I am a student of CA and currently preparing for CA Foundation. I don’t know much yet, but from my experience so far, I’ve realised that our brain can feel both smart and dumb at the same time.
You might say, Sushant, how can the brain be smart and dumb together?
Let me explain.
Our brain is actually very smart in one specific way: it puts more effort into things that show fast results and involve less friction. Wherever results are visible quickly and effort feels lighter, the brain naturally cooperates more.
Let’s understand this with an example.
I started blogging with the intention of learning and helping others learn through my blogs. But honestly, I didn’t like writing much. However, during the whole blogging process, I discovered SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). I started digging deeper into SEO, learned more about it, and applied it consistently. After some time, my blog posts started ranking, and I got enough audience to share insights with.
Learning and practising SEO gave me faster and clearer results compared to writing articles. That is why I naturally spent more time on SEO than on writing itself. This doesn’t mean writing was useless; it just had more friction and slower feedback.
Now let’s look at an example where the brain behaves in a “dumb” way.
After my board exams, I took a 14-day break. On day one of restarting my studies, I was highly motivated to get ahead of my batchmates. I sat down and studied for 3 hours straight and learned well. After that, I thought I had studied enough for the day and decided to rest for 15 minutes. I listened to songs and relaxed, and the day ended.
The next day, motivation was still there. I studied again, this time for about 1.5 hours. Then a thought came to my mind: “Let me take a 15-minute break and start again.” I took the break, but this time I didn’t return after 15 minutes — not after 16, not 17, not 20. I went back after 30 minutes.
Most people would say this is normal and nothing serious happened. But toppers, strong learners, and people with high self-control would say this is not normal. The issue isn’t the break. The issue is that I negotiated with my brain for immediate relief. That negotiation is what I call the “dumb” side of the brain. It constantly looks for instant gratification.
So what is instant gratification?
Instant gratification is the urge to get a reward right now instead of waiting for a bigger or more meaningful reward later.
Some common examples are:
Scrolling reels instead of studying, because it makes us forget our purpose for a moment.
Eating junk food instead of cooking, because hunger wants relief immediately.
Skipping workouts because rest feels good right now.
Buying things on EMI because pleasure is immediate, while payment becomes future-you’s problem.
In the late 1960s, psychologists conducted a simple experiment with young children.
A child was seated alone in a room.
A marshmallow was placed in front of them.
They were told they could either eat one marshmallow immediately or wait for 15 minutes and get two marshmallows.
Then the adult left the room.
Some children ate the marshmallow immediately.
Some waited by covering their eyes, singing, or distracting themselves.
What surprised researchers was what happened later.
They followed these children for many years and found that, on average, the children who waited longer showed better academic performance, better self-control, lower impulsive behaviour, and better long-term outcomes in life.
However, later research showed that environment also played an important role in self-control. It wasn’t only about willpower; trust, stability, and surroundings mattered too.
In the end, we avoid studying not because it is useless, but because it is high-friction. Sitting for long hours is a friction the brain wants relief from. Practising football daily is friction for becoming a better footballer. Growth in any field comes from repeatedly choosing effort over immediate comfort.
Once you understand the role of friction and instant gratification, the next step is designing systems that work even when motivation disappears. I’ve covered that in my post on staying consistent in studies.
How to Stay Consistent in Studies: Science-Backed Tips 2026
Reference:
Stanford Marshmallow Experiment
Sushant Kumar
Founder
As a current B.Com (Hons) student at DU SOL and an active Chartered Accountancy (CA) aspirant, I understand the exact pressure, syllabus confusion, and administrative hurdles students face daily. TheSushant.in was built to provide first-hand, stress-tested guidance. Every DU SOL update, exam strategy, and CA study note shared here comes directly from my personal academic journey, official notifications, and real-time student experience. No generic advice: practical, student-to-student blueprints to help you clear your exams and level up.
