We all have heard of just-in-time manufacturing.
Having the right parts, arrive at the right time for the right people.
Also just-in-time learning.
The idea that you can learn what you need when you need it.
But what about just-in-time thinking?
You can access just the right mode of thinking at the moment you need it.
Let’s call this just-in-time Switch Thinking.
Why would we need this approach?
Most of life’s important moments don’t give us notice.
You don’t get a warning before a difficult conversation turns emotional.
You don’t get time to prepare before nerves kick in during a presentation.
You don’t get a rehearsal before doubt, pressure, or self-judgement suddenly appear.
And yet, much of the advice we’re given assumes the opposite.
We’re told to prepare more.
Practice longer.
Meditate daily.
Build better habits in advance.
All of that can help — but it misses a crucial reality:
When it really matters, you don’t need more preparation.
You need the ability to switch your mode of thinking — right then and there.
This is where Just-in-Time Switching comes in.
The principle is always the same:
Just-in-Time Switching applies this same logic to the mind.
Instead of trying to store up the “right mindset” in advance, you learn how to access the right way of thinking at the moment it’s needed.
The real problem isn’t skill — it’s access
Most people already have far more capability than they realise.
They’ve:
- learned the skills
- practised the behaviours
- built the knowledge
- done the preparation
Yet when pressure arrives, that capability often disappears.
Golfers hit the ball beautifully on the range — then struggle on the course.
People rehearse conversations — then go blank when emotions rise.
Creative thinkers freeze when ideas are needed most.
This isn’t a lack of ability.
It’s a loss of access.
Under pressure, our thinking narrows.
We default to worry, control, self-judgement, or overthinking.
In Switch Thinking terms, we get stuck in the wrong mode at the wrong time.
In Switch Thinking there are two modes – Box Mode and Ball Mode.
These modes are informed by the lates brain science.
Just-in-Time Switching is about restoring access to either of these modes.
What is Just-in-Time Switching?
Just-in-Time Switching is the ability to make a small, deliberate shift in how you think, feel, or focus in the moment it matters.
Not before.
Not after.
In the moment itself.
It’s not about calming down completely.
It’s not about positive thinking.
It’s not about forcing confidence.
It’s about creating a brief pause — a switch — that interrupts automatic thinking and opens up a more useful response.
In neuroscience terms, this kind of pause activates the brain’s salience network, which helps shift attention between different mental states.
In plain language, it gives you back choice.
All you need is to make a small switch – often in less than 2 minutes.
Why small switches work
Recent research on micro-mindfulness and attentional control shows something encouraging: the brain doesn’t need long periods of practice to shift state.
Attention can re-orient in seconds.
Emotional reactivity can soften with a brief pause.
Cognitive flexibility can return quickly when automatic loops are interrupted.
This is why a switch that takes less than two minutes can be enough.
Switch Thinking it should be noted revolves around 2 minute switches.
The power isn’t in the time you take.
It’s in the timing of the switch.
Here is Just-in-Time Switch Thinking in action:
- Before speaking in a meeting
Switch off worrying about how you’ll be judged
Switch on curiosity about contributing one useful thought - When creativity stalls
Switch off searching for the “right” idea
Switch on playfulness or imagination - When tension rises
Switch off trying to control the outcome
Switch on presence and attention to the next small step
Each of these is a Just-in-Time Switch — a small move that changes the trajectory of the moment.
A new way to learn — and perform
Just-in-Time Switching also explains why Switch Thinking is such a powerful way to learn.
It’s:
- fast
- active
- experiential
- suited to real attention spans
Instead of studying ideas and hoping to remember them later, you learn by switching in real moments.
The learning happens through experience, not explanation.
This is especially important in a world where life is unpredictable and pressure is constant.
The moments that matter don’t wait for us to be ready.
The essence of Switch Thinking
At its heart, Switch Thinking isn’t about changing who you are.
It’s about changing how you meet the moment.
Just-in-Time Switching captures this perfectly. It’s the skill of noticing when your thinking isn’t helping — and making a small, intentional switch that brings you closer to your best.
Not someday.
Not after more preparation.
Right now.
Because when it matters most, the right switch — at the right moment — can change everything.