No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp 246: Amishi Jha: Push-ups for Your Brain (Best of NSE)
Jan 19, 2026
Amishi Jha, a neuroscientist and mindfulness expert, dives into the intricacies of attention in our technology-driven lives. She opens up about how nearly half of our waking moments are spent mind-wandering and the importance of reclaiming our focus. With just 12 minutes of mindfulness meditation daily, Jha explains how we can enhance our attention, combat stress, and improve mental resilience. She even shares a unique exercise to observe our thoughts without attachment, all while connecting her insights to personal experiences of loss and healing.
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Half Our Waking Life Is Missed
- Half of our waking experience we are not paying attention to the thing we intend to do.
- This habitual mind-wandering is partly adaptive but reduces our access to life’s moments.
Attention As A Subsampling Solution
- Attention restricts information so the brain can analyze a manageable subset deeply.
- By subsampling the world we build usable representations to act purposefully.
Watch For Attention’s Kryptonite
- Notice stress, threat, and negative mood because they hijack attention inward.
- Reduce perceived overwhelm and social threat to protect goal-directed focus.
