Taking Time to Think: So Simple, yet so Complex
Every month, we try to spend a weekend away from our routine, visiting a new city or small town. We dedicate this time to long walks, good food, and reflecting—gaining distance from the everyday to focus on the topics that truly require it. And without fail, we always come back with at least one great idea.
Thinking from a distance is a scarce resource in a world of immediacy, hyperactivity, and hyperconnectivity. Bill Gates had an interesting strategy to counter this when he was leading Microsoft: every six months, he would take two full weeks just to think—no meetings, no urgent emails, just reading, reflecting, and writing.
At first glance, this might seem like a luxury only someone in his position could afford. But it reveals something fundamental: the immense value of uninterrupted time to reflect on what truly matters in life.
Ironically, the best ideas often don’t come from meetings designed to generate them. Instead, they emerge in silence—in the shower, while driving, or during a walk in nature. That said, it helps to first prime the mind by immersing yourself in certain topics or questions.
This all ties back to the difference between fast thinking and slow thinking.
- Fast thinking is spotting a mistake in a presentation and fixing it instantly.
- Slow thinking is absorbing information about a complex topic, letting it settle in your conscious mind, then your subconscious, and finally allowing your brain to connect the dots and reach breakthrough insights.
Some might say that finding this kind of space is harder than ever today. But if the CEO of Microsoft could step away for two weeks a year without his company collapsing, chances are you can find a few hours now and then. And in that small pocket of calm, you just might discover the ideas that truly make a difference.
