Counting sheep … sleeps!

This time of the year is usually when we have a build-up or backlog of work, and not enough time – which generally causes stress. Coupled with that, most people I encounter are exhausted and counting the sleeps to their vacation break.

With this tiredness without resting time at the front of mind, I came across interesting information on how the brain functions in such taxing times. Two main things, the first: a research study with monkeys showed that the brain literally shrinks when it is put under stress. I am sure our human brain’s functionality are not too far removed from the monkeys, and we can safely assume a similar thing would happen to us. Our brains shrink, i.e. cannot think clearly or do creative problem solving when we are stressed.

Without the monkey study I am pretty sure you knew we (humans) do not think well when stressed. Just think of exam experiences – “hitting a blank”. The moment you opened the exam paper you could not even remember your own name, let alone all the stuff you studied for the exam you were taking.

The second interesting thing was that when we are tired, we tend to be more creative in comparison with when we are fresh. So the brain filters distractions when it is not exhausted, and these distractions are often part of the creative resources. Long story short, when you are tired you are more likely to come up with creative ideas. I suppose it makes sense, when you relax in the bath or shower after a long day, ideas and solutions come very easily.

Our current challenge would then be, how do we remove the stress so our brains do not shrink, and how do we allow the brain tiredness to give us bright ideas to deal with our year-end challenges?

These are some suggestions: Try not to own the stress. Breathe. Do something you love, be it fishing, painting, cycling or whatever – the thing that will give your brain a chance to give you the good stuff.

And of course, keep counting the sleeps…

Motto Model: http://goo.gl/cNnpy and Motto Individual Assessment: http://goo.gl/UhC7V

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