Practicing math consciously means conceptualizing new information within a larger framework instead of memorizing details blindly. It means asking ourselves leading questions to focus our unconscious memories and skills on one task at a time rather than flying on autopilot. Conscious math involves zooming out from narrow number crunching details to look around for context clues and see the bigger picture now and then. By contrast, rote memorization can be good for storing basic facts, but mindless drills can also diminish creativity and lead to tunnel vision.