There are 4 birds sitting on a branch.
3 of them decide to fly away.

How many birds are left on the branch?

Did you answer 1?

That’s wrong.

The answer is 4.

Confused?

There are 4 birds on a branch because there is a difference between deciding and doing.

Doing can be defined as carrying out a series of tasks.

Thinking, on the other hand, is simply reflecting on which tasks should be done.

To move from thinking to doing in a manner that is most effective yet elegant, you need to figure out how much time to spend on thinking and how much time actually doing it.

Give your attention to thoughts about goals, projects and other to-do items and time will pass you by like an ever-flowing stream of the river while you wonder as a tree on its banks.

There are various solutions for every problem, hence it is possible for one to get excited about a lot of ideas which pile up at the bottom of an ever-expanding to-do list and disappear in the vastness before you have a chance to see it again like a surfaced whale returning to the depths of the sea.

Research by psychologists Tory Higgins, Arie Kruglanski and their colleagues suggests that we have two complementary motivational systems:

  • The thinking system
  • The doing system

We’re only capable of using either of these systems at any given time.

It is often said that our thoughts manifest as things and that our mind is literally one of the most powerful tools and resources that we have available.

“Your beliefs become your thoughts; your thoughts become your words; your words become your actions; your actions become your habits; your habits become your values; your values become your destiny.” –Unknown

We’ve put together a list of things that you can use which will help you reduce the time between having a great thought and doing something about it.

The two mindsets

If you spend some time reflecting, you’ll find that on some days ideas come to you like the breeze coming in through the window. On other days you’ll find that your efficiency lies in getting things done.

It’s not a coincidence that the motivation to think and the motivation to act strike us at different times as we can only use one system at a given point of time.

For example if you contemplate on how one generates new ideas, one has to often “brainstorm” or try to come up with as many ideas as possible.

This is called diverging and requires the activation of the thinking system.

On the other hand, sometimes you need to evaluate those ideas and figure out which ones are best. This is called converging, which requires the activation of the doing system.

Switching between these two systems competently will allow one to master the art of thinking and doing.

Here are 3 ways you can become more effective at work.

1. Get some distance

Physical and mental attachments influence the way you think about things. When you are near something, you think about it specifically, and focus on ways that you can interact with it.

Being too close to your work engages the doing systems. When you are away from it, you think conceptually.

Distance engages the thinking system. Your workplace environment is strongly associated with getting work done.

In order to activate the thinking mindset, you should spend time working in another place. Change your environment to change the way you think.

2. Stand up and move

The modern workplace revolves around sitting in one place for long hours. Most people have a primary workplace where they sit in front of a desk or table. This is a great posture because it allows us to work for long periods of time without causing bodily fatigue.

Additionally, the seated posture does not support various complex actions, which reinforces the activation of the thinking mindset.

If you need to jumpstart your ‘doing’ system, you could stand up and get moving.

By getting up and moving, you switch from a mode of deliberation to one of selection.

3. Experiment with your deadlines

The proximity of a deadline can also activate either system. The closer a deadline gets, the more your “doing” mindset is activated.

As the decision point approaches, you may feel an increased need to determine the course of action.

Remember to use tight deadlines with caution. A tight deadline will make you feel the pressure to complete a project. Despite your best intentions, you may engage yourself with motivation and take action before exploring your options fully.

You’ll be the most efficient at diverging when you have the freedom to think without having to reach a quick decision.

Most importantly, realise how you act when your thinking mindsets are active.

Use this self-awareness to guide yourself through situations where you need to develop creative solutions to new problems.

Need a better understanding of how to train your mind for better results? Sign up for Zingformation’s Mind Manual workshop NOW.

This workshop helps you…

  • Learn the techniques of neuro linguistic programming to reprogram your mind for success.
  • Communicate more effectively
  • Improve your relationships
  • Learn to appreciate differences
  • Form better goals and devise more tools to support higher achievements
  • Develop a calmer and more helpful response to challenging situations
  • Manage stress better
  • Manage stress better

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