The irreducible epistemic atoms underlying the curriculum. 4,828 atoms across 8 types and 2 molecules
Unresolved cognitive commitments — uncaptured thoughts, unfinished tasks, unexternalized plans — consume working memory as persistent background processes until completed or externalized to a trusted system.
Design triggers to work at your minimum cognitive state (tired, distracted, depleted) rather than your maximum state, because triggers must function when you need them most.
For decisions involving three or more options and four or more criteria, externalize the comparison into a weighted decision matrix rather than relying on intuitive averaging, because working memory cannot hold all dimensions simultaneously.
For decisions where options number more than 7, either reduce the option set to 5-7 before evaluation or use elimination criteria to filter before detailed comparison, because choice overload degrades both decision quality and satisfaction above this threshold.
Limit operational checklists to 5-10 items focused exclusively on steps most likely to be skipped or forgotten under load, not comprehensive process documentation.
When cognitive load increases or stress appears, rely on pre-defined explicit sequences rather than intuitive ordering, because implicit sequences degrade under pressure while externalized protocols remain stable.
Track both time cost (hours per week) and cognitive cost (mental bandwidth on 1-5 scale) for each active commitment when budgeting capacity.
Calculate your financial position in concrete terms—months of runway, actual fixed obligations, realistic worst-case scenarios—to replace vague financial dread with specific problems your cognitive system can process.