Cognitive Middle Gear (CMG) is that in between type of activity.
It’s listening to a podcast, checking email, or scrolling social.
The brain is engaged, but not challenged or present.
High Gear would mean deep work and flow.
Low Gear would mean high-performance loafing, resting, and unplugging.
High Gear and Low Gear complement each other.
CMG creates distraction, drains energy, and overloads dopamine receptors.
Of course, consuming information on a podcast is often helpful, but it’s worth increasing mindfulness of such consumption.
Checking and scrolling? We all do that too much, probably.
But the point is: minimize Cognitive Middle Gear for the sake of living with meaning and fulfillment.
Because the juice of life is in deep work (meaningful concentration on projects), and deep rest (rich conversations with friends, relaxing by the lake).
In a highly digital world, CMG mindfulness is a superpower.
Cognitive Middle Gear
