The Effortlessness Signal

I’ve noticed that new ideas come to me when there’s more variety in my life, when I’m talking to new people, watching new movies, reading new books, or visiting new places. The surface area for idea generation expands.

But there’s a tradeoff, I execute slower and get distracted more easily during this time.

So how do you find the right balance?

I think peak performance comes from switching modes when your current one feels too easy. If you’re effortlessly meeting new people and exploring new places, it’s time to settle into a routine. If routine has become automatic, it’s time to shake things up.

That sense of effortlessness is the signal, it means you’re no longer challenging yourself enough to gain from the experience you are going through.