7 Brain Hacks to Increase Productivity
If you’re reading this article right now, there’s a good chance that you have some trouble with focus or concentration. Maybe you have homework that needs finishing, taxes that need to get done, or large business proposal that was supposed to be submitted yesterday. Let’s face it – we all deal with procrastination at some level, and we could all use a little help training our brains to allow us to be more focused and productive.
The thing is, some people are more productive than others. Many of the world’s top CEOs and entrepreneurs have figured out ways to overcome the lack of focus that plagues so many of us. Sure, some of them are using performance-enhancing drugs like nootropics or cocaine – but a growing number of individuals in the “lifehacking” or “biohacking” communities have figured out some simple hacks to optimize their brain’s performance.
- Exercise is the mornings
Cardiovascular activity, even light cardio, will get your blood flowing and help you with focus and concentration throughout your day.
I know, this one is especially hard. Many of us struggle with even getting out of bed and turning on the coffee machine let alone going for a run or heading to the gym. The thing about exercise is that the more you do it the easier it gets. They say it only takes 21 days of repetition to make a new behavior become routine.
If running a 5-minute mile at 6 in the morning seems unbearable, try starting with something gentler and lower impact. Some great examples of gentile, low-impact exercise activities are yoga and swimming. The key here is to get your blood flowing.
- Eat Healthy Fats
Did you know that your brain is made up of about 60% fat? It’s been believed for some time that healthy fats like omega-3s and seed oils are good for both the body and mind. Once you understand that not all fats are created equal and that your brain actually thrives on fat – this all starts to make sense.
Now again, I’m not suggesting that you start every day with a can of Pringles – but rather you make conscious decisions about what you eat and target foods that contain healthy foods. Bulletproof coffee, also known as sherpa coffee or butter coffee is a great way to do this.
Sherpa coffee is an ancient recipe from the far east that has been adopted by modern brain-hackers or biohackers as a way to improve the benefits of drinking coffee. The recipe essentially consists of coffee blended with button and coconut or MCT oil. While this may sound a bit weird, it actually tastes great. Beyond just tasting good, this coffee recipe is actually a way to increase the performance of your brain and your body.
- Actively Managing Your Time
Time management seems like a no brainer (pun intended), but by deploying a few simple texts to take back some of your day, you can actually learn to concentrate and focus better. Try plotting your day out in a calendar and make sure you follow it with precision. Force your calendar to be the guiding light in your day.
- Eliminate Distractions
Distractions come in many forms, but for those of us who spend a lot of time online, some of the most common are email and social media. Try using the tip above and put social media and email time on your calendar. By only checking email and social a couple times a day you can reclaim wasted hours from your day.
- Set Goals for Yourself
Goals are a great way to monitor your own productivity and push yourself to be successful. Having clearly defined goals is a great way to force the function of concentration.
Bonus tips:
- Get good sleep
- Learn to speed read
- Music makes you smarter
