#111: Clear thinking

I can trace the inception of Plane Thoughts back to 2014, when I was making a big decision: whether to pursue an MSc in Cognitive and Decision Sciences at UCL or an MPhil in Economics at the University of Cambridge.

It was a head-versus-heart choice I really struggled with when I noticed how much clearer my mind felt when I was on a flight, high above the world, disconnected. At the time, I was backpacking across India and Southeast Asia, and those long journeys became my natural space for reflection.

Fast forward to this week: I’ve been making some big decisions. But this week I had no flights to escape into clarity. Instead, I had one of my busiest weeks in months, which has not been conducive to deep, clear thinking at all.

Work stress, social commitments, self-care squeezed in at the edges, and little mental space. This is a situation many of us face. We consider clarity essential for the ‘big’ trajectory-changing decisions, but it’s the everyday decisions we make that often shape our lives the most.

So here’s what I tried this week to create better conditions for clear thinking:

This week in my life

Turning the music off – I rarely leave the house without my headphones in, but this week I went without. Walks, commutes, and chores became space for thought rather than background noise. Constant stimulation competes for attention, limiting the brain’s ability to consolidate ideas and memories. By contrast, silence allows the default mode network—the brain’s reflective system—to do its work.

Optimising for sleep – Sleep is the foundation for clarity, yet it’s often the first thing we sacrifice. It can also be affected by the very things we are thinking about, creating a negative loop. I know the timing of my final meal has a significant impact on my sleep quality (tracked with my Whoop), so on a couple of nights, I (uncharacteristically) ate out near the office rather than commuting and then cooking later at home.

Writing in my journal – I firmly believe that writing forces thoughts into coherent sentences, which clarifies them in the process. It also carves out protected time to think. One extended early-morning journalling session gave me the perspective that the rest of the week hadn’t allowed. Journaling also helps me identify my biases and make important connections.

Understanding biases – We all have them; some we’re aware of, others less so. Emotions exacerbate them, and therefore, emotional regulation is critical for rational decision-making. My morning journalling ritual—silence, a slow and involved multi-step iced coffee process, and then writing—provides general calm and emotional regulation for the day ahead.

A stern word with yourself – We can lament difficult circumstances and wish they were different. But the reality we face is the only one that exists, and no amount of wishing for the perfect conditions will make them so. Rumination about factors outside of our control not only wastes time but also clouds our thinking further. As someone with a tendency to ask ‘what-ifs’, a stern reminder to myself to work with the reality I have, not the one I want, helps focus.

Just-in-time learning – Instead of passively consuming more input, when I did want to read, I sought knowledge directly relevant to my situation. I picked up Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish. Learning sticks better when tied to real decisions. This also helped me leverage the benefits of identity for habit formation: ‘I am someone who understands and implements the important foundations to making good decisions in my life’

Limiting digital distractions – Obvious, but essential in today’s age. A single phone check for just seconds can cost many minutes of lost focus. In general, I was on my phone less throughout the week, but keeping mine entirely out of reach during specific periods created the uninterrupted space I needed.

None of this is revolutionary, but the combination made a difference. Clear thinking isn’t a gift; it is cultivated through intention and the choices we make about rest, attention, and presence.

Implementation idea

What could you change this week to create better conditions for clear thinking?

— AJ

On my bedside table:

📖 Non-fiction: Clear Thinking: The art and science of making better decisions by Shane Parrish

📚Fiction: The island of missing trees by Elif Shafak

💬 Quote: “Be yourself so that the people looking for you can find you.” - Arlan Hamilton

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