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Improve your brain’s subconscious practical approach to thinking fast.

Humans have a common method of processing mental limitations. It's called a heuristic, which is linked to thinking types like educated guesses, intuition, rule of thumb, situational intelligence, and stereotypes.

The definition of a heuristic, according to dictionary.com, is "a simple, practical approach to problem-solving and decision-making that is more efficient than using trial and error." When we use heuristics, we can bypass the need for careful and deliberative thinking to come to a conclusion more quickly.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Educated Guessing

Think of it this way, have you ever been in a situation where you didn't know the answer to something, so you just took your best guess? This is an example of using a heuristic. We use educated guesses when we don't have all of the information that we need to come to a solid and factual conclusion, but we have to come to a conclusion nonetheless.

You can make smarter, educated guesses by taking the time to consider all of the information that you do have and using that to inform your guessing. It sometimes requires you to set aside biases and see the nuanced details of life around you. For example, if you are trying to guess how long it will take you to get somewhere, you might consider the time of day, the day of the week, the traffic in the area, and any other relevant factors.

Intuition

Intuition is another form of heuristic. Intuition is our "gut feeling" about something, which can often guide us to make good decisions. Intuition is often based on our past experiences, so it can be a helpful tool when making decisions in the present.

Imagine that you are considering whether or not to buy a new car. You might use your intuition to help you make this decision. You might think about other cars you have owned and how they have worked out for you. You might also think about your current car and how it has been performing lately. Based on your past experiences, you might develop a feeling about whether or not buying a new car is the right decision for you.

Intuition isn't just a feeling that comes out of nowhere. The term gut feeling is misleading because it implies that the feeling is inside of you and out of your control, activated by some higher power to help you 'feel' the right choices in life if you listen closely. In reality, intuition comes from the reptilian part of your brain that is always on the lookout for danger. The limbic system in your brain constantly monitors your environment and sends signals to the rest of your body to help you stay safe. This is what we call the fight-or-flight response.

In other words, your choices, when made through the process of intuition, are based on your past experiences and the knowledge you have acquired about the world around you.

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Rule of Thumb

A rule of thumb is a heuristic that is based on an estimate or approximation. It is a way of making a decision without doing all of the necessary calculations. It's how we solve problems and make choices without exact information at hand.

A rule of thumb is often associated with idioms like, "Never put all of your eggs in one basket." This is a saying you might use to decide how to invest your money. You might use this rule of thumb to decide how much money to invest in stocks and how much to keep in a savings account.

Obviously, "Never put all of your eggs in one basket." is not a science or a mathematical choice rooted in data and financial forecasting models, but it's a practical way of making a decision without overthinking it.

The best way to use a rule of thumb in your life, to navigate your best life, is to understand the guidelines for when it's appropriate to use one.

Here are some general guidelines for using a rule of thumb:

When you don't have all of the information that you need;

When you need to make a decision quickly;

When the stakes are low;

When you have a good understanding of the risks.

Situational Intelligence

Situational intelligence is understanding and navigating your way through different social situations. It's a form of emotional intelligence that allows you to interact with the world around you in an effective and appropriate way.

Situational intelligence requires you to be aware of your own emotions and the emotions of others. It's about understanding how your words and actions affect those around you.

Imagine yourself at a party. You see someone you know, but you're not sure if you should go talk to them. What do you do?

If you have strong situational intelligence, you can read the situation and decide whether or not it is appropriate to go talk to the person. You will take into account the location of the party, the type of party it is, who else is there, and what the person is doing. You will also consider your emotions and how you feel in the moment. Based on all of these factors, you will decide whether or not it is a good idea to go talk to the person.

To improve your situational intelligence skills, you can:

Pay attention to your own emotions and how they change in different situations;

Observe the emotions of others and how they change in different situations;

Think about the consequences of your words and actions before you say or do them.

Photo by little plant on Unsplash

Stereotypes

A stereotype is a generalization often based on preconceived notions or prejudices that is not necessarily accurate, making it a heuristic. We use stereotypes to make sense of the world around us and to understand people who are different from us.

While stereotypes can be helpful in some ways, they can also be harmful. When we use stereotypes, we make assumptions about people based on their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or national origin. These assumptions can lead to discrimination and prejudice.

