Today's Article

Another easy 11intervention that you could try, something that's a little bit 12controversial, is stop multitasking. Your brain is 13wired to do one thing at a time. What multitasking does is it weakens your 14prefrontal 15cortex. So, it weakens your ability to solve complex problems, ironically decreases your productivity. So instead of multitasking, try 16monotasking, which means doing one thing at a time. 

Another strategy is social connection. Really, really important. We know that there is a 17loneliness epidemic. Globally, 330 million people go two weeks before speaking to anyone. And we know that loneliness is a risk factor, an independent risk factor for early 18mortality. 

And I think one of the last things that is really important when you're thinking about daily behaviors and wiring your brain is how we engage with our devices and creating what I like to call some digital boundaries. This is not about becoming a 19digital monk. You want to be connected and informed. It is more important now than ever to be an informed citizen. What this is about is about being an informed citizen without 20compromising or 21sacrificing your mental health.

 Keep your phone off your nightstand. Invest in a low-cost alarm clock instead. When you wake up, let your eyes get 22accustomed to the light. Say good morning to your children and then check your devices. But give your brain a little 23buffer because that can make all the difference. The goal of life is not a life with zero stress. It's actually biologically impossible for your brain to do that. It's to live a life with healthy, 24manageable stress that serves you rather than harms you.