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Your faculty for hyper-connectivity (or your inability to switch off) means you are unable to recharge your mental and physical resources, depleted by workplace stress. Really? Do you at least aware of this?
If you train your concentration a little, you could multi-task
True
False
Right !
Our brains are not capable of carrying out two tasks at the same time.
In the second half of the 20th century — Alan Baddeley carried out research into how much information the human brain could process simultaneously. Baddeley developed the concept of working memory, which basically means our processing power. This type of “RAM” is indeed limited; the human brain, for example, can only handle four or five items of information at the same time. So imagine trying to carry out two tasks given the information load each carries…
In the second half of the 20th century — Alan Baddeley carried out research into how much information the human brain could process simultaneously. Baddeley developed the concept of working memory, which basically means our processing power. This type of “RAM” is indeed limited; the human brain, for example, can only handle four or five items of information at the same time. So imagine trying to carry out two tasks given the information load each carries…
Wrong !
Our brains are not capable of carrying out two tasks at the same time.
In the second half of the 20th century — Alan Baddeley carried out research into how much information the human brain could process simultaneously. Baddeley developed the concept of working memory, which basically means our processing power. This type of “RAM” is indeed limited; the human brain, for example, can only handle four or five items of information at the same time. So imagine trying to carry out two tasks given the information load each carries…
In the second half of the 20th century — Alan Baddeley carried out research into how much information the human brain could process simultaneously. Baddeley developed the concept of working memory, which basically means our processing power. This type of “RAM” is indeed limited; the human brain, for example, can only handle four or five items of information at the same time. So imagine trying to carry out two tasks given the information load each carries…
Doing nothing is the first step towards performance
True
False
Right !
We can’t say this often enough: take some time to do nothing.
Several different ideas need to come together by chance for truly creative thinking to emerge, and it is a process that requires moments of calm and / or times when the mind is free to wander, which is what enables original ideas to take shape. Such was the case with Newton’s apple, and it is also what happens when an idea comes to you in the shower.
Block off slots in your diary for “doing nothing”. These moment – when you are not thinking about producing concrete results – are useful for recharging your batteries, assimilating new knowledge and solving complex problems.
Several different ideas need to come together by chance for truly creative thinking to emerge, and it is a process that requires moments of calm and / or times when the mind is free to wander, which is what enables original ideas to take shape. Such was the case with Newton’s apple, and it is also what happens when an idea comes to you in the shower.
Block off slots in your diary for “doing nothing”. These moment – when you are not thinking about producing concrete results – are useful for recharging your batteries, assimilating new knowledge and solving complex problems.
Wrong !
We can’t say this often enough: take some time to do nothing.
Several different ideas need to come together by chance for truly creative thinking to emerge, and it is a process that requires moments of calm and / or times when the mind is free to wander, which is what enables original ideas to take shape. Such was the case with Newton’s apple, and it is also what happens when an idea comes to you in the shower.
Block off slots in your diary for “doing nothing”. These moment – when you are not thinking about producing concrete results – are useful for recharging your batteries, assimilating new knowledge and solving complex problems.
Several different ideas need to come together by chance for truly creative thinking to emerge, and it is a process that requires moments of calm and / or times when the mind is free to wander, which is what enables original ideas to take shape. Such was the case with Newton’s apple, and it is also what happens when an idea comes to you in the shower.
Block off slots in your diary for “doing nothing”. These moment – when you are not thinking about producing concrete results – are useful for recharging your batteries, assimilating new knowledge and solving complex problems.
Your colleagues’ calmness depends on your mental ecology
True
False
Right !
A manager who creates a safe and secure climate optimizes the use of the brain’s resources. Worry and rivalry waste mental resources and are detrimental to the tasks we need to perform. Very specific, shared rules can be helpful in managing response times. “I can disseminate information at any time of day or night if it corresponds to my own modus operandi but I must not demand immediate replies.”
Wrong !
A manager who creates a safe and secure climate optimizes the use of the brain’s resources. Worry and rivalry waste mental resources and are detrimental to the tasks we need to perform. Very specific, shared rules can be helpful in managing response times. “I can disseminate information at any time of day or night if it corresponds to my own modus operandi but I must not demand immediate replies.”
When working remotely, things are calmer so you can concentrate better
True
False
Right !
It may be easier to get some peace and quiet when working from home than in the middle of an open space office. But the reality of the matter is, when you are alone at your computer at home, you are not actually so alone. Digital tools, and especially the way they are used, are so many parasites that can disrupt your concentration and interfere with your level of efficiency.
So remember to deactivate unnecessary sounds and notifications (email, text and instant messaging alerts etc.) or cut conference calls and videoconferencing down to the strictly essential. New technology is not the only culprit; it’s how you use it that makes it so harmful.
So remember to deactivate unnecessary sounds and notifications (email, text and instant messaging alerts etc.) or cut conference calls and videoconferencing down to the strictly essential. New technology is not the only culprit; it’s how you use it that makes it so harmful.
Wrong !
