Favorite technique: think for 5 minutes by the clock (I don’t always use the clock).
Form a better question than the one you were going to ask. I find the asking of quality questions to generally be more productive than the getting of quality answers.
Divert the impulse for distraction into 5 minutes on a related subject to the one you are working on. This is my second-most common use, and I find it pays frequent dividends in providing perspective and enlivening the task at hand.
Occupy downtime, particularly when prohibited from reading for some reason.
Distract yourself on purpose when afflicted with some bad experience: illness; anxiety; sadness.
During a conversation, apply to the person speaking. This is similar to active listening.
Do a separate 5 minutes on building a visceral experience of the problem/solution rather than just determining the answer. I find this to be very helpful in making sure I notice when the conclusion I came to previously is relevant. Also useful in planning for presentations or other high-stakes activities.
Shut myself up for five minutes. Even a fool who keeps his peace is counted as wise, when he wisely grows less foolish at the same time.
Think about how many 5 minute increments of original thought went into a specific discovery or presentation of the discovery. This is similar to the visceral experience use above, but builds the intuition for one meta-level up.
Iterate through the possible branches of history. I find this necessary from time to time to keep my appreciation for how difficult prediction actually is.
Identify ten unaccustomed uses of your favorite rationality technique.
Favorite technique: think for 5 minutes by the clock (I don’t always use the clock).
Form a better question than the one you were going to ask. I find the asking of quality questions to generally be more productive than the getting of quality answers.
Divert the impulse for distraction into 5 minutes on a related subject to the one you are working on. This is my second-most common use, and I find it pays frequent dividends in providing perspective and enlivening the task at hand.
Occupy downtime, particularly when prohibited from reading for some reason.
Distract yourself on purpose when afflicted with some bad experience: illness; anxiety; sadness.
During a conversation, apply to the person speaking. This is similar to active listening.
Do a separate 5 minutes on building a visceral experience of the problem/solution rather than just determining the answer. I find this to be very helpful in making sure I notice when the conclusion I came to previously is relevant. Also useful in planning for presentations or other high-stakes activities.
Shut myself up for five minutes. Even a fool who keeps his peace is counted as wise, when he wisely grows less foolish at the same time.
Think about how many 5 minute increments of original thought went into a specific discovery or presentation of the discovery. This is similar to the visceral experience use above, but builds the intuition for one meta-level up.
Iterate through the possible branches of history. I find this necessary from time to time to keep my appreciation for how difficult prediction actually is.
Identify ten unaccustomed uses of your favorite rationality technique.