Summary of Thinking Straight in an Age of Information Overload | Daniel Levitin | Talks at Google

00:00:00 - 00:50:00

Daniel Levitin discusses the importance of thinking straight and how focusing on a constellation of ideas can help you achieve task completion. He also discusses how stress can affect sleep and how taking time off can help overcome difficult challenges.

• 00:00:00 Dr. Daniel Levitin discusses the latest research on multitasking and how it doesn't actually work, and how we should instead focus on sequential tasks. He also discusses the enormous amount of information we are constantly taking in and how it is stressing us out. He suggests that we should focus on using our brains to organize and access information more efficiently.
• 00:05:00 The author discusses the idea that we are generally not doing as much as we think we are when we are multitasking, and that breaks are a key part of being productive. He goes on to say that naps are also very helpful, and that many companies are promoting breaks and naps as a way to be more productive.
• 00:10:00 Daydreaming is a mode of thinking where loosely affiliated thoughts flow into one another, producing creative ideas. This mode is essential for problem solving and is different from the task engagement mode, where thoughts are tightly connected to the task at hand. Taking a break, like walking or taking a nap, helps to hit the reset button and allow the brain to refill its glucose stores.
• 00:15:00 The video discusses the research that shows people who work long hours don't achieve as much as those who work shorter hours, and discusses some ways to be more productive. It also discusses the idea of "brain extenders," which are things in the environment that help you remember information. Finally, it discusses the benefits of writing things down rather than typing them.
• 00:20:00 Daniel Levitin discusses how the information age has allowed for greater productivity and efficiency, as well as increased responsibility for medical decision making. He discusses the importance of teaching young children information literacy, and provides an example of how to ask the correct questions to determine whether a drug is effective.
• 00:25:00 Daniel Levitin discusses the idea that most medications don't work on everyone, and that in order to make informed decisions, we need to be able to evaluate information quickly and creatively. He also discusses the importance of being organized and efficient in our workday.
• 00:30:00 Daniel Levitin discusses the benefits of slowing down and focusing on tasks in an age of information overload. He points to research that suggests slowing down can increase accuracy, depth of processing, and creativity. Levitin also recommends pairing someone with Attention Deficit Disorder who is able to be creative with a more focused, logical person, in order to create a productive team.
• 00:35:00 In an age of information overload, productivity experts recommend focusing on one task at a time in order to achieve maximum efficiency. For things that take longer to learn, such as musical instruments or sports, it is important to focus on the task at hand and engage in deliberate practice.
• 00:40:00 Daniel Levitin discusses the importance of thinking straight and how focusing on a constellation of ideas can help you achieve task completion. He also discusses how stress can affect sleep and how taking time off can help overcome difficult challenges.
• 00:45:00 Daniel Levitin discusses how various distractions can have a negative impact on cognitive processing, noting that there needs to be a balance between too much information and no information. He gives the example of a person with Attention Deficit Disorder, who can better focus on files if they are filed by color instead of by words. He also encourages readers to take their time and revisit a book or video multiple times.
• 00:50:00 Daniel Levitin discusses the difference between reading literary fiction and reading Twitter, noting that there is a world of difference in terms of how well one thinks. He also discusses the importance of knowing one's individual neurogenetic makeup and the usefulness of setting an alarm to avoid falling asleep deeply.