How do you maintain or build mental discilpline?
December 17, 2014 10:08 AM   Subscribe

How do you keep yourself from growing mentally flabby, falling into lazy thinking, defaulting to mindless entertainment, devolving into a decreasing attention span and ability to focus?
posted by roaring beast to Health & Fitness (22 answers total) 95 users marked this as a favorite
 
I'll be reading this with interest because I sometimes feel like I'm mentally slacking off. Seems that Netflix is not really an acceptable hobby.

I will say that the biggest thing that helps me is being friends with people who enjoy rich conversation. Don't get me wrong, I love talking about hair and boys and mindless stuff too, but it's so nice to have friends who will happily talk to you about philosophy and economics and literature instead of just Buzzfeed. If everyone in your social circle only talks about football and TV, you could exercise your brain a bit by finding new people to hang with.
posted by schroedingersgirl at 10:45 AM on December 17, 2014 [2 favorites]


Go to grad school!

No but for reals, my mentality is to just always mindlessly tear-down and overanalyze, and it's probably because when I was younger that's what I valued. I've always pushed myself to understand what I am presented with and why I like it or don't like it, but as for how to make it a mental habit, I'm not entirely sure. I think an important part of making it a mental habit is that it has to be fun and engaging. It has to be play. I would find some mental outlet for your critical creativity: Book clubs, critical discussion with friends, etc. Make a game of dissecting and tearing apart situations until they are in digestible units.

On the other hand, get one or two books that are difficult for you, that will push your need to be motivated and disciplined , but choose a subject that you like so that it's not onerous. In the end, though, much of discipline is confidence, I think. Self-scrutiny and knowing oneself are important, but if you have a good understanding of your ability, knowledge, and skills, then letting yourself just do the thing you've set out to do is sometimes only a matter of silencing the nagging voice that says you can't.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, set aside a regular time to do all of this. Even if it's only 30-45 minutes a day, measure your progress in time spent doing things, not in "how far along you are" or in pages, or in mastery of a skill. Then stick with it.
posted by johnnydummkopf at 10:46 AM on December 17, 2014 [2 favorites]


Meditation!
posted by three_red_balloons at 10:53 AM on December 17, 2014


Feed your brain! Brains need fat, enough B vitamins and zinc and folic acid, and possibly vitamins K, C and E, and of course a steady supply of energy through the day (so, proper food and not coffee and Mars bars).

They also work better when you are getting regular exercise.

Whenever I start feeling "mentally flabby" it's because I'm not looking after myself properly.
posted by emilyw at 10:54 AM on December 17, 2014 [4 favorites]


I think of the people I know who are mentally lazy and how unappealing it is, and I vow not to be that way.

ABC

A Always B Be C Curious. Always Be Curious.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:13 AM on December 17, 2014 [4 favorites]


I swear, my focus has increased since I started knitting. I am doing complicated (for me) stranded knitting, two at a time mittens, etc. and they all require a fair amount of focus and a lot of brain work to get it done. So my suggestion is to take on a hobby like knitting (or whatever) that you can progressively increase the difficulty, keep learning skills, keep challenging yourself that way.

Also, my grandmother was one of the least "mentally flabby" people I ever knew, and she spent a great deal of her time playing scrabble against herself. So there's that.

Oh, and bin the TV. That is the number one fastest way to dull your senses and intelligence, and it is SO EASY to spend hours and hours staring at the tv when if you spent that time doing basically ANYTHING ELSE you would be so much better off. TV is toxic. It is the supreme ruler of mindless entertainment. If you get rid of it you have eliminated the ability to fall victim to mindless entertainment. When i got rid of my tv I was so bored that I had to find other things to do, and I ended up hand quilting, sketching, and I began exercising regularly.

Seriously, bin the TV.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 11:18 AM on December 17, 2014 [9 favorites]


You need to train your brain. For example, I had trouble listening closely, so I started listening to audio books some time back. It has really helped.

This includes challenging yourself -- do hard puzzles or try to master a craft or learn a language.

Also, eliminate distractions wherever possible. Read with music, etc. off. Avoid all temptations to multitask.

