We spend most of our adult lives on actions that are repeated many times. We habitually dress, automatically get behind the wheel, without hesitation make a transfer to the subway or go up to the desired floor. And just as without hesitation we perform official duties, send letters, put a signature on the document …
In fact, many people like this lifestyle because it is convenient. Being on “autopilot” requires less emotional and intellectual effort from us, does not force us to leave our comfort zone, and reduces anxiety. Habitual affairs and duties are good for us, and therefore less likely to lead to failures.
The problem is that the easiest way in the short term is not always the best way in the long term. A detrained brain simply loses the habit of thinking and solving complex problems. We stop learning new things and developing intellectually. In order for new neural connections to form in the brain so that we can master new knowledge and skills at any age, we need a daily shake-up, says American neuroscientist Jack Lewis.
The left side of the prefrontal cortex is responsible for automatic behavior. The right side of the prefrontal cortex «turns on» when a person is confronted with unfamiliar information, about to complete a new task, or goes to an unknown place. In order to get the right side of the prefrontal cortex to work at full capacity, it is important to get new experiences. Therefore, for example, it makes sense to choose unusual routes, getting to work and back, change the situation at home and travel more often. And here are some tips from Jack Lewis on how to create unusual conditions for yourself at work, especially when you can’t solve a problem for a long time.
- Difficulty in enjoying everyday life
- The best way to start thinking outside the box, outside of any box, is to physically get rid of the box, that is, get out of the office. Leave for a couple of hours in a park, a conference room, an unfamiliar cafe. And think about your tasks in a new place. Fresh air, lack of boundaries — walls and ceilings — will definitely help you think: the brain is activated and it will start throwing up the right solutions. As a last resort, if you can’t leave your workplace in any way, “walk” on the Internet, play an online logic game for five minutes or solve a puzzle.
- To activate the right side of the prefrontal cortex, you can listen to unusual ethnic music. New rhythms, unusual sounds of melodies from another culture, songs in an unfamiliar language will definitely awaken your brain and help you find creative ideas.
- A proven way to solve any problem is to take a break from it for a while. Concentrate on the task, think about it for 45 minutes. And then take a 15-minute break and get back to work (but remember: the break should not last more than 15 minutes).
- Install a small indoor fountain at home or at work. In the summer, get out to work along the riverbank or in a cafe next to a noisy fountain. A distinctive feature of moving water is its random, ever-changing nature. These changes cannot be predicted with second-to-second accuracy. The need to constantly analyze new information, guess and assume stimulates the right side of the prefrontal cortex and makes the brain work more actively.
- Brainstorming can be a real shake-up for the brain, when colleagues discuss a problem together and throw up different ideas. An important condition is the complete absence of criticism. Even better is this type of brainstorming, when everyone separately thinks about the problem, writes down thoughts on paper and seals them anonymously in an envelope. On the day of the discussion, all envelopes are opened. How to break mental barriers? Joke and laugh more! When we laugh at a serious meeting, we physically relax, which means that the brain “relaxes” and opens up to the most unexpected ideas.
- There are two activities that equally relieve automatisms, have a positive effect on the brain, make it more flexible and inventive. This is rest and play. If you find time for them, you will become much more creative, and new ideas will start to come to your head.
As you follow all these tips, remember that in order to solve a problem, you must first think about it well and collect as much information as possible, otherwise your brain will simply have nothing to work on.
And finally, good news for polyglots: bilinguals concentrate better and switch attention between tasks. Bilingualism (and not just knowing two languages, but regular communication in both) increases the capabilities of your brain and helps get rid of automatisms.
* Jack Lewis, American neuroscientist, scientific consultant for BBC, Channel 5, Discovery, National Geographic. He worked on his doctoral dissertation at the Max Planck Institute (Germany), defended his thesis at University College London.