Tired at Work, Playing Golf in the Winter, and Overthinking

You know those nights where you go to sleep REALLY late? When the alarm goes off and you’re so confused you think it’s the smoke detector? And when you get up you can’t believe it’s time to go to work?

Those days suck—you know you’re going to be dragging ass all day long and it’s just the beginning.

But I’ve noticed that a lot of the time (not all the time), those are the days that I get the most done. It’s almost like I’m a different person:

I complain less
I’m less annoyed
I waste less time
I get more done
Time goes by faster

What’s going on here and what does it have to do with playing golf in the freezing cold?

Playing Golf in the Winter

Over Thanksgiving break, my father-in-law asked me if I wanted to play a round of golf with him, even the temperature was in the low 40s. He convinced me to go and I wound up playing one of the best nine holes of golf I’ve ever played. And I was freezing cold most of the time. Why would I play better when I’m struggling against the cold when I can’t play nearly as well when it’s a balmy 75 degrees out?

Golf is a very mental game, and trying not to overthink what you’re doing and what you want to do is often the hardest part. But I was so preoccupied with the cold and trying to stay warm, that I didn’t have time to worry about keeping my arm tucked, staying level, and giving my knees a little flex.

I just went up there and swung away. And I played much better than I usually do. Here’s proof from a fancy study:

In a 2008 study psychologist Sian L. Beilock of the University of Chicago divided novice and skilled golfers into two groups and instructed them to perform a series of golf putts. The researchers encouraged members of the first group to take their time, whereas they exhorted members of the second group to swing as quick ly as they could. Novice golfers performed less accurately when speed was emphasized, but skilled golfers showed exactly the opposite pattern: they performed best when told to execute quickly and faltered when advised to take their time.

What’s going on there?

Overthinking, That’s What

Both are classic examples of overthinking.

Sometimes we just need to get our heads out of the way to do a good job at something.

Here’s Joe Torre talking about one of his pitchers:

Manager Joe Torre said Schmidt looked a little unsure on the mound.

“He’s thinking about mechanics, and sometimes you over-think that stuff,” Torre said. “The last thing you want to do, whether you’re a pitcher or a hitter, is think about your mechanics when you’re out there.”

Any writer out there knows what this is all about: that’s why pre-writing and shitty first drafts are so important. They help writers get out of the way and get into the flow.

What Can You Do?

Should you stay out late partying every day to become a more efficient/exhausted employee? Sure, it might be fun, but it won’t last.

Instead, try to create controlled distractions that will prevent overthinking without taking you completely out of your game. I would suggest:

Listening to music
Watching TV
Write at coffee shops surrounded by people and noise
Doing it first thing in the morning—don’t give yourself time to think

It may sound counterproductive to be distracted, but give it a try and you’ll see how much more efficient it is that being hyperfocused on what you’re doing.