The Daily Recall
The Daily Recall
How to Solve Problems Without Getting Stuck
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How to Solve Problems Without Getting Stuck

Hey stranger,

In this episode, I explain how to use two modes of thinking to solve problems without getting stuck.

If you prefer watching, you can find the YouTube video here. If reading is your thing, then enjoy the transcript below.


Welcome to The Daily Recall show. I'm your host, Vasili.

And today, I will talk about how to use your brain to actually solve complex problems without getting stuck. Because I believe that most people don't actually have a good idea on how to use their brains. It's sort of like the missing manual, right? There is there is a manual to how to use this thing and we really haven't actually checked it out yet. So that's what I want to cover today; how to use this thing.

And there is a very simple idea that will help us do that. In the past couple episodes, we've done a really good deal of talking on how to solve problems, how to solve complex problems, different methods of doing that - visualizations, processes, time dimensions, all those things.

But how do you actually do that? When you sit down and there is a problem in front of you, any kind of problem - which might be to write an article, to solve a math equation, or to invent a new business - how do you do that?

And the very simple idea that will help you to solve problems without getting stuck is understanding that there are two different types or modes of thinking in your head. And we gotta account for that, because that's that's our fundamental human capability. And when most people do not account for that, they really screw themselves up badly because they are trying to use their own heads in a way that they're not supposed to be used.

So we're going to learn how to prevent that. We're going to learn how to use our heads and that’s what this today's episode is about.

To begin, I want to explain the two different modes of thinking.

The first mode that we've got, it's called the focused mode. And just to be clear, these modes do not really exist. But that's a very nice metaphor to explain how the brain works and how to use that, so that you don't have to go learn neurobiology and all that stuff.

The two modes are the focused mode and the diffuse mode.

And the first one, the focus mode is when you focus specifically on the problem. And the way you do this focusing is by narrowing down using your sensory channels, which might be your eyes or ears; you are narrowing down and focusing through your sensory channels on the thing.

An example would be solving a math equation. So there is an equation written down on a piece of paper, and then you focus on that equation through your eyes. And that's how you get into this focused mode.

So the focus mode is a really powerful thing. Because the way it works is that when you look at the math equation, a specific area, a specific chain of neurons lights up in your brain that is responsible for dealing with this kind of problems. So for the math problem example, that would be sort of algebra, or like simple math, how to how to multiply, how to add things, that kind of stuff.

And that is really useful because by like learning how to do these things - ie how to multiply - we get to build this tiny areas for interplay of were intertwined interconnected neurons that help us solve problems.

But the problem with the focused mode is that you only have got access to this very tiny network of neurons that is responsible for dealing with this specific problem at hand. And usually in life problems are not that simple as two plus two. And if you only solve problems when you are in the focus mode, when you're like sitting with a pen and paper or with a computer and you're trying really hard to write an article or solve any other problem, especially a creative problem, that's not gonna work.

Because to solve a creative problem, you got to pull from many many different sources, you got to have access to your whole brain.

And that is why you need the second mode of thinking which is the diffuse mode.

And a good analogy would be a pinball machine.

So focused mode is like pinball machine where you've got those bumpers really tight together. So when you launch the ball, it kind of like just travels between those tightly located bumpers. And you use the flippers to keep launching the ball and keep launching the ball and keep launching the ball.

But if you let the flippers go, if you switch from the focus mode, there is kind of a second layer here, which is the second pinball machine, which is the diffuse mode. And in the diffuse mode of thinking, these bumpers are really really far away from each other.

Those bumpers are your neurons. And when you're in the diffuse mode, you have access to your whole thing that's out there, all your knowledge, all your implicit memories, events that happened to you, all your things that you have memorized in school, learned understood for someone else, like all that thing, okay?

And that is why it's extremely useful to do the switching thing because you cannot really solve a complex problem, especially if a problem requires a completely different approach or a different mode of thinking, a different view on a thing, just by being in the focused mode. You're simply not able to do that biologically because the nature of the problem is different from what the nature of the focused mode is capable of doing.

So just to be clear -

Focus mode - neurons are very tight, you get access to a specific program in your brain which helps you to deal with the situation at hand. but you do not have access to your whole fan. Diffuse mode - neurons are really really far away from each other, you have access to many, many different areas of the brain, but you're not focused on anything specific.

The way to enter the diffuse mode of thinking is by doing an activity that is actually very involving. An example of that would be walking around and just like browsing the sites or having lunch or listening to someone or debating in the conversation; when you're not thinking about anything in particular.

So that is the diffuse mode; when you're not thinking about anything in particular.

A nice mnemonic to help you remember that would be: eyes on the prize, eye on the flies. Focus mode is when the eyes are on the prize. And the diffuse mode is when the eyes are on the flies; small bugs that are flying around. When you're looking at the window, and you see this beautiful sky, and the birds flying, that's the diffuse mode.

The key here is not if you're not thinking about anything in particular; about any specific problem.

And the best way to solve problems is to switch between these two modes.

It's such an easy idea, because when you do your focus mode work, when you sit down, you've got a problem at hand. It's written on a piece of paper, you focus on the problem and you do your best, right. But then you let the thing go and you do the diffuse mode activity. And then when you get back to the focused mode, here you go, the solution comes to you automatically.

Here are some of my favorite diffuse mode activities to spark your thinking. My favorite one is walking. Just walking around and browsing things around and looking at things, looking at people, staring at clouds and stuff like that. Then working out is the one that's really useful for many different reasons, but it actually switches the modes really well. Then having lunch works extremely well for me because I both get to enjoy and focus on the meal and watch other people - I eat out mostly. So whenever I get stuck, I just go and have lunch. And the fourth one would be just quickly reading through stuff. So if I have like a book or a magazine and I'm just quickly reading through it - that also switches my attention really well because I present myself with many, many, many different objects in a short amount of time.

So those are the two different modes of thinking.

And whenever you get stuck, it actually might happen for two reasons.

The first reason, which is actually a really popular one, is that you have not done your homework, meaning that you haven't actually prepared yourself to solve the problem that you need to solve. An example of that would be the math class. If you don't know how to solve the problem, that's probably because you haven't learned the formulas yet, right? And in many different areas of life, that's actually the case; you haven't done the focus mode work yet.

But the second reason is also a very popular. It's when you're just trying too hard. And trying too hard is actually a problem because you do not have access to these different parts of your brain. You only see things from a very, very narrow perspective of the focused mode. So that's going to be a really big problem if you're trying to do anything creative.

Just to recap - there are two modes of thinking.

Focused mode - when eyes are on the prize, you focus narrowly through your eyes, or other sensory channels on the thing at hand. It runs a specific program in your brain which is responsible for dealing with this kind of stuff.

The diffuse mode when eyes are on the flies; you're not thinking about anything in particular.

The best way to enter the diffuse mode is to start doing an activity that is involving your attention and doesn’t require thinking about anything in particular. A good one would be when you're driving around or just sitting in the car and watching the things passing by; that's a good one as well.

And the best way to solve problems is to do a short, focused mode work, like 10-15-20-30 minutes, and then quickly switch modes. Just go out for five to 10 minutes or do any diffuse mode activity you like. That's enough to switch your modes of thinking. And then once you come back, you will see things differently.

That's how you solve problems. I hope you enjoyed this episode. See you guys tomorrow!

This transcript has been edited for clarity.

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The Daily Recall
The Daily Recall
Hi! I’m Vasili, the guy who runs the show. I believe the world would be a better place if you learned something new every day. That’s why I record daily episodes where I explain complex ideas in simple words. I hope you’ll enjoy the show.