It may be easier to get some peace and quiet when working from home than in the middle of an open space office. But the reality of the matter is, when you are alone at your computer at home, you are not actually so alone. Digital tools, and especially the way they are used, are so many parasites that can disrupt your concentration and interfere with your level of efficiency.
So remember to deactivate unnecessary sounds and notifications (email, text and instant messaging alerts etc.) or cut conference calls and videoconferencing down to the strictly essential. New technology is not the only culprit; it’s how you use it that makes it so harmful.
So remember to deactivate unnecessary sounds and notifications (email, text and instant messaging alerts etc.) or cut conference calls and videoconferencing down to the strictly essential. New technology is not the only culprit; it’s how you use it that makes it so harmful.
It’s better to plan periods of concentration in the morning to be most effective
True
False
Right !
Deep concentration is not a technique to be applied, but a state and you can create the conditions for that state to exist. But to give yourself a fighting chance, first identify your natural rhythms and play on them:
Your cognitive rhythm is special to you. Some of us are more alert in the morning, others in the afternoon or evening. Monitor yourself and take note of what time of the day you find it easiest to concentrate. For this test to work, remove all stimulants or pacifiers that hide your natural rhythm, interfering with cognition and affects, such as coffee, tea or cigarettes.
However, whether you are a morning or an evening person, preparing your day methodically will always be good for your mental ecology.
Your cognitive rhythm is special to you. Some of us are more alert in the morning, others in the afternoon or evening. Monitor yourself and take note of what time of the day you find it easiest to concentrate. For this test to work, remove all stimulants or pacifiers that hide your natural rhythm, interfering with cognition and affects, such as coffee, tea or cigarettes.
However, whether you are a morning or an evening person, preparing your day methodically will always be good for your mental ecology.
Wrong !
Deep concentration is not a technique to be applied, but a state and you can create the conditions for that state to exist. But to give yourself a fighting chance, first identify your natural rhythms and play on them:
Your cognitive rhythm is special to you. Some of us are more alert in the morning, others in the afternoon or evening. Monitor yourself and take note of what time of the day you find it easiest to concentrate. For this test to work, remove all stimulants or pacifiers that hide your natural rhythm, interfering with cognition and affects, such as coffee, tea or cigarettes.
However, whether you are a morning or an evening person, preparing your day methodically will always be good for your mental ecology.
Your cognitive rhythm is special to you. Some of us are more alert in the morning, others in the afternoon or evening. Monitor yourself and take note of what time of the day you find it easiest to concentrate. For this test to work, remove all stimulants or pacifiers that hide your natural rhythm, interfering with cognition and affects, such as coffee, tea or cigarettes.
However, whether you are a morning or an evening person, preparing your day methodically will always be good for your mental ecology.
It’s better to plan periods of concentration in the morning to be most effective
True
False
Right !
A nap is a physiological need that has a direct correlation to productivity and diligence at work. More and more companies are responding to the proven benefits of napping (particularly for people who don’t get enough sleep at night) to productivity, creativity, and decision-making. Uber, Google, Zappos, Capital One Labs, and Ben & Jerry’s are all examples of companies that endorse napping in the workplace by providing employees with either designated nap rooms or sleeping nooks.
“‘Sleep is for losers’ is still the dominant value,” says Russell Sanna, former director of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, bemoaning what he sees as a lack of leadership on the part of companies to encourage healthier sleep habits. “Some companies don’t want to be known as sleep friendly — they want to be known as lean and mean. The conversation about sleep deprivation is still dominated by sleep scientists and self help gurus. It needs desperately to have people in the organizational change, workplace advocacy, and legal fields help reframe the agenda.”
“‘Sleep is for losers’ is still the dominant value,” says Russell Sanna, former director of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, bemoaning what he sees as a lack of leadership on the part of companies to encourage healthier sleep habits. “Some companies don’t want to be known as sleep friendly — they want to be known as lean and mean. The conversation about sleep deprivation is still dominated by sleep scientists and self help gurus. It needs desperately to have people in the organizational change, workplace advocacy, and legal fields help reframe the agenda.”
Wrong !
A nap is a physiological need that has a direct correlation to productivity and diligence at work. More and more companies are responding to the proven benefits of napping (particularly for people who don’t get enough sleep at night) to productivity, creativity, and decision-making. Uber, Google, Zappos, Capital One Labs, and Ben & Jerry’s are all examples of companies that endorse napping in the workplace by providing employees with either designated nap rooms or sleeping nooks.
“‘Sleep is for losers’ is still the dominant value,” says Russell Sanna, former director of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, bemoaning what he sees as a lack of leadership on the part of companies to encourage healthier sleep habits. “Some companies don’t want to be known as sleep friendly — they want to be known as lean and mean. The conversation about sleep deprivation is still dominated by sleep scientists and self help gurus. It needs desperately to have people in the organizational change, workplace advocacy, and legal fields help reframe the agenda.”
