"Olympians aren't just physically exceptional-they're masters at managing where their attention and energy go. Cognitive research finds a key link between working memory and performance: elite athletes are better able to regulate their memory and attention than their less-trained peers, and this ability predicts better performance under pressure. What separates peak performers isn't just effort, but also the discipline to balance their mental load. In other words: their "thoughtload.""
"Consider thoughtload the invisible tax on your ability to perform. It consists of three problems that erode your effectiveness: The cognitive demands of competing priorities The emotional burdens of uncertain times The depleted energy reserves that make everything feel more difficult When thoughtload is high, even talented, motivated people underperform. But Olympians succeed because they refuse to carry unnecessary thoughtload."
Olympians control attention and energy to achieve peak performance, using superior working memory regulation to perform better under pressure. Thoughtload is defined as an invisible tax comprising cognitive demands from competing priorities, emotional burdens from uncertainty, and depleted energy reserves. High thoughtload reduces effectiveness, causing underperformance even among talented, motivated people. Elite athletes reduce unnecessary thoughtload through disciplined focus and prioritization. In everyday work, inboxes and calendars often dictate priorities rather than performance goals, leading to scattered attention and lower productivity. Four strategies are proposed to begin reducing thoughtload, starting with flipping focus toward primary performance objectives.
Read at Fast Company
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