Jul 17, 2015 | Creativity, Performance Improvement, Personal Development, Productivity
Research shows that people who take notes using pen and paper have much better memory and comprehension of the material compared to people who type their notes. This is true even for people who are skilled enough to transcribe 100% of what is being said!
Feb 19, 2015 | Creativity, Performance Improvement, Productivity
I continue to be fascinated by the insights into our brains and its mysteries that are being revealed by new research and technology breakthroughs. I’ve recently been reading “The Organized Mind” by Daniel Levitin. It’s filled with intriguing information about how our brains work and how we can change our habits to maximize its capabilities and use them to the fullest. Empty The Junk Drawer One of the key insights is about the importance of offloading information out of our brains, essentially removing the mental clutter that turns our brains into the biological equivalent of the ubiquitous kitchen junk drawer. Our brains will try to keep track of everything we think is important unless it is assured that it has been properly stored or scheduled. Trying to keep track of too many things makes it difficult for us to concentrate or to release the brain into its most creative “daydreaming” state. We’ve understood this need for a very long time. It is what drove us to develop written language in the first place – having too much to remember. Creating a workable personal system for dealing with mental clutter is critical for both performing at your best and maximizing your creativity – not to mention protecting your sanity. When Lightening Strikes – Grab It! Most highly creative people (and high-performers of all kinds) have a system for capturing their ideas as they occur. They understand that they may not get a second chance. I‘m willing to bet that you have had a moment of insight that was as clear as day, only to sadly realize that it had vanished...
Feb 5, 2015 | Creativity, Employee Engagement, Performance Improvement, Productivity
It is interesting to see the increasing trend toward cost-efficient “bullpen” workspaces. It goes against everything we now know about maximizing creativity and productivity, and is not cost-effective in the long run
Jan 29, 2015 | Creativity, Energy, Healthy
Like living? Take a 20-minute walk. When you add up the benefits – more creativity and energy, better body and brain health, lower stress, and oh yeah, less dying – walking is truly the health equivalent of compound interest!
Jan 21, 2015 | Creativity, Energy, Healthy, Performance Improvement, Productivity
This is the first anniversary of my stand-up desk. I wouldn’t even think of going back. I feel better; I feel more productive and creative, and research now shows it slows down the aging process!
Jan 12, 2015 | Creativity, Energy, Performance Improvement, Productivity, Stress Management, Work Life Balance
What would happen if you didn’t check email every three minutes or respond immediately to every buzz, ding, or beep? The research shows you’ll be happier, less stressed and more productive.
