March 11, 2024: Reflection - Overflowing Brain Syndrome: We Have the Antidote!
| Take a break when your brain runneth over! Imagine, if you will: it's the middle of the day and you need a break. Even if you feel good about the way you're spending your day, your poor brain can't absorb one more iota of information (aka, the teeny tiniest amount). In other words, you've reached your brain's capacity for paying attention. There's a Zen koan (story) that's a good analogy for your poor brain and it's attention capacity. The analogy is about a teacher pouring a cup of tea for their visitor. The teacher pours the tea until the cup overflows. When the visitor protests, the teacher compares the cup of tea to the visitor's mind: How can they receive more when their mind is full? This story is a good reminder that we need to empty our brain occasionally. We all know how to empty a cup, but how do you empty your brain and renew your attention? Psychologists have a theory about restoring our capacity for attention; it indicates that attention restoration activities are important to our mood, our energy levels, and our productivity. This seems like common sense, right? In plain language, we need a break every now and then to help us focus on whatever's next. Attention restoration can be achieved in a number of ways, including creative outlets. Who knew?? (We did, of course!) There's a reason so many people craft. While learning a craft can be stressful, practicing our crafts often results in a state of flow, or immersion in an activity. This flow is how we empty our brain, so that we're ready for our next task. Take a break, find your flow! |