But Don’t Forget To Let Go

While intensity and focus are critical to productivity, like most things in life, too much can be a bad thing. You become tired, lose self-control, more implusive and less helpful.

However, letting go may be good for you. Research suggests that both focus and unfocus are vital.

When you unfocus, you engage a brain circuit called the ‘default mode network’ (DMN – or, alternatively, the ‘Do Mostly Nothing’ circuit, as it is activated when you stop focusing consciously). But here’s the surprising thing; the DMN uses 20% of the body’s energy compared to only 5% consumed by effortful focused thinking. In other words, your brain is working harder ‘at rest’!

The DMN used the energy, at an unconscious level, to connect your past, present and potential futures, enhancing your self-awareness. But if you rarely allow yourself unfocused time, the DMN will be operating at a lower level and fewer connections will be made between ideas.

And as a result, your creativity, intuition, planning and decision-making will be impaired.

So what can you do to activate your DMN during the day? Set aside 10-20 minutes and try these approaches:

• use Positive Constructive Daydreaming (PCD) – choose a low-key activity that requires little thought – knitting, gardening, walking etc – then imagine yourself in another place; on a yacht, running through woods. Then turn your attention inwards and explore your possible futures, imagine yourself interacting with others, doing things that you enjoy. Let your mind to wander. Above all, allow yourself to be creative, unfettered by current constraints – and, as the name, Positive Constructive Daydreaming, suggests, don’t dwell on negatives or the past. Look forwards. [more information from Harvard Prof. Srini Pillay]
• take a nap

“The benefits of brief (5-15 min) naps are almost immediate after the nap and last a limited period (1-3h)

Longer naps (> 30 min) can produce impairment from sleep inertia for a short period after waking but then produce improved cognitive performance for a longer period (up to many hours).

Other factors that affect the benefits from the nap are the circadian timing of the nap with early afternoon being the most favourable time.”

• pretend to be someone else – get out of your own head and see things from a different perspective.

By allocating time to unfocus, you increase your focused energy, gain access to new ideas and feel less stressed.

What do you need to do to carve out some time for unfocus?