes me dumb.
i feel powerful emotions right now. my mental bandwidth is throttled.