Learn to Think in Color

When Does the Average Person Not Actually Resemble Anyone in the Group? An average can accurately describe a population while failing to describe any individual person within it. The problem becomes more pronounced when averages across several characteristics are combined into one statistical profile. This sounds counterintuitive because additional information usually feels like additional accuracy. If average height tells us something about a population, then adding average weight, arm length, income, age, and other characteristics seems as though it should bring us closer to describing the typical person. Sometimes the opposite happens. Each additional characteristic can make the statistical portrait more detailed while reducing the number of actual people who resemble it. Gilbert Daniels and the Search for the Average Man In 1952, Gilbert S. Daniels analyzed anthropometric measurements from 4,063 members of U.S. Air Force flying personnel. He selected ten body dimensions useful for ...

How Can You Improve Your Memory? Small daily upgrades that help your brain remember more and forget less Big-picture framing If you’ve ever walked into a room and forgotten why, you’ve probably wondered how to  improve your memory . The good news is that memory isn’t a fixed trait you’re stuck with; it’s more like a skill you can train with the right habits and techniques. In this post, we’ll zoom out on what memory really is, then zoom in on practical tools you can use today—at work, at school, or in daily life. You’ll learn how to make information “stickier,” how to space your learning so it lasts, and how to design your environment so your brain doesn’t have to work quite so hard. By the end, you’ll have a simple, repeatable playbook you can explain to others. Your Memory Isn’t a Filing Cabinet (It’s More Like a Spotlight) A lot of people think memory is a giant mental filing cabinet: if you can’t “find the file,” something is wrong with you. A better analogy is a  spotligh...