Brain orders

Making thinking orders to your brain.

I tend to enjoy the times when I find myself thinking too hard. Grappling with a stubborn problem, usually software engineering 1, chasing the elusive clarity, or trying out competing thoughts feels like exercise for the mind. It’s taxing, yes, but it’s also rewarding. There’s a rhythm and a sense of purpose in knowing that you’re working towards the new conscious limit. Pushing too hard for too long often leaves me stuck, looping my cogs in frustration. This is where the concept of “brain orders” comes into play.

Our brains are incredible, but they’re not machines. They thrive on direction, subtle nudges, and a balance of effort and rest. When you issue an order to your brain—like posing a question, setting an intention, or starting a task but intentionally leaving it unfinished—you’re engaging its natural tendency to seek resolution. The unfinished task nags at the back of your mind, not as a source of stress but as a gentle hum, a persistent background process that works while you’re busy with other things.

In the case of the Hemingway Trick, our brain continues to think about the unfinished task, and when we come back to it, our brain is primed to easily pick up where it left off. It’s as though we’ve handed our subconscious a to-do list, and it’s been quietly working on solutions while we’ve been away. This deliberate pause—stopping mid-thought, mid-sentence, or midway - creates a springboard effect. When you return, the momentum is already there, ready to carry you forward.

This isn’t just about writing or creative work; it’s a principle that applies to all forms of problem-solving. When we pause deliberately, we give ourselves space to let the ideas simmer, to let connections form that we might not have seen in the intensity of focused effort. It’s a reminder that thinking doesn’t always have to be linear. Sometimes, the best breakthroughs come when we step back and let our brains do what they’re wired to do: wander, reflect, and return with insights.

But brain orders aren’t just about rest; they’re also about intention. When we give our minds a clear directive, we create a framework for focus. Think of it like planting a seed. You set the thought in motion, and then you step away, trusting that the mind will tend to it. Whether it’s solving a tricky problem, developing a new idea, or simply organizing your thoughts, this practice taps into the brain’s innate curiosity and problem-solving drive.

The beauty of this approach is that it turns thinking into a partnership rather than a grind. Instead of forcing your way through a problem, you’re collaborating with your mind, respecting its need for both effort and rest. And in that collaboration, you often find the clarity and solutions that seemed so elusive when you were trying to brute-force your way through.

Whenever I’m stuck, I remind myself to give my brain an order before walking away. Sometimes I make orders before the night's sleep. Start the task, but don’t rush to finish it. Pose the question, but don’t demand an immediate answer. Trust that your brain, left to its own devices, will find its way back to you with insights in hand. And when it does, you’ll realize that the best thinking often happens not in the struggle, but in the quiet spaces in between.