Adopt a Scientist Mindset — the Key to Your Progress
Do you find yourself reading lots of books, blogs and articles, but still find yourself not making the progress you want?
Do you find yourself wondering if you are actually absorbing the information you consume?
Do you feel overwhelmed by all the routines, habits and strategies you could be trying?
Well, you’re not alone!
That was me for years, and many others I know before introducing them to this concept.
Today’s Mindset Tool.
Thinking like a scientist — or what I call adopting a Scientist Mindset.
Most people, however, have the mindset of a researcher. They consume lots. Take a tonne of notes. Are a master of highlighting. But for what? An exam on how to live life?
But here’s the thing… there is no exam. It’s just what you do today that matters.
Your days are as a series of mini-tests if you will. With no pass or fail, only data points.
That’s how a scientist thinks.
Scientists have a bias for action. They don’t just research. They test.
They test the things that could move the needle the most first, then get more granular.
They test and focus on just one thing at a time.
They LOVE the process.
They sweat the small stuff.
They fail fast and embrace failure, as they know it’s getting them one step closer to a solution.
Adopting this mindset changed my life.
Previous to it, I was infatuated by the perfect morning routine, and I always felt overwhelmed by the routines and habits I could be doing.
One week I would be hanging upside down by my feet for an hour whilst humming kumbayah. Why? Well, that’s what Tim Ferris does.
Then I’d read something that says that to have the best morning, you actually have to jump on a trampoline for 2 hours whilst chanting your affirmations and clapping your hands! Why? Well, that’s what Tony Robbins does.
I jest, but I was close to that mad.
But everyone is different. What works for Tim Ferris and Tony Robbins may not work for me.
Yes, there may be some strategies that do work. But a lot that don’t.
And the only way I’d find out is by adopting a scientist mindset.
Testing one thing at a time.
Reflecting. Iterating. Improving.
I saw each week as an experiment on how to get the most out of me.
Running one test per week. Starting big with things like when I went to bed and woke — then sweating the small stuff — like the timing of my deep work sessions and when to take breaks.
Taking note in my weekly review of how the test went, whether to keep, drop or improve the new habit or routine.
The result?
Well, over the last 3–4 years, I’ve gained a clear picture of what routines and habits bring out the best in me and those that don’t.
I know the best time and way FOR ME to wake, exercise, read and learn, to meditate, to eat, to walk, to relax… the list goes on and continues to grow.
It’s a continuous process.
One that I love!
And it doesn’t stop with routines and habits.
I apply it to the way I work. I am constantly running A/B tests, keeping score of the winners and losers, looking for themes and learnings.
Fail big. Reflect. Improve. Iterate.
Now over to you.
Time to take action.
What ONE THING do you want to test this week?
What routine, habit do you want to try?
What’s something entirely unlike you that you could test? For just one week!
Thinking this way frees you from fear of failure because it’s just another data point. One thing you can rule off or add to your list of things that bring out the best in you.
It will also lead to you being more consistent, as it makes the process enjoyable and realistic.
Remember what got you here, won’t get you there!
To get there, you need to adopt a scientist mindset — testing ONE small change per week!
You can do that!
Enjoy and hit me up if you have any questions.
Much love,
Joel
