ÜBERMAD

Action

Rehearse the steps in your mind

Mentally simulate how a task or problem unfolds, step by step, and how you'll handle it.

A calm man on a bench with eyes closed walks two fingers up a small wooden staircase beside him, again and again.

Studies (2)

  1. Paper

    More teens who pictured tomorrow's task at bedtime got it done within four days
    TestedHelped

    Girls who pictured starting tomorrow's task at bedtime got it done in four days more often than the sea group.

    Small randomised trial of 34 teenage girls in China who put things off · vs girls who pictured relaxing by the sea · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ groups weren't properly compared; numbers unreliable; summary claims more than the results show

  2. Paper

    Picturing each step of a problem helped gifted students put things off less
    TestedHelped

    Gifted students who rehearsed each step of a problem in their minds put things off less than untrained students.

    Small randomised trial of 30 gifted high school students in Iran · vs students who got no training · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

Often used with it