When you see repetition, forced output, or errors — switch pools, do not push through

Why This Is a Rule

Each cognitive pool has distinct degradation signatures that appear before conscious awareness registers depletion. Creative pool degradation: you're producing variations of the same idea instead of new ones. Analytical pool degradation: errors increase, you reread the same paragraph without comprehension, logic feels effortful. Social pool degradation: you disengage from conversations, responses become rote, patience drops.

These markers are observable in real time if you know what to look for. They signal that the current pool is depleted and continued work will produce negative returns — output that needs rework, decisions that need reversal, or social interactions that damage relationships.

The rule overrides schedule-based planning: even if you have 45 minutes left in your "writing block," if the creative pool shows degradation markers, switch to a different pool type. The remaining 45 minutes of writing would produce rework; 45 minutes of analysis or admin would produce clean output from a fresh pool. The schedule is a guideline; the degradation markers are real-time data.

When This Fires

• You notice yourself producing the same idea in different words (creative depletion)
• Error rate increases visibly during analytical work (analytical depletion)
• You feel impatient or disengaged during a social interaction (social depletion)
• Any work session where output quality is visibly declining despite continued effort

Common Failure Mode

Interpreting degradation markers as laziness and pushing through. "I just need to focus harder." But the markers aren't motivation failures — they're resource depletion signals. Pushing through a depleted pool produces low-quality output while preventing the pool from recovering. The "disciplined" response actually costs more than the "lazy" response of switching pools.

The Protocol

When degradation markers appear: (1) Notice the specific signal — repetition? errors? disengagement? (2) Name it: "My [creative/analytical/social] pool is depleted." (3) Switch to a different pool type immediately. Don't finish the current block — the remaining time would be negative-value. (4) Write a ready-to-resume note for the depleted task (see Write a one-minute ready-to-resume note before every task switch). (5) Return to the depleted pool type only after at least one full block of different-pool work.