By Jillian Broaddus and Chuck Cusumano
We’ve all heard of life hacks… Ways to manage your time and activities to maximize efficiency. Think: using “coffee cubes” from freezing your coffee in an ice tray so your morning java never gets watered down, using a hair straightener to iron wrinkly clothing without having to pull out the entire ironing board ensemble, or even meal-prepping – all can be considered life hacks!
But, have you heard of brain hacks?
In a world of advancing AI or constantly expanding complexity, brain hacks allow us to unlock our own full potential by using tools already at our disposal to affect how we think, feel, act and – you guessed it – maximize efficiency. Think: ways to increase our focus, techniques to overcome common mental shortcomings, and strategies to improve our memory.
Through our research and own anecdotal evidence, here are a few of our favorites:
Time your day: Research shows that tasks requiring critical thinking, creativity, or imagination are best worked on in the first few hours or last few hours of the day. Schedule “thinking blocks” in these windows, and allow yourself to complete easier, more mindless work in the in-between.
Practice peace: When in doubt, zone out! Stress and anxiety can be the biggest inhibitors to hacking your brain, so it’s important to find ways to mitigate these hitches. According to Dr. Karolien Noebaert, “Consistent mindfulness meditation can significantly decrease amygdala activity and boost prefrontal cortex abilities, improving mental functioning and reducing emotional and stress-related interference.”
Start with your stomach: The most efficient way to hack your brain may begin with what you put in your mouth! Add “brain foods” to your diet – including salmon, flaxseeds, walnuts, leafy greens, berries and turmeric – to nourish your body AND your neural pathways.
Take breaks: When our computers malfunction, we typically restart them. Our brains can work in much the same way. As we talked about a few weeks ago on the blog, taking breaks (and knowing which type to take!) can be key to maximum productivity.
How can we help you hack your brain and hack your life? Let us know at hello@thejoshuagroup.net!
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