Leverage Points for Focus Flow and Communitas

Abstract

Society is running at a high pace, and with it the hamster wheel we sometimes perceive ourselves to be in. In more scientific terms, this is called cognitive overload in combination with artificial deadline pressure. There is a notion of overwhelm in combination with perceived time scarcity in terms of the cognitive load of individuals. However, if we as individuals are not living in a sustainable way, how can we attempt to create a sustainable world? This paper provides an autoethnography of the use of leverage points to reduce cognitive load for a computer worker, with insights from literature and self-experiments, as well as a discussion on what is needed for changes on a bigger scale. An understanding of how cognitive load and resilience can be addressed by choosing and using specific leverage points has the potential to increase individual sustainability and resilience, what can be called focus flow, as well as communitas (group flow).