Taking Back Control

Does your life feel like a never-ending series of pop-up notifications, pings, and buzzes and your focus flits from one tab to another, just like you use your internet browser? For many of us these distractions are not only holding you back from a high performance state of mind - we are being robbed of some life's greatest treasures like building, deep meaningful relationships, time we could be spending doing things we are passionate about, and energy that could be used on fulfilling your highest goals. Trust me, I have experienced it, firsthand, and I do have some good news. While it's no walk in the park, I'm here to tell you that reclaiming control is achievable.

Just a year ago, my life was teetering on the brink of chaos, with a barrage of tasks overwhelming me to the point of questioning my mental health. An easy way out seemed to be a potential prescription for ADD, but I instinctively knew that it would only serve as a temporary fix, with long-term repercussions I didn't want to risk.

Where had my ability to focus disappeared to?

It was during this challenging period that my ongoing journey of self-improvement, self-discovery, and self-investment played a crucial role. Investing in a high-end coaching class allowed me to unravel the mystery of my dwindling focus. The lessons learned were transformative, helping me regain control of my life, turning chaos into calm. Now, I feel compelled to share these insights with others.

The modern lifestyle is littered with 'energy sucks,' draining our cognitive resources. Our brains, compared to a computer's RAM, have limited short-term capacity. With numerous digital tabs open in our lives - checking emails, scrolling through social media, handling work and personal responsibilities - we're overloading our mental RAM, crashing our ability to focus.

This constant digital onslaught doesn't merely disrupt our productivity. It triggers our fight-or-flight response, pumping cortisol through our system, as our brain is unable to differentiate between digital stress and life-threatening danger. This spirals us into a state of chronic stress and constant distraction.

Adding to this issue is our society's addiction to dopamine - the hormone that gives us a sense of pleasure. Each time we scroll through social media or read a new text message, we're hit with a wave of dopamine, akin to a drug high. This quick fix of gratification can become an addiction, destroying our focus, productivity, relationships, and deep-thinking capabilities.

Surprisingly, the average knowledge worker in a 40-hour work week typically only accomplishes about an hour's worth of productive work daily, with only 10 to 20 minutes of high-performance 'flow' state. Working more isn't the solution - it's about working smarter. Once I started implementing what I learned in my coaching program, I realized I could achieve more in 30 focused hours than I could in 60-70 distracted ones.

Another significant realization is the importance of recovery, often overlooked in the corporate world. Just as athletes rest after intense training or games, our minds also need downtime to rejuvenate. This could be as simple as practicing breath work, meditating, or going for a walk - without multitasking. Mindlessly scrolling on your phone does not count as recovery; instead, it exacerbates cognitive load and strengthens your dopamine addiction.

Here's the silver lining: all these adverse effects are reversible. You possess the power to reshape your habits, foster new neural pathways, and enhance your brain's neuroplasticity. You can rebuild your ability to focus, forge deep, meaningful relationships, and increase your productivity while working fewer hours.

You never lost control over your life; it's about choosing not to surrender to the digital world's ceaseless demands. Should the idea of reclaiming autonomy over your life and transforming it resonate with you, I encourage you to reach out.

Join our community, subscribe to the newsletter, and let's embark on this journey of transformation together.

Until next time, stay focused.