The brain has two modes of thinking that Dr. Oakley
simplifies as “focused,” in which learners concentrate
on the material, and “diffuse,” a neural resting state
in which consolidation occurs — that is, the new
information can settle into the brain. (Cognitive
scientists talk about task-positive networks and
default-mode networks, respectively, in describing the
two states.) In diffuse mode, connections between bits
of information, and unexpected insights, can occur.
That’s why it’s helpful to take a brief break after a
burst of focused work.
TAKE A BREAK
To accomplish those periods of focused and diffuse-mode
thinking, Dr. Oakley recommends what is known as the
Pomodoro Technique, developed by one Francesco Cirillo.
Set a kitchen timer for a 25-minute stretch of focused
work, followed by a brief reward, which includes a break
for diffuse reflection. (“Pomodoro” is Italian for
tomato — some timers look like tomatoes.) The reward —
listening to a song, taking a walk, anything to enter a
relaxed state — takes your mind off the task at hand.
Precisely because you’re not thinking about the task,
the brain can subconsciously consolidate the new
knowledge. Dr. Oakley compares this process to “a
librarian filing books away on shelves for later
retrieval.”
As a bonus, the ritual of setting the timer can also
help overcome procrastination. Dr. Oakley teaches that
even thinking about doing things we dislike activates
the pain centers of the brain. The Pomodoro Technique,
she said, “helps the mind slip into focus and begin work
without thinking about the work.”
“Virtually anyone can focus for 25 minutes, and the more
you practice, the easier it gets.”
PRACTICE
“Chunking” is the process of creating a neural pattern
that can be reactivated when needed. It might be an
equation or a phrase in French or a guitar chord.
Research shows that having a mental library of
well-practiced neural chunks is necessary for developing
expertise.
Practice brings procedural fluency, says Dr. Oakley, who
compares the process to backing up a car. “When you
first are learning to back up, your working memory is
overwhelmed with input.” In time, “you don’t even need
to think more than ‘Hey, back up,’ ” and the mind is
free to think about other things.
Chunks build on chunks, and, she says, the neural
network built upon that knowledge grows bigger. “You
remember longer bits of music, for example, or more
complex phrases in French.” Mastering low-level math
concepts allows tackling more complex mental acrobatics.
“You can easily bring them to mind even while your
active focus is grappling with newer, more difficult
information.”
KNOW THYSELF
Dr. Oakley urges her students to understand that people
learn in different ways. Those who have “racecar brains”
snap up information; those with “hiker brains” take
longer to assimilate information but, like a hiker,
perceive more details along the way. Recognizing the
advantages and disadvantages, she says, is the first
step in learning how to approach unfamiliar material.