Lastly, be healthy -- practice mindfulness, eat real food, and exercise in a form you enjoy.
posted by bearwife at 11:36 AM on December 17, 2014


Take up a hard hobby, one with a ton of learning involved. I'm a classical musician as an avocation (it pays, but not enough to live on), and I am constantly having to learn new, hard music. In addition to that, when I don't have children at incompatible ages for it, I do viciously difficult patchwork quilting.
posted by KathrynT at 11:41 AM on December 17, 2014 [2 favorites]


I participate in thoughtful forums about my entertainment. I've written thousands of posts about everything from the use of terrorism as a tactic in DS9 to the color symbolism in Breaking Bad to contrasting the set lighting strategies of Arrow and The Flash. I've written another thousand or so posts analyzing the RPG systems of Bethesda, Bioware, Obsidian, Blizzard, etc., the problems of MMO design, aesthetics vs. engine as a tool for evaluating game art, etc. And probably a few hundred more posts analyzing Minecraft--the game, player-made maps, mods for the game, aesthetics, the value of various design decisions made in the update process, and so on.

I also teach myself things. Knitting, crochet, 3D modeling and texturing, digital and analog painting, paper crafts, bookbinding, jewelry making, sewing, etc.
posted by xyzzy at 12:00 PM on December 17, 2014 [4 favorites]


decreasing attention span and ability to focus

I feel sure the internet is hurting me here. Can't help you with it other than suggesting site blockers (which are too easy to get around) and the use of hourly or half-hourly timers to increase awareness of time passing, because it's got me by the shorties.
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:29 PM on December 17, 2014


One thing that worked for me for long stretches of time is deplugging. Having no internet in the house. Now that I am re-plugged it's been harder for me to stay focused and ontask with things. Now I'm trying to figure out how to deplug without deplugging. I read a blog the other day about an author who decided to deplug and he goes to cofee shops with wi-fi to do his daily internet tasks because he insists he's more productive in his life when he doesn't have internet in the home.
posted by rancher at 12:32 PM on December 17, 2014 [1 favorite]


Adding to johnnie dummkopf: get the GRE Prep Book, by whatever publisher, and start prepping for whatever your worst subject is. I do this with math, and it's painful, but sticking at it pays off.
posted by mmiddle at 12:40 PM on December 17, 2014


I go offline a half-day every week and don't use electronic devices during that time (my car doesn't count). Works wonders. I also have hobbies that require high dexterity and lots of thinking: knitting, piano, and playing a very story and puzzle heavy dungeons and dragons campaign. These things really feed my curious brain.

And I also give myself "permission to blob" at least once a week where I just sit and binge on bad bad bad reality television like Real World Challenges on MTV. Don't tell anyone - that's one of my biggest secrets!
posted by sockermom at 1:01 PM on December 17, 2014 [1 favorite]


I like two reddit groups for practical tips and support with self-discipline and self-improvement. (You run the risk of spending to much time on reddit...)

http://np.reddit.com/r/getdisciplined/

http://np.reddit.com/r/theXeffect/

Prof. Barbara Oakley offers a free coursera class that is just fantastic for increasing effective learning. She also has a book. Her materials refer to math and science skills, but her approach works with any form of study or practice.
posted by valannc at 1:04 PM on December 17, 2014


Make your mindless entertainment mindful! Watch films actively, and try to critique them... even dumb films can be a stimulus for smart thoughts. Chase the thoughts through to the end and never be satisfied with "it was stupid" or "it was really good" - pinpoint why! The same applies to books or TV shows.

Learn something - depending on your level of motivation, an online course from somewhere like Coursera, or a new skill like dancing, or even a language can give you a solid mental workout. Give yourself a concrete target like "know how to introduce my family and order at a restaurant in French" or "get through at least 3 different dances" which is difficult enough that one try isn't enough but easy enough that you can definitely hit it with some effort.

Remember that you have more than two senses and more ways to express yourself than just typing and talking. Touch, draw, smell, taste, build, dance, and cook!
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 1:25 PM on December 17, 2014


I use a library card, myself.





