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Tag: Your Brain At Work by David Rock

  • What is your COUNT of FEDEX Days?

    What is your COUNT of FEDEX Days?

    Daily writing prompt
    Have you ever unintentionally broken the law?
    View all responses

    To break away from drudgery at work, it is high time that you keep a count of Fedex days wherein you get the freedom to work on something of your own choice.

    I came across the concept of Fedex days of Atlassian from David Rock’s book Your Brain at work.

    This intrigued me and hence I tried this in my day to day work life as well.

    What I have found is that dedicating FedEx days every quarter can indeed improve productivity at work. This is like recharging your batteries.

    To read some more insightful blog posts on this same topic, please visit:

    What Atlassian’s “FedEx Day” teaches us?
    Whole idea behind FedEx Day at Atlassian is this
  • Avoid Addiction to Social Media. Why?

    Avoid Addiction to Social Media. Why?

    Bloganuary writing prompt
    In what ways do you communicate online?
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    Whenever I am communicating online I ensure the most OPTIMUM use of communication tools including SOCIAL MEDIA. All of this to avoid being addicted to social media.

    There has been elaborate research which illustrates that constant exposure to social media, online tools and related addiction is similar to alcoholism and addiction to drugs.

    Instant gratification that comes as a result of these online tools, makes us restless and especially for Gen X millennials is leading to anxiety, depression and suicide.

    Though social media and other online tools carry a lot of benefits, their usage must be optimal.

    Read some very insightful blogs which throw more light on the same topic.

    Are you ADDICTED to SOCIAL MEDIA? THIS is for you.
    Are you a Gen X Millenial?This is why you should be MINDFUL of INSTANT GRATIFICATION..
    Are you losing FOCUS?Time to reduce your SOCIAL MEDIA presence..

    Visit this wonderful video of Simon Sinek and his take on social media addiction.

  • Why should you live in the NOW?

    Why should you live in the NOW?

    Daily writing prompt
    What could you do differently?
    View all responses

    If there was ONE MOST IMPORTANT thing I could do differently, I would train my mind to live in the NOW. NOW is the Present rest all e.g. PAST and FUTURE are all meaningless.

    Dwelling too much in the past along with planning too far ahead in the future unleashes negative emotions more often than not.

    All spiritual education around leading a fulfilled life focuses on training the mind to LIVE in the PRESENT without allowing the MIND to ponder too much on the past or future.

    Our Mind’s natural inclination is to hate the PRESENT and to reflect about past and future.

    Being MINDFUL and focusing on the PRESENT to control and make our lives fulfilling should be our central focus.

    Read below some insightful blogs to be aware of the importance of mindfulness.

    Why is Mindfulness a Huge Challenge?
    The BEST WAY to deal with NEGATIVE EMOTIONS
  • Why is Mindfulness a Huge Challenge?

    Why is Mindfulness a Huge Challenge?

    Daily writing prompt
    What are your biggest challenges?
    View all responses

    Of all challenges the biggest is Mindfulness. Being mindful does not come naturally to our brain and due to the numerous distractions around us, mindfulness turns out to be a huge challenge.

    Research has proven that mindfulness is the director of our brain and focusing on now can increase immunity as well.

    Being mindful is related to unleashing our creative powers and alleviation of stress and anxiety.

    David Book in his book Your Brain at Work has illuminated us on the numerous benefits of mindfulness.

    Some of these blogposts related to this topic would be worth reading.

    Why Mindfulness is Difficult?
    How is MINDFULNESS the DIRECTOR of BRAIN?
    Are you aware of MINDFUL AWARENESS ATTENTION SCALE?
    Mindfulness Awareness Attention Scale (MAAS) to measure mindfulness
  • Why is Walking my most favorite Automobile?

    Why is Walking my most favorite Automobile?

    Daily writing prompt
    What is your all time favorite automobile?
    View all responses

    Yes you read it right, walking is indeed my most favorite automobile.

    To save the environment from pollution, I as a responsible citizen make a conscious effort to reduce usage of automobile. The best alternative to that is walking a lot.

    Walking not only helps me remain fit but indeed can help in de-stressing and removing any sort of anxiety.

    Research has proven that when your brain is tired, walking activates your brain’s motor cortex and helps to relax your brain.

    Read this below insight to understand the harmful effects of stress and anxiety, which is the reason you should avoid it. Taking a walk is one such solution.

    Avoid Anxiety and remain in Flow

  • Being in Flow leads to Happiness. How?

    Being in Flow leads to Happiness. How?

    Daily writing prompt
    When are you most happy?
    View all responses

    I am most happy when I am in flow. Flow is a state of mind wherein your performance is optimum due to the right amount of arousal. Research has proven that the state of flow leads of true happiness.

    Optimal experience due to flow is experienced when I am 1) ignorant of external conditions and 2) exhibiting full concentration.

    The five aspects to remain in full flow for long lasting happiness have been provided below, please read to know more.

    Which are the FIVE ASPECTS to keep you in FULL FLOW?

    Read the blogpost to understand why being in flow is so energizing. This is proven by science.

    Why is Being in Flow so Energizing?

  • Social Media Addiction versus Alcoholism

    Social Media Addiction versus Alcoholism

    If there is one thing I could stay away from more often, it would be social media. When we compare social media addiction versus alcoholism we find lot of similarities.

    Social media addiction makes us restless with a constant surge of dopamine flow.

    The feeling is very similar to being addicted to cocaine or alcohol and has very harmful effects.

    Hence we should make use of our social media time and attention with thorough caution.

    The below post has more details.

    How is “social media addiction” similar to “alcoholism”
  • Why should you know these Key Parts of Human Brain?

    Why should you know these Key Parts of Human Brain?

    The coolest thing I have found after reading numerous best sellers is knowledge on key parts of the human brain.

    Understanding the orientation of the human brain is a key to developing and honing emotional intelligence related skills, which is the backbone to survive and make it big in this knowledge worker age.

    I will summarize these 4 key parts of our human brain.

    1. Neo cortex is the part of brain that helps us in rational thinking while limbic brain is responsible for emotions. Neo cortex helps us perform complex calculations whereas limbic brain can only understand cues or signals.
    2. Hippocampus is the small part that helps in long term memory.Hence any message to be made memorable must target the hippocampus of the receiver to register for a long time
    3. Basal Ganglia is the part of the brain that helps in the formation of a habit on the basis of a cue for any habit.
    4. Amygdala is a small part in limbic part which is responsible for generation of dopamine , the chemical that is released due to self happiness.

    Read a similar insightful post related to the brain, below:

    How to reach PEAK LEVEL of MENTAL PERFORMANCE?
  • Harmful effects of Stress and Anxiety

    Harmful effects of Stress and Anxiety

    Well the most expensive thing i have ever bought with me is STRESS. Stress is indeed expensive and harmful at the same time. Explained below are the harmful effects of stress and anxiety.

    Research shows that being exposed to too much of stress and anxiety can cause us a lot of harm.

    Hence the burning need is to remain in flow, give wings to our passion and reduce the flow of cortisol.

    This David Rock insight from Your Brain at Work, explains more.

    Why is TOO MUCH STRESS and ANXIETY HARMFUL?
  • Walk More to Reduce Stress

    Walk More to Reduce Stress

    Walking is the physical activity I love to do everyday. Research has proven that if you walk more you can reduce stress.

    Walking activates our motor cortex and helps reduce stress.