Tag Archive for productivity

Is Brain Fog Killing Your Focus?

August 21, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

banner on focus

When you experience brain fog, you’re in a sort of prison.  You’re not sure what to do next.

The focus of this GenuLines message is that you can do a lot to free yourself from the fog and get moving again.

Is Brain Fog Killing Your Focus?

You’re at work. You feel like you’re having to fight through cobwebs to get your thoughts straight.

Or sometimes you find it very hard to concentrate or focus for long stretches.

These are signs of brain fog. This can kill your productivity and ability to focus.

So, what causes brain fog, and what can you do about it?

man lacking focus

What is Brain Fog?

It’s a feeling of being somewhat confused or disoriented. Forgetfulness is very common, too.

When your thoughts are hazy or lazy, slow to come together, or when you can’t seem to concentrate, you have brain fog. In more severe instances, it can lead to feelings of depression and unhappiness.

You lose your ability to find inspiration in life.

Brain fog is a slowing or impairment of your cognitive functions. These control your ability to plan, organize, remember, and solve problems.

Very often brain fog is the result of poor lifestyle and dietary choices. You can wind up with imbalances in hormones and nutrient levels.

Causes of Brain Fog And How to Address Them

Lack of sleep is the prime contributing factor to fogginess. Your brain can’t restore neural connectivity that regulates memory and learning.

Chronic sleep deprivation can impair motor functions. Same for the ability to reason. If you’re feeling foggy, examine your sleep habits.

Make adjustments that guarantee you at least seven hours of rest each night.

Dehydration is also a leading cause of brain fog. Your brain is about three-quarters water, and when you don’t have enough, it can have a significant effect.

Even a small amount of dehydration can cause problems.

You may experience confusion, impaired mental performance, and disorientation. Be sure to get enough liquids, especially water, throughout your day to stave off the mental fog.

Poor eating habits can also affect concentration or clear thinking. Your brain needs energy to work well, but you won’t find it in refined carbohydrates.

They’ll leave your brain feeling sluggish. Instead, try more fruits, vegetables and lean proteins and plant- based food.

There are other contributing factors to mental fog, too. They include stress, inactivity, hormone level changes, and certain types of medications.

Add to the list various medical conditions. If you suspect you have any of these, you should talk to your doctor.

One thing you can do to help clear your mind and refocus is take a brisk walk. You can try changing your environment or engaging in a stimulating conversation.

Final Thoughts

Clearing away the fog can be a simple matter. You can eat better, get more sleep, and drink plenty of water.

For a quick pick-me-up in your day, it’s good to challenge your mind to something new or different for a short period.

Then again, clearing your brain fog may be a little tougher, so find some strategies that work best for you. Work on recognizing when you start to feel foggy.

And be proactive about addressing this before it becomes a bigger problem.

JohnK  8/21/23
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about focusOverheard: “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light”

~Aristotle Onassis
 

 

 

disclaimer for focus

 

 

 

Energy Management vs. Time Management

January 24, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

Busy days can send your energy gauge to near zero. You concentrate on how you spend your time, and the push and pull your create is exhausting.

You can “balance the books” with this GenuLines look at both sides of the equation. 

Energy Management vs. Time Management

You’ve likely heard the old adage, “Life is a marathon, not a sprint.” You manage your time without paying attention to your energy management.
 
child with energy
 
 
And now you’re running a sprint rather than pacing like a marathoner.
 
Research tells us that productivity and success have more to do with how you manage your energy. And they have less to do with time management.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At Work
In your work life you often try to do the things that give you more time.
Eating healthy, staying fit, spending time with your children and connecting with others all can suffer..
 
These take time and you do have to schedule some of your pursuits.
 
Have you considered whether you have the energy for those pursuits?
Trying to adhere to certain times to manage everything can leave you exhausted.
 
You’re not able to relax and enjoy yourself when you’ve “scheduled the time” for it.

Be The “Boss”

The alternative to managing your time is good energy management. This works when you take time to recover from those lengthy sprints.
 
You’re able to finish the marathon with ease rather than anguish.
Here are some tips for effective energy management.

Write It Down 

Make a list of what makes you feel refreshed, more creative and lifts your mood. It’ll help remind you about the benefits of these uplifting activities.
 
For example, watching a great series or show you’re following on television. Or sipping a cup of tea and listening to music.
 
These can ramp up your energy levels.
 
Do your best to take longer breaks. Don’t stick to a time table when it comes to stepping up your energy level.
 
Have fun with whatever you’re doing. And reward yourself for every goal reached.
 
Pressed For Time
Do you have lots of projects and it seems you’ll never finish them to be able to relax and enjoy yourself? Break those projects down into parts.
 
Reward yourself after you complete each one. This beats waiting until you finish the entire project.

Recovery Stops 

While you’re on a long sprint, you may feel the need to stop and renew your spirits and your energy. Do it!
 
You’ll feel so much more like completing the marathon and you’ll be happier at the finish. Managing your energy is a much more effective way to move through life.
 
Your inner energy thermostat doesn’t pay any attention to the time table you’ve created. Know this and, make it the most important factor in the marathon called life.
 
