10 Tips for thinking deeper

This article is based on our hit new eBook “How to Think Deeper” available as a free download here. (Limited free coupons)

A generation ago, it was normal to see people deep in thought in public. Whether on a train, in a park, or at a coffee shop. The sight of a man sitting alone thinking and reflecting was common, and a sign that good ideas were coming soon. But the world has changed a lot in the past decade. The deep thinker is no longer a common sight.

The norm today is for everyone to be glued to their phone screens, while listening to some music or podcast with their EarPods, completely cut off from the world around them, and from their own minds. Constantly distracted, our minds do not get the time or the space to mature and develop. The result is an angsty thirty-year-old, afraid of the world and his own mind. This is not normal, and it should not be normalized.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are 10 tips that can help you improve the quality of your thinking today.

1. Set up spaces for thinking which are free from distraction

You should have a dedicated space in your home or neighbourhood for thinking. This can be a prayer room, Masjid, office, park, or anything else. Ensure that it is a place that is distraction free, peaceful, quiet and interruption free. While it is beneficial to step outside one’s comfort zone to find inspiration, it is also important to have a regular thinking spot.

Choose your thinking space carefully, and if you have control over its layout, be intentional in what you set up in that space. Utilizing the same space on most days allows you to get into a state of deep thinking faster.

2. Figure out the times of the day in which your thoughts are clearest and schedule accordingly

There are times of the day when our minds are groggy, and times of the day when our minds are distracted or cluttered. Then there are times of the day in which we experience clarity and focus. This time is not the same for each person. Some people experience clarity in the early hours, others in the afternoon, and others late at night.

Figure out the time of the day or night in which your mind is calmest, clearest, and most focused, and make that your dedicated thinking time. Whether you are a night owl, an early bird, or something in between, choose the time that suits you best, spend that time in your dedicated thinking zone without distractions for best results.

3. Step outside your comfort zone to find inspiration

Occasionally, your dedicated spot may not work for you. This is especially true when you are trying to solve a major problem, make a life-changing decision, or unlock a new creative idea. In such cases, stepping outside your comfort zone could be the key to deeper inspiration.

Visit parts of your city that you have never been to before. Go to a new park, restaurant or coffee shop, or take a different route on your drive home. If you can afford it, travel to a new land and immerse yourself in a new culture. All these steps work wonders for sparking inspiration and unlocking new ideas.

4. Let people know not to disturb you during your thinking time

We live in a time when people expect others to be always available and accessible. It can be difficult to carve out time for deep thinking when constantly interrupted by family, friends, clients, and co-workers. To counter this, you need to be clear with the people in your life that you cannot be interrupted at certain times.

When making time for deep thinking, leave your phone behind or switch it off. Inform your loved ones that you need some interrupted time to think, and they should not disturb you unless it is an emergency and then disappear for a few hours. Without interruptions, you will find yourself diving deeper and unlocking better ideas.

5. Be balanced and make time for rest and recreation too

Do not try to be in a deep-thinking state all day long. This will exhaust your mind and mess up other aspects of your life. Thinking is like exercise, you need to do it regularly to get better at it, but you also need to limit it to avoid straining yourself. Overthinking can lead to headaches and insomnia. Thinking, therefore, also needs to be kept in its place.

If you find yourself overthinking or overstraining your mind, take a break from thinking. This is when distractions become beneficial. Playing a videogame, catching up on the news, or streaming a beneficial video can help relax the mind and take pressure of it. Treat your mind like a muscle, exercise it regularly without overstraining it, and ensure it gets enough rest.

6. Sleep on it

If a particular problem seems unsolvable, do not try to figure it out straight away. After an hour or two of deep thinking, take a break and let your subconscious work on it. Take a nap or go to sleep. Your subconscious will continue working on the problem while you sleep. You may find yourself waking up to an “aha” moment that solves your issues. Sleeping on it is an effective strategy of deep thinking, especially problem solving.

7. Nature inspires. Spend more time in it.

This is simply a reminder of what we already covered in a previous chapter. Touch grass. It is an extremely effective way to supercharge your thinking and creativity. If you feel stuck, go outside. If you need inspiration, go outside. If you are overwhelmed, go outside. Do not underestimate the power of nature in supercharging the brain.

8. Become comfortable with being alone with your thoughts

You must learn to be relaxed and comfortable being alone in silence. Modern minds are overstimulated. To dig deeper and unlock better ideas, we need peace, stillness, and silence. Learn to be at peace with simply sitting and thinking alone.

There is nothing strange or weird about this. It is how the greatest ideas throughout human history were developed. Alone, in silence, you will discover and engage with yourself on a deeper level and unlock levels of thinking, strategy and creativity that you did not even realize were possible.

9. Read deeper

Reading is essential for becoming a deep thinker. Develop a habit of reading daily but ensure that you are reading quality books that develop the mind and help you think deeper. A lot of modern popular books are slop, and do not have any positive impact on the mind. Be aware of such books and be selective about what you read.

Make it a habit to read good books, and to read them often. Try to read as many books per year as possible. Do not just read these books on a surface level but engage with them, converse with them, understand them deeper, and immerse yourself in them. How you read a book is just as important as which books you read.

10. Spend more time with deep thinkers

The company you keep affects the quality of your thoughts. Hang out with nine idiots and guess who is the tenth? Likewise, spend time with deep thinkers and you will pick up some of their good habits. Be picky about the quality of people you hang out with. Their habits, ways of thinking (or lack thereof), and qualities will rub off on to you. Befriend a deep thinker and you will become one yourself.

You will not have high quality friends in consumerist environments. You need to venture outside your comfort zone, meet new people, and make new friends to discover better quality people. Investing in high quality company is just as essential for improving your thinking as investing in good books.

These tips are extracted from our hit new eBook “How to Think Deeper” available as a free download here. (Limited free coupons)