Complexity

• Goals
  • Describe complexity.
  • Skillfully manage complexity. Examples:
    • Easily solve complex problems.
    • Easily learn topics that are complex.
    • Easily complete tasks and projects that are complex.

Complex (What)

Something is complex when it has multiple interconnected parts, making it difficult to understand, execute, or solve.

Rationale

Skill with complexity is worthwhile for several reasons.

1. Feel calm and on top of things that might overwhelm many others. Avoid being overwhelmed. When you are overwhelmed, have a game plan that moves you back to not being overwhelmed.

2. More effectively solve problems, learn, execute complex tasks and projects.

Why Overwhelm Happens

The brain’s working memory can typically hold 4 to 7 items at a time, according to research on cognitive capacity (often cited as Miller’s Law).

When the brain tries to track more than this at once, cognitive overload can occur, leading to feelings of being overwhelmed.

Other factors beyond the number of items also influence overwhelm: fatigue, health, and so on.

Managing Complexity (How To)

1. Metacognition

   • Regularly observe your own thinking and emotions in the present moment.

   • Recognize when complexity is causing stress or confusion.

2. Managing Overwhelm: When you start to feel overwhelmed:

   1. Set a goal to be in control of the situation.

   2. List many ways to reduce overwhelm.

   3. Select the best method(s) for the situation.

   4. Apply the selected method(s).

   5. Reflective Thinking: Think back, learn, and figure out next steps.

Method to Reduce Overwhelm

1. Lists – Offload information onto a checklist or structured outline.

2. Visuals – Use diagrams or mind maps to clarify relationships between interconnected parts.

3. Eliminate distractions – Reduce background noise, notifications, or other sources of cognitive load.

4. Analysis (Break it down) – Divide complex problems into smaller, manageable components.

5. Synthesis (Put it together) – Identify how the parts fit together into a coherent whole.

6. Writing: - Writing things down so that you brain can let go of needing to remember them.

7. Environment: Changing things around you so that you some items that previously got you attention are no longer present.