Supportive Productivity: Working in Partnership with Ourselves
When I was in middle school, I dreamed of becoming a neurologist. The brain fascinated me to no end. I vividly remember "Take Your Daughter to Work" days, tagging along with my mom to the hospital. One particular visit, I got to see a real brain up close in the lab—absolutely mind-blowing! Although my path didn't lead to neurology, my love for the brain never wavered. My career led me to a field where the brain's influence is paramount. And I channel this passion into exploring the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and productivity, especially how the brain interfaces with consciousness, thoughts, feelings, trauma responses, and the autonomic nervous system.
Productivity isn’t just about working harder or faster. It’s about understanding how our brains and bodies work and leveraging that knowledge to create sustainable, fulfilling work habits. Whether you’re tackling financial tasks or setting goals, remember to work with your brain, not against it.
In this post, we’ll dive into:
How our brains influence productivity
Why understanding this relationship matters
Practical strategies to boost your efficiency and well-being
Why Neuroscience Matters in Productivity
Neuroscience, the study of the nervous system and the brain, offers incredible insights into how we think, feel, and act. By understanding these processes, we can optimize our work habits and achieve better outcomes. Here’s why it’s so important:
Brain-Behavior Connection: Our brains are wired to respond to certain stimuli and patterns. Understanding this can help us create environments and habits that enhance productivity.
Emotional Regulation: Emotions play a crucial role in how we work. Neuroscience helps us manage stress and stay motivated.
Decision-Making: The prefrontal cortex, the brain’s decision-making center, has limited energy. Using it wisely can prevent burnout.
Emotional and Cognitive Aspects of Productivity:
Understanding the emotional and cognitive aspects of productivity is crucial. Here's why:
Emotions Influence Productivity: Our feelings directly impact our work quality and efficiency.
Brain Functioning: Different parts of the brain are involved in various aspects of productivity, from decision-making to emotional regulation.
Inner Guidance: Trusting our inner guidance and taking action from a centered place can enhance our productivity.
Tricking Your Brain for Better Outcomes:
Like many, I sometimes lean towards negative thinking—catastrophizing rather than expecting positive outcomes. To counter this, I’ve learned to play mental games to shift my mindset from negative to more positive or neutral thinking. Here are a few tricks:
Reframe Negative Thoughts: Challenge and reframe your negative thoughts into neutral or positive ones.
Mindfulness Practices: Engage in mindfulness or meditation to center your thoughts and reduce stress.
Visualization: Visualize successful outcomes to create a positive mindset and boost confidence.
Conclusion
Supportive productivity is much more - and much different - than “just get it done at all costs”. Our society promotes a “just get it done” attitude regardless of the consequences, but it doesn’t tend to feel good to us. And it’s not in alignment with how our brains operate. Neuroscientific productivity focuses on our overall emotional and mental state. It arms us with the information and tools to be able to work in partnership with how our brains are designed. It feels good because it’s in alignment with how we operate.
Book a 30-minute chat with me to learn more.