“‘Sleep is for losers’ is still the dominant value,” says Russell Sanna, former director of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, bemoaning what he sees as a lack of leadership on the part of companies to encourage healthier sleep habits. “Some companies don’t want to be known as sleep friendly — they want to be known as lean and mean. The conversation about sleep deprivation is still dominated by sleep scientists and self help gurus. It needs desperately to have people in the organizational change, workplace advocacy, and legal fields help reframe the agenda.”
A nap is a physiological need that has a direct correlation to productivity and diligence at work. More and more companies are responding to the proven benefits of napping (particularly for people who don’t get enough sleep at night) to productivity, creativity, and decision-making. Uber, Google, Zappos, Capital One Labs, and Ben & Jerry’s are all examples of companies that endorse napping in the workplace by providing employees with either designated nap rooms or sleeping nooks. “‘Sleep is for losers’ is still the dominant value,” says Russell Sanna, former director of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, bemoaning what he sees as a lack of leadership on the part of companies to encourage healthier sleep habits. “Some companies don’t want to be known as sleep friendly — they want to be known as lean and mean. The conversation about sleep deprivation is still dominated by sleep scientists and self help gurus. It needs desperately to have people in the organizational change, workplace advocacy, and legal fields help reframe the agenda.”
True
False
Right !
Command and control, a lack of confidence and recognition, a lack of empowerment and delegation, undermining the progress of your colleagues; these are some managerial quirks that can arise from your inability to switch off. You may not intend for this to happen, but it is the image you are sending out to your colleagues and your boss.
However, if the idea of cutting yourself off from the office completely causes you stress, you can set yourself some limits: you can switch off certain (less useful) tools, recalibrate what is deemed to be an emergency (those extreme cases in which you agree you may be contacted) or restrict yourself to a (short) time slot for checking your emails.
You’ll see; everything will be just fine even if you have switched off ;-)
However, if the idea of cutting yourself off from the office completely causes you stress, you can set yourself some limits: you can switch off certain (less useful) tools, recalibrate what is deemed to be an emergency (those extreme cases in which you agree you may be contacted) or restrict yourself to a (short) time slot for checking your emails.
You’ll see; everything will be just fine even if you have switched off ;-)
Wrong !
Command and control, a lack of confidence and recognition, a lack of empowerment and delegation, undermining the progress of your colleagues; these are some managerial quirks that can arise from your inability to switch off. You may not intend for this to happen, but it is the image you are sending out to your colleagues and your boss.
However, if the idea of cutting yourself off from the office completely causes you stress, you can set yourself some limits: you can switch off certain (less useful) tools, recalibrate what is deemed to be an emergency (those extreme cases in which you agree you may be contacted) or restrict yourself to a (short) time slot for checking your emails.
You’ll see; everything will be just fine even if you have switched off ;-)
However, if the idea of cutting yourself off from the office completely causes you stress, you can set yourself some limits: you can switch off certain (less useful) tools, recalibrate what is deemed to be an emergency (those extreme cases in which you agree you may be contacted) or restrict yourself to a (short) time slot for checking your emails.
You’ll see; everything will be just fine even if you have switched off ;-)
Even if you are tired, it’s best to finish your task as quickly as possible
True
False
Right !
Stubbornly continuing with a task isn’t really a great way to get it done calmly and efficiently. That said, it’s not normal either to find yourself in a situation where mental fatigue gets the upper hand in the middle of a task. That means you haven’t actually been working efficiently for a while already.
To avoid getting caught in this trap, anticipate this state and prepare for it. Don’t forget that our brains are wired to accomplish tasks that have an end point. So don’t hesitate to divide a long session of work into several smaller tasks, of 20 minutes max each, that you are sure you will be able to accomplish. And make yourself a To-Do list. Keep in mind that after an hour of concentration we are 50% less efficient!
To avoid getting caught in this trap, anticipate this state and prepare for it. Don’t forget that our brains are wired to accomplish tasks that have an end point. So don’t hesitate to divide a long session of work into several smaller tasks, of 20 minutes max each, that you are sure you will be able to accomplish. And make yourself a To-Do list. Keep in mind that after an hour of concentration we are 50% less efficient!
Wrong !
Stubbornly continuing with a task isn’t really a great way to get it done calmly and efficiently. That said, it’s not normal either to find yourself in a situation where mental fatigue gets the upper hand in the middle of a task. That means you haven’t actually been working efficiently for a while already.
To avoid getting caught in this trap, anticipate this state and prepare for it. Don’t forget that our brains are wired to accomplish tasks that have an end point. So don’t hesitate to divide a long session of work into several smaller tasks, of 20 minutes max each, that you are sure you will be able to accomplish. And make yourself a To-Do list. Keep in mind that after an hour of concentration we are 50% less efficient!
To avoid getting caught in this trap, anticipate this state and prepare for it. Don’t forget that our brains are wired to accomplish tasks that have an end point. So don’t hesitate to divide a long session of work into several smaller tasks, of 20 minutes max each, that you are sure you will be able to accomplish. And make yourself a To-Do list. Keep in mind that after an hour of concentration we are 50% less efficient!
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