Capacity
Your cognitive capacity is appropriately represented by a computer and a web browser with multiple tabs open.
Sometimes the volume of tabs exceeds the computer’s ability to keep up: cognitive capacity is low.
Sometimes your dual-screen setup, ergonomic keyboard, and AI-enhanced tab management application are all working seamlessly: cognitive capacity is high.
When you have too many tabs open you will inevitably run into a scenario where each tab is fighting for a little more bandwidth than you can spare.
Closing tabs and a full restart are more efficient solutions than trying to find a way to supercharge your internet bandwidth and processing speeds on the fly.
This is the trick your brain plays with capacity: it will default to finding a solution for more capacity by trying to add net-new rather than consider where to trim down.
The feeling you feel when you close a tab that has been open for months (but what if I need it tomorrow?!) transfers to how you engage with your cognitive load.
Like the tab, something that is dropped can be picked up once again when relevant.
The barrier is reminding your brain that it is capable of doing so in order to optimize capacity.
Stay Calm and Find the Coffee Machine,
- Morning Cup