Abstract of the book. The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload

Each time you plan something, you should consider all the things that could go wrong and think of a solution to them before they occur.

Think of it in terms of the two-minute rule: If the task takes longer than two minutes to complete, then write it down. Otherwise, do it straight away.

Our brain works incredibly hard while we sleep, processing new information from the day and integrating it into our existing knowledge. Memories, problems and ideas often appear in our dreams and we may find ourselves better positioned to solve a problem after “sleeping on it.”

Researchers found that students attempting to solve a problem performed better following a night of sleep than a night spent awake. Ultimately, you’re twice as likely to solve a problem after you’ve slept on it. This shows that sleep is essential, and attempting to work when you’re tired is counterproductive.

Inventive and innovative thinking is something you just can’t google for!

In complex dilemmas, particularly in the workplace, you’ll need to think for yourself in order to find solutions.

However, not every problem can be solved by checking online.

Studies have demonstrated the way in which sleep improves your brain’s ability to solve complex problems. The expression “sleep on it” has real biological significance, and an awareness of this will allow us to be more effective at work. So next time you’ve got a large task, don’t sacrifice your sleep to work on it – you’ll be much more effective when you allow your brain to refuel and continue work in the morning.

The key message in this book:
We live in an age of information overload. This presents a challenge for our brains, which are wired to manage information by focusing attention on one thing at a time. By learning about the way our brain distinguishes, focuses and categorizes, we can better organize our own lives.
Actionable advice:
Increase productivity by increasing your sleeping hours, not your working hours.

If the task takes longer than two minutes to complete, then write it down. Otherwise, do it straight away.