JohnK 1-16-2023
 
stick figure hears about energyOverheard: “Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal”
                              ~ Albert Camus
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for enrgy
 
 

What Does Being Productive Really Mean?

December 7, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

It’s tough being productive during a time of lockdown. And not a good time to think about ways you can kick things into gear. 

So GenuLines feels it’s a good time to bring you an overview of how you can make this happen.

(You can listen to this article by clicking here)

What Does Being Productive Really Mean?

productive manIntending to be productive is a worthy pursuit. But over time and with overuse the definition of productive has become a little fuzzy.
 
Now “Productivity” is a sort of buzzword. It’s used in employee training seminars and self-help techniques.
 
 
 
 
If you don’t get the true meaning of this word you might waste valuable time that could be better spent.
 
In a fast-paced driven society we’re expected to produce more in less time. Unfortunately, this can often have the opposite effect.
 
Here are a few things to consider when looking at how you spend your time,
 
Busy & Productive Are Not Synonymous
This might be the biggest misconception about what it means to be productive. Staying busy and on the go doesn’t always mean you’re being productive.
 
Being productive means you are actually getting something done.
 
It’s easy to jump from one task to another. Could be you shift your focus and attention every five minutes, all in the name of “multi-tasking.”
 
Now and then ask yourself if you’re actually accomplishing anything. For example, after a five-hour stint on your computer at work, take a look at the end result.
 
Have you produced something of value that was not there when you first sat down at your desk? Never confuse being busy with being productive.
 
Progressing Towards Something
This kind of piggybacks off of the previous thought. But this tip deserves its own discussion.
 
You can get into a kind of “grind” mentality.
 
You spend hours working at irrelevant things. Again, this may or may not help your productivity.
 
With anything that you dedicate a lot of your time to, there should be an end goal in mind.
 
Have a well-understood plan of how you’ll reach it. Productivity involves a linear path from where you are right now to what you want to get done.
 
If you’re working hard only for the sake of working hard, you run the risk of wasting valuable time and energy. It’s always important to consider your “why” before you commit your valuable time to any task.
 
Balancing Productivity
Achieving anything worthwhile often involves hard work and focus. But it doesn’t mean neglecting every other area of your life in the process.
 
For example, you want to transform your body and get in better shape. Will it help if you neglect your closest relationships and other commitments, too?
 
True productivity includes nurturing every aspect of who you are. Even during the pursuit of something specific.
 
Sure, there are going to be times when more of your time and energy goes toward one thing in particular. But make sure that not ALL of it is!
 
As a human being, you are a lot of things at the same time.
 
JohnK 12-7-2020
 
Stick figure hears productive ideasOverheard: “Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before”
                                           ~Franz Kafka
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for being productive

Can Minimizing Your Life Boost Your Productivity?

June 10, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Tough times can be tough on your productivity. You feel like something is missing from even your best efforts. 

Today GenuLines pitches in with a suggestion that you do some ‘addition by subtraction.”

microphone for talking productivity

 

 

 

 

Can Minimizing Your Life Boost Your Productivity?

Productivity is an essential part of achieving success. You can’t go very far in life or excel past your position in your career or in your life without being productive.
 
Staying productive can be difficult. This is especially true when clutter distracts you from the tasks at hand.
 
Minimizing your life can be most effective in helping you be more productive..
 What Does Minimizing Your Life Mean?
Clutter hurting productivityBy “minimizing your life,” we’re talking about de-cluttering it. Cutting out unnecessary obligations and activities.
 
Removing unneeded or unnecessary items. And de-cluttering your home and workplace.
 
 
 
 
This can mean refusing or delegating responsibilities when you’re already loaded down.
 
Throwing out things you no longer use or need. And keeping your priorities in order so you handle them in a reasonable time.
 
This may be easier said than done. All this letting go can do a number on your emotions.
 
Be patient and allow yourself time to let go and process the loss.
 
How Could Minimizing Life Help?
Clutter’s very existence can cause anxiety and stress. Much like the way junk clutters up your home, it clutters your mind and your life.
 
This makes it hard to get things done, decreasing your productivity.
 
Your mind gyrates in many different directions. There’s cleaning that needs done.
 
Events and work you have to plan, stuff you need to organize, and the task you’re trying to complete. Because your mind is so bogged down by all the clutter, your productivity worsens as you work slower.
 
You lose valuable time you could be spending with your loved ones. Or you could be nurturing existing or even building new relationships.
 
What Can Improved Productivity Do for You?
You need productivity to ensure you meet all the steps necessary to reach your goals. When you work toward a goal you want to get it done within the ideal time
 
Productivity helps to ensure that you stick to your schedule. You do all your work and still have time for your family and others you love 
 
Productivity helps you have a full and happy life.
 
Minimizing your life can bring big improvement to your productivity. It’s essential to your success in both your career and in life.
 
To reach and maintain productivity limit the distractions and clutter in your life. This will free up time to complete your tasks.
 
And, achieve your goals.
 
JohnK 6-10-2020
 
Stick figure hears about productivityOverheard: “Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before”
                                           ~Franz Kafka
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for productivity