Three takeaways:
As scientific knowledge of the brain improves, so does our understanding of both productivity and wellbeing– and how they are related.
Distractions are impossible to completely evade, but using the three hacks below, we can minimize the wandering of our minds and stay focused- without feeling like we are bowing to unceasing pressure to perform.
- Brain hack #1: Unfocus– Though it may be counterintuitive, the worst thing you can do when you detect that you’re feeling unproductive is to will yourself to work through it. In fact, a recent University of Sydney study shows that a short five-minute break from thinking is all we need to get our concentration back.Importantly, this does not mean: “take a break by scrolling on your phone.” No: you have to rest your brain. Rather than taking a break by jumping from app to app, meditate, take a walk, stand up and stretch, or do a task around the house in order to give yourself a restorative mental break.
- Brain Hack #2: Go with the (neurochemical) flow– If you struggle to focus at work, it’s critical to understand the circadian rhythm, which governs our sleep patterns. Our melatonin spikes in the brain at night and at midday. The former helps us sleep at night, the latter causes that familiar afternoon grogginess. It is too common to push ourselves to overcome this natural low-energy period, but that can lead to burnout and added stress. Allow yourself a break during this midday down period. Your productivity will return after a break.
- Brain Hack #3: Task Buckets – write a list of all of your tasks, and sort them into “easy” and “challenging” buckets. On low-energy or “unproductive” days, start with tasks from the “easy” bucket to build a sense of accomplishment, and to counter the feeling of needing to “earn” a break. This approach often shifts focus and motivation, making it easier to tackle “challenging” tasks afterwards.
Curt Steinhorst, author of Can I Have Your Attention?, wisely observed, “Distraction is actually just confusion about what matters.” Productivity and wellness are closely intertwined. We should never let the pursuit of productivity come at the expense of our well-being, because in the long run, that’s what matters most.
From Leah Borski at Entrepreneur:
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