I love libraries.
posted by alex_skazat at 3:50 PM on December 17, 2014 [4 favorites]


Decide that you'll pause for one minute (literally one minute) before you indulge in any of the activities that fall into the mental junk food category. This seems really small but if you have to wait a full minute before checking twitter, it feels like a lifetime - and it's enough time to consciously decide to do something else that's better for your brain.

Carry something stimulating to read with you all the time - this stops you defaulting to your phone.
posted by girlgenius at 8:41 PM on December 17, 2014 [1 favorite]


Following on GirlGenius's tip: enforce that minute's pause by putting smart things in the path you have to go through to get to dumb things.

So, for example, if you tend to pop mindless entertainment in the DVD player, then keep a language learning DVD, or a challenging film, in the tray. When you turn on the player, that DVD will now be the default choice. It will take an extra moment of effort to swap it with something mindless.

If you have a smartphone, stock the first screen of apps with challenging stuff. As ridiculous as it sounds, I started spending a lot more time with Duolingo when I moved it to my home screen, and moved the mindless games to the second screen. Just having to swipe my finger across my phone was enough to make me think, "What do I really want to do with my time right now?"

Finally, on a more challenging note: ask yourself, "Of all the things I told myself I would do today, which is the hardest and/or scariest?" Then do that first.
posted by yankeefog at 2:03 AM on December 18, 2014 [1 favorite]


I do at least one crossword puzzle every day. With enough practice you can get this done in under 15 minutes (I usually aim for under 10), and crosswords are good mental exercise -- especially when you discover that you've had to solve a clue by approaching it from a totally different angle than your default.

Personally, I use the Shortyz Crosswords Android app. (It downloads free puzzles daily from chosen sources, and there are lots to choose from.) But I'm sure there are iOS apps, and of course you can always do them the old-fashioned way. With a pen.
posted by dryad at 8:12 AM on December 18, 2014


Oh boy, something I know a little about:

1. Read. Do you keep up with the developments in your field? do so. It will help to deepen your understanding and expand your skill-set.

2. Read outside your subject. How is the economic condition of the world related to what you do? Do you do STEM work? Read on the arts and vice versa.

3. Pick problems randomly. I love to pick problems I've solved recently. Think about how you'd solve it if constraints were different. What about if you had a different set of tools?

4. Tooling: What tools do you need? Build them. Can you sell them to others? sell them.

5. Pick arguments that are opposite to what you believe in or know. Argue them (this exercise alone has helped me become a formidable and sharp advocate of my own ideas).

6. Do downtime. Limiting "flabby" time is good but don't cut it out. Schedule it for specific times. You'll enjoy it even more than normal.

7. Exercise: Body helps mind, mind helps body.

8. Meditate: It helps focus and creativity.
posted by gadha at 8:17 AM on December 18, 2014


I like to debate strangers on the internet about whether or not my favorite TV series is good or bad. Also, I think it depends on what OP wants to achieve. I mean brain training doesn't improve actual cognitive skills ...other than being better at brain games which may or may not be relevant.

Although, I have a TV but I admit most of the time I will create a backlog of shows I want to watch than channel surf. I'm not a fan of just wandering around from channels but instead I prefer to watch a specific show or series. It's similar to how magazines are cheap and not really high literature but appeal to a wide audience. It's not something that makes a person less intelligent per se but it's not my ideal kind of entertainment.

Well-run and active discussion communities are great like Mefi/AskMefi. Reddit is just ...OK and Twitter feels frivolous but then again I might not be the target audience of either. I could mention Tumblr but it's just a endless stream of photography and artwork for me which is nice but not really enlightening.

Almost forgot but if you have a niche hobby you can subscribe to RSS feeds using a free reader app or site. Sometimes I will add feeds for sites I'm not 100% interested in the author's specific works but I like them enough to want to keep track of his/her new projects.
posted by chrono_rabbit at 1:09 PM on December 19, 2014


I turned to watching TV at the time of huge and non-ending stress, years of it. I also discovered mystery/crime books at that time.
I guess if I see myself getting in this kind of dumb and numb state of mind and body, I need to try to do something about stress in my life.
posted by Oli D. at 6:49 AM on December 21, 2014


« Older Help me name this collective of cinematographers   |   Where can I learn about auto dealer's monthly and... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.