Research tells us we have approximately 60,000 thoughts each day, and to function quickly, our brain takes mental shortcuts by operating the majority of the time in ‘fast thinking’ mode.
Fast thinking mode is fast and emotional
Remember the Thinking Traps we showed you? Fast thinking mode unconsciously sets its own context and has a huge impact on our experience and behaviours. For example, it can compromise our ability to make accurate decisions when we are cognitively busy and overworked when distracted or under time pressure. To beat this evolutionary bias and remain productive, it’s important to learn to recognise when our fast thinking trips us up and affects our judgment and relationships with those around us.
The reality is we work better and make more accurate and helpful decisions when we beat the bias and balance our thinking
1. Understand and recognise your stress triggers
It’s much easier to regulate our thinking once we’re aware of the triggers and reflect on why we feel a certain way.
2. Tune in to your body
Learn to notice the signs of cognitive exhaustion and take regular breaks. Leaving you with more energy to engage in ‘slow thinking’. Remember, you can always revisit this area covered in session two using your online access and session two blog. Practising your Stress Less session skills improves focus and promotes a more proactive and positive mindset.
3. Remember to ABC it and check for Thinking Traps
To help our understanding of why we feel or think a certain way. Slowing our thought process down in this way means we can manage stress triggers and thinking to respond in a much more beneficial way.
4. Check in with yourself and gain insight from others
To improve self-awareness, we recommend introspection, but with a focus on asking oneself the right questions. Asking “why” might not always be effective, as many of our internal processes remain shrouded in our subconscious or unconscious minds; instead, checking for thinking traps and iceberg thinking may lead to better introspection. You will notice that many of the questions begin with “what” rather than “why”.
If you have left these sessions genuinely believing your thinking is balanced and your behaviour is positive, ask those around you or better still, go home and do the same!
5. Download your app
Want some reminders on the skills we showed you? Download our app from the Play or Apple Store. Just search for “Resilience Development Company.” Access to it is free, it’s full of information and there for your personal use as part of the programme. Sign in with your organisational email and the password “resilience”
If you’d prefer to access resources on your computer, Sign in to the Skills Academy and again sign in using your organisational email and the password “resilience“.
Please note: This post was specifically written for people attending our resilience programme where we showed you how to maintain flexible and balanced thinking to drive performance, well-being and effectiveness.
