They say an organized room signifies an organized mind, and vice versa. So, if your resolutions for the year include getting more organized, you may want to start with your brain. These ten items are the perfect place to start!
Keep Written Lists
Remembering a lot of things, whether a grocery list, task list, or anything else, takes up valuable resources in your brain. And, though you may not be aware of it, trying to keep it all in your head also causes stress. Instead, write everything down. You can use pen and paper. Try our To-Do List or a digital notes app like Simplenote. Plus, there’s the added satisfaction of crossing off or deleting items as they’re complete.
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Quit Trying to Multitask
Here’s the harsh truth; our brains are not designed for multitasking. We are physiologically incapable of it. Your employer may not like this, but there’s no getting around the science. Aside from thinking and breathing, our brains cannot do more than one thing at a time well. When you’re “multitasking,” you’re switching your brain’s focus back and forth between multiple items and expecting your brain to remember where you were on each thing when you get back to it. This requires more energy and wastes time because your brain needs to reorient to each item. Instead, do one thing until it’s complete and then move on to the next whenever possible.
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Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness may seem like a fad word right now, but it’s much more than that. It’s also much more than meditation. It’s a way of being, of focusing on each moment and what you’re doing without judgment. Many books and other resources help you shift to being more mindful. One we like is Silk and Sonder’s guided monthly planners. You are developing mental wellness and a commitment to bettering yourself through journaling, goal planning, and habit tracking. Each day has mindfulness action you can take and space to record your thoughts and observations.
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Turn Off the Tech
In today’s society, we’re constantly connected—computers, tablets, smartphones, etc. We can be almost anywhere and have a constant stream of information flowing at us. While this may seem like a good thing, our brains aren’t wired for it. They need a break. Like those tech devices start acting erratic when they need a reboot, so do our brains. Turn off or silence the tech and give your devices and brain much-needed rest.
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Schedule and Take Breaks
Using your brain at a high rate uses energy, and just like the rest of your body, your brain has a limited amount of energy it can use before it needs a break. If you spend an entire day working in a fast-paced environment without pause, you’ll be much less efficient at the end than at the beginning. Instead, take breaks throughout the day and use the time to do something you find enjoyable to refresh.
Put Stuff in the Same Place
You’ve probably heard the saying, “a place for everything and everything in its place.” There’s a reason people live by this adage. A part of the brain called the hippocampus associates things with a place, much like a squirrel knows where it hides nuts. So, if you put your keys on the same hook or same spot on the counter every day, your brain will immediately go there to find them. On the other hand, if you toss your keys randomly each day, you’ll likely spend a lot of time looking for them the next time you need them, which creates unneeded stress.
Use a Password Manager or 2FA
It seems like everything these days requires a login and password, and for safety, it’s recommended that each one is different. However, remembering them all and which accounts they’re for would be very taxing for your brain. So instead, try using a password manager like LastPass –only one Master Password is needed to remember. We are also recommending Two Factor Authentication USB Security Keys. You can learn more about those in this blog post, Protect Yourself During Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Use a Calendar or Planner
Whether it’s the old-fashioned pencil and paper planner or a digital calendar, using one is a great way to stay organized and free up space in your brain. Keep track of your appointments, meetings, and important dates like birthdays and paydays. Your brain will thank you.
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Always Be Learning
The human brain continues to reshape itself throughout our lifetime. Anytime you learn something new, your brain creates new connections, changing the structure of the part of your brain engaged. So by keeping your mind active and learning something new, you’re growing your brain.
Sleep
Sleep is vital to brain function. When we don’t get enough sleep, we see the impacts on concentration, coordination, mood, and memory. While the optimum amount of sleep varies a bit from person to person, it’s generally accepted that adults should get at least seven hours. That amount increases the younger a person is, with newborns needing at least 14.
Trying to implement all of these at once may be a bit overwhelming. So, pick one or two, get comfortable with them, and then add on. By the end of a few months, you’ll be more organized inside and out and less stressed.
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