If you want to avoid using stereotypes, it's essential to be aware of the preconceived notions and prejudices that you have. When you meet someone different from you, try to avoid making assumptions about them. Instead, get to know them as an individual.

And remember stereotyping isn't just about people; you can do it with inanimate objects too. For example, if you see a luxury car, you might assume the driver is wealthy. But that's not always the case. The driver could be leasing the vehicle or borrowing it from a friend.

So, the next time you make a quick choice, based on a type of approximation, know that you might be using a heuristic. But also know that you can improve the way you make decisions by being aware of the different biases and heuristics that exist.

Recently, 9to5Mac.com asked their Twitter followers what Android features they wished their iPhone had. In a world where smartphone updates are incremental at best, the replies were an interesting look at where the iPhone could go next. Here are the seven most requested features.

1. USB-C Charging

Apple’s Lightning connector was first introduced with the iPhone 5 back in September 2012. However, it’s starting to show its age. Today, it is becoming increasingly frustrating to swap between different cables for different devices. Can’t we just have one connector for all our devices?

Recent reports have suggested this utopian world might not be too far away. If the iPhone had a USB-C connector, I know my life would be a lot easier, and my iPhone would be a lot easier to charge, given the numerous other USB-C devices we have at home.

2. Always-on Display

Apple is rumored to introduce an always-on display (AOD) with the iPhone 14 Pro this September. However, Android phones have had this feature for years.

An always-on display is helpful to display the time or widgets on the lock screen of your device. Tap to wake is great, but nothing beats a hands-free glance across your desk. I love this feature on my Apple Watch, and I can’t wait to get it on my iPhone.

3. Home Screen App Layouts

Springboard has served the iPhone well over the years, but it still prevents you from placing an app anywhere on your home screen. The iPhone will always fill your screen from the top left corner and move sequentially to the right (and to the following line) as you add more.

It doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to think that Apple could allow you to put apps wherever you want them on that familiar grid pattern. Yet, despite recent moves to allow more customization, home screen app layouts seem locked in place, at least for the near future.

4. Split Screen Multitasking

The iPad has seen numerous updates to address its multitasking abilities. The iPhone, not so much. In a way, that makes sense. The iPhone is a different kind of device. It is used for other things.

However, split-screen multitasking would be a welcome addition for those who would take advantage of it. iPhone screens are bigger than ever, and there are lots of scenarios where it would come in handy.

For many people, the iPhone is their primary computing device, so more multitasking options seem like an easy win for the next version of iOS.

5 Things You Need to Know About Apple’s New Stage Manager

It’s time to rethink window management

medium.com

5. Reverse Wireless Charging

The first iteration of wireless charging let you place your device on a Qi charger to recharge the battery. However, it wasn’t long before Android phones went a step further and allowed you to use your phone as the charging pad for other devices like headphones or even another smartphone.

So, imagine what it would be like to charge your AirPods by placing the case on the back of your iPhone. It would be amazing! But is this feature coming to the iPhone any time soon? Well, technically, it already has.

Apple already allows you to charge the Magsafe battery pack from an iPhone if the phone itself is connected to a power supply. Right now, this is the only accessory that can use wireless charging, but it gives me hope that more could be on the way.

6. Archiving Text Messages

When people move from Android to iOS, they are often confused at the absence of options to archive text message conversations. iOS will let you save iMessage conversations for 30 days, one year, or forever, but on Android, you can archive, delete, or restore conversations at will.

If you’ve been an Apple user all your life, you might not know what you are missing here, but the ability to save conversations without having them in your inbox is a great option to have. It can be a great way to save messages from loved ones or to keep prying eyes away from your recent conversations.

7. App Cache Controls

When I look at the Twitter app on my iPhone, it takes up 1.06GB of space. However, the app itself is only 218MB. So, why does it take up five times as much space on my iPhone?

The answer is app cache. Like a web browser, the Twitter app caches links, photos, and videos so that they can be viewed more quickly when called upon.

On an Android phone, you can delete the app cache to shrink the footprint an app uses on your device. On an iPhone, you have to delete the app and then re-install it to free up that space. This is tedious.

I don’t know whether Apple wants people to buy iPhones with more storage or if it just doesn’t see this as much of a problem, but I want more control over how much space apps use on my iPhone. App cache controls give you that.

Have Your Say!

Are there any other Android features you want to see on an iPhone? Leave a comment below, and let me know what you think.

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