Entrepreneurs are always looking for systems that will help them optimize their brain so that they can give 100% every day. Because of this, the productivity and wellness market has flourished with hack after hack on how to get the most out of your body.
But what if the best optimization tools were, in fact, some of the simplest? What if those same tools were also backed by science? Staying sharp, creative, and innovative doesn’t need to be powered by a variety of apps and multistep systems. You can increase your productivity and brainpower by using tools that can be seamlessly integrated into your daily routines.
Prioritizing sleep for a boost in cognitive performance
There have been an innumerable number of studies proving the importance that sleep has on the body. When prioritized, sleep plays a crucial role in the consolidation of memory, hormonal regulation, and memory replay. When your brain gets a sufficient amount of sleep every night, it can retain things properly, learn new concepts faster, and improve overall cognitive performance.
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You can’t pour from an empty cup, and while cutting your sleep hours may help in the short term, it has lasting effects. The Sleep Foundation explains how poor sleep can increase fatigue, reduce attention spans, decrease adaptability, impair judgment, and diminish your emotional capacity.
When you’ve had sufficient sleep, your cognitive functions are firing on all cylinders, lessening the likelihood of errors being made. Sleep cannot only help you manage your stress better, but it can also ensure that you’re ready for anything that life throws at you. There’s a reason it’s called “the ultimate productivity hack.”
Amplifying resilience through mindfulness
Mindfulness practices have gained traction and popularity over the last few years, inspiring studies that examine their effectiveness and neurological impact. When used strategically, these practices help you step outside of your mind, allowing you to gain clarity in any situation as they calm the nervous system.
Knowledge at Wharton explains how mindfulness can help decrease sick days, boost trust in leadership, and augment employee engagement. In an age where entrepreneurs are even more engaged than before, mindfulness practices can offer a window of reprieve from highly stressful days.
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When you feel more centered, you have a higher level of adaptability. You can easily navigate sticky and ambiguous situations with a larger likelihood of success. Mindfulness helps you stay open-minded and clear of thought, something that will spur higher productivity and a sharpened decision-making capacity.
Leveraging the power of music for focus
Music’s effect on the brain is powerful. It has been documented that when the brain is listening to music that it likes, it releases dopamine. When the dopamine hits, it stimulates the part of your brain in charge of planning, organizing, and paying attention. When this is activated, you’re likely to become more productive.
Before you go off listening to just any playlist, keep in mind that different songs aid different activities better. If you’re just answering emails, it’s okay to listen to music with pronounced beats or that has lyrics. If your brain doesn’t need to be heavily focused, you can listen to anything your soul is craving.
For more cognitively heavier tasks that require analytical thinking, it’s good to listen to softer music or binaural frequencies. The reason for this is that when you’re focused on deep work, anything stronger could divert your attention. Softer music helps with lowering stress levels and promoting a sense of relaxation.
