Sometimes Mindlessness Is Better Than Mindfulness | Scientific American | 12/4/21

Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sometimes-mindlessness-is-better-than-mindfulness/

Summary:

When trying new things it is often important to pay attention and be mindful of what is happening. However, it is counterintuitive to think about and be mindful of everything when doing a well practiced skill.

3 Fun Facts:

1. In a study by Sian Beilock golfers were instructed to think about their swing and say stop when they finished and swung it badly, but when golfers were told to listen to a sound while they were swinging and say tone when they heard the sound they swung better.

2. The effect of paying attention to their swing was so damaging that the golfers actually did better when they were warming up before the experiment began.

3. Often when people “choke under pressure” it is because they are overthinking it and being too mindful.