Lesson 1
The Focus Dividend
Today’s objective is to understand how time scarcity improves focus and drives better performance.
The theory for this section states that when time is limited, people tend to concentrate more, cut distractions, and make sharper decisions.
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Lesson 2
Tunnelling
In our previous session, we examined how having limited time can enhance focus and drive productivity by creating a sense of urgency.
Today, we’ll delve into how scarcity draws our attention to immediate needs, often at the expense of other priorities, and how this narrowing of focus, called tunneling, can result in overlooked responsibilities and missed opportunities.
The main concept for this session is that scarcity captures attention but reduces awareness of the bigger picture, which can lead to neglect and flawed decision-making.
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Lesson 3
Bandwidth Tax
In our previous session, we discussed how tunneling leads people to focus narrowly on pressing issues while overlooking other important priorities.
Today, we’ll examine how scarcity limits mental resources and explore its impact on attention, memory, and self-control.
The key idea for this session is that scarcity places a significant cognitive burden, depleting mental capacity and diminishing executive function, which in turn lowers overall performance.
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Lesson 4
Slacking
In our previous session, we discussed how scarcity imposes a bandwidth tax, reducing cognitive capacity, impairing executive control, and negatively influencing reasoning and decision-making under stress and pressure.
Today, we’ll examine how the presence of slack—or freedom from scarcity—affects behavior and decision-making.
The core idea for this session is that when resources seem plentiful, people tend to manage them loosely and often ignore trade-offs. However, when slack is removed, pressure intensifies, forcing individuals to prioritize and make more deliberate choices.
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Lesson 5
Scarcity And Short-Term Thinking
In our previous session, we discussed how having Slack can hide trade-offs, while scarcity compels people to prioritize more carefully.
Today, we’ll focus on how scarcity narrows attention, encourages short-term thinking, and often drives people to rely on borrowing as a solution.
The main idea for this session is that scarcity drains mental bandwidth, which hinders long-term planning and leads to quick fixes that may result in significant costs over time.
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Lesson 6
The Scarcity Trap
In our previous session, we examined how relying on short-term borrowing can result in long-term consequences, deepening scarcity over time.
Today, we’ll explore how managing constant immediate challenges can create a scarcity trap and why escaping it through planning becomes so difficult.
The key idea for this session is that scarcity depletes mental capacity, making it harder to plan, maintain self-control, or rebound from challenges, ultimately trapping individuals in cycles that are difficult to break.
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Lesson 7
The Root Of The Problem
In our last session, we discovered how informal yet intentional project planning can boost efficiency and lower stress.
Today, we’ll focus on building a dependable system that supports clearer thinking and smoother execution.
Theory: The guiding idea is that when your environment and tools are well-structured, it reduces friction, making it easier to produce high-quality work with less mental strain.
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Lesson 8
Managing Bandwidth
In the last session, we uncovered the core drivers of the scarcity trap—and how having too little slack keeps people stuck in reactive cycles.
Today’s goal is to understand how managing mental bandwidth can reduce the effects of scarcity and support better everyday choices.
The theory behind this section is that mental bandwidth is a finite resource. When we protect it, we’re better able to think, avoid distractions, and stay effective, even under pressure.
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Lesson 9
Smart Designs For Scarcity
In the last session, we examined how protecting mental bandwidth can loosen scarcity’s hold, making it easier to stay focused and make simpler, smarter choices.
Today’s objective is to explore how small, well-timed supports can help people follow through on their goals, even when their mental capacity is stretched thin.
The theory for this section suggests that scarcity limits attention. But by strategically refocusing people on what matters most, we can help them take action before competing demands pull them off track.
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Lesson 10
Bandwidth And Abundance
In the last session, we looked at how well-designed systems can safeguard your attention and keep you moving forward, even when your mental resources are limited.
Today’s goal is to revisit two core ideas as we wrap up the course.
The theory for this section explains that scarcity shrinks focus and depletes bandwidth, while abundance can lead to procrastination. Both states shape how we make decisions, but by understanding their effects, you can design smarter systems that prevent problems before they arise.
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