Srini Pillay

Most of us worry about our distractibility. We zone out, daydream and procrastinate, and then chastise ourselves for wasting time. But what if most of that “wasted time” was actually time well spent?As neuroscientist Dr. Srini Pillay explains, there is a neurological imperative for why we all do these things.Drawing on the latest brain research, compelling stories from his psychological practice, and colourful examples of counterintuitive success from sports, business, education and the arts, he reveals that there is a vital default mode network in the brain that only activates when we are unfocused, "doing nothing" or letting our minds rest. And that healthy default mode network is necessary for the brain to rejuvenate and function at its best.If focus is the valuable close and narrow beam that illuminates the path directly ahead, unfocus is the equally valuable beam that reaches far and wide, enabling our peripheral vision. It is the intelligent form of letting go.Challenging traditional ideas about productivity, Dr Pillay reveals how being too focused can be detrimental, and how you can harness and exploit the power of unfocus in many different areas of your life: to enhance creativity, improve your capacity for learning and even help you overcome a general malaise or an emotional or career rut.

Unlock the power of the unfocused mind

Think Less Learn More

"Harness your mind's innate tendency to wander, stall, rest, and unfocus and become more productive--in the boardroom, living room, or classroom. To finish tasks and achieve goals, most people believe that more focus is the solution. We rely on to-do lists, calendar reminders, noise-blocking headphones, and sometimes medication to help us concentrate--even though these tactics often fail to substantially improve productivity. Drawing on the latest brain research, compelling stories from his psychological practice, and colorful examples of counterintuitive success from sports, business, education, and the arts, neuroscientist Srini Pillay, M.D., challenges traditional ideas about productivity, revealing the lasting, positive benefits of adding deliberate and regular unfocus to your repertoire. A fascinating tour through brain wavelengths and rhythm, mindsets, and mental relaxation, Tinker Dabble Doodle Try demonstrates how specific kinds of planned unfocus stimulate cognitive calmness, jumpstart productivity, enhance innovation, inspire creativity, improve long-term memory, and, of course, help you stay on target. Tinkering with ideas and with things releases your mind to wander from a state of stuckness into a possibility frame of mind, triggering neural connections and new insights. Dabbling in a new endeavor--whether a hobby or fantasy--disrupts your habitual and reactive thinking, helping you find new solutions to old problems. Doodling can help you tap into another brain frequency to remove obstacles and create opportunities and inspiration. With techniques for training the brain to unfocus, concepts for scheduling busy lives, and ideas for controlling this new cognitive-toggling capability, Tinker Dabble Doodle Try will change how you think about daydreaming, relaxing, leaving work unfinished, and even multitasking. What you'll discover is a greater freedom, a deeper intelligence, and a more profound joy in your life"--

Srini Pillay

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