Mind management or mind control to be productive

Productivity - it's not when you manage your time and when you are able to control his mind.

And it's true - to select to perform a certain task a few hours - absolutely no problem. The main problem is that in the allotted time is to focus on performing this particular task. And not just to perform it, and do it quickly and efficiently.

But, unfortunately, even in the standard work for a good ratio "quality-rate" need inspiration. Even to fill the table you need to kick yourself. About something more complex and creative we are not even talking. How to do it? David Kadavu brought several rules while writing his book. Perhaps you do, too, will help.

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So how do you force yourself to sit down and do all that is needed. And do it with pleasure, quickly and efficiently? First you need to ask yourself three key questions!

Three main questions «Mindemanagement»

1. What type of work I need to do right now? Is there something very important or I can choose a task as desired?

2. In what mental state I am in at the moment?

In I the mood for writing jobs? Or maybe I'd better do analytics, or customer, or drawing up plans for the work week?

3. Can I do anything in order to tune in the desired way? There are quite a few ways that help to tune in the desired fashion. Sometimes it can be a little jog - negative thoughts and stress disappear from the head at the second kilometer, and Some runners generally fall into the special meditative state, which is also very clears my head and helps to gather thoughts. In addition, it is very good for your health! And sometimes it can be a massage, contrast showers, a cup of coffee, a certain music, and so on and so forth. Another option - you can try to change the workplace. On some of the projects are well thought in a coffee shop, and some easy to go to the standard workplace. In order to understand the factors that affect your mood, it is necessary to observe a certain time.

All this will help you not just tune in and, finally, to perform a task. By understanding how the system works, you can do it not only quickly and accurately, but also with pleasure.

The main theses

In order to understand a little bit with the way the brain works, you need to read at least a few basic books (or articles) on neurology. To be honest, I do not see any reason to dig too deep to those whose employment with this in no way connected. But to have an idea it would be advisable, as it allows us to understand the key points of our work brain and not to squander the precious mental energy and direct it only to perform work.

• Our brain is plastic. Every time the neurons involved in the work, this path is stored, and do the same thing the next time will be the easier. At one time it was believed that after reaching adulthood the brain stops developing. In fact, the human brain changes throughout life. This means that even after 16 we are able to learn something new, and we will cope with the task better and better with each repetition.
• Love your prefrontal cortex. We have already talked about it (prefrontal Mondays), But it is better to repeat, and then it will be remembered even better (see first paragraph). The prefrontal cortex is responsible for the planning, prioritization and control of emotions. That it helps us to identify the main objectives and work productively. But her work requires a lot of energy resources and their squandering unforgivable. Especially during the execution of complex tasks. Therefore, at this time you need not only a good rest, and not to ignore the dream, but also to not be distracted by little things (constant checking e-mail, messages on Twitter and social networks).
• Monitor your amygdala. The amygdala is one of the oldest parts of the brain and that it triggers the primitive instinct of "fight-or run away." Therefore, as a precaution, she will try to "dissuade" you from risky step or a new idea, which no one has yet tried to implement. Just because she was afraid. And suddenly fail?
• Recover your strength. Taking into account the constant struggle of the prefrontal cortex to the amygdala (want but I'm afraid!) And energy consumption of the work of the prefrontal cortex, to be productive requires a productive vacation! If you think that working for a few days with breaks for a short and very choppy sleep and eating unhealthy snacks will help you to quickly deal with the problem - you are deeply wrong. You can not just fill up the project, but also undermine their both physical and psychological health. Therefore, a good sleep, good nutrition, at least 10-15 minutes of exercise a day and talk to friends or family are the key to productivity.

Exercises

In view of the foregoing David Kadavu offers several exercises that will help to use the mind with a 100% -otdachey.

• Meditation. Meditation helps to get rid of negative thoughts, renew strength, both mental and physical, lowers blood pressure, helps to calm down and tune in. To begin with it is enough 2 minutes conscious meditation. You can then move on to one 10-15 minute session a day. Learn to meditate and everyone can. If you are not able to meditate at least 2 minutes, then you have a lot more problems than just a lack of time.
• Take some time to plan. Highlight a specific time to plan has several advantages: first, you can choose a time when your mental energy is at its peak; Second, it frees your prefrontal cortex of this activity on other days, and will direct its efforts to other tasks. For example, you can select a day to compile a weekly review (weekly review), and the points list everything that must be done or should happen this week. And even if things have already entered into your calendar, its repetition is firmly sits in the head and makes you think about other things that we have not yet thought of. For example, you once again write that on Wednesday at 2:00 you flight, and you have not thought about what time you'd better go.

Trick yourself in order to get started. Embarking on some tasks terribly difficult (and not really want to). Without a clear purpose in your brain will not produce enough dopamine to motivate. Therefore, there is the time to use the 10-minute hack (when it is performed for 10 minutes intently, and then you switch to the execution of another case for 10 minutes). As a result, when you perform a specific task within 10 minutes, no further work on it will no longer cause negative emotions, and finish it will be much easier.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, and the more we will learn about how the brain works, and watch that the best effect on our motivation, the easier it will be to cope with the work, even if not always fast favorite. And the more time we will have something new and interesting;)