Many things can be done to be less tired and have more energy every day. Much more than we think. But there’s an easy 2-minute habit that the nutrition and wellness expert says Cristina Barrouswe should repeat at least 10 times a day to stop feeling exhausted. And also to send us the message that normalize tiredness –and boasting regarding it because we believe it is a sign of productivity– is not good. “The big mistake we make in this regard is not stopping, going on autopilot all day. That’s why I recommend doing 2-minute micro-stops at least 10 times a day, Being aware of what we do and not doing two things at the same time. It can be, for example, applying the cream and only applying the cream (without listening to a podcast at the same time, for example). Or prepare dinner without looking at the mail meanwhile”, says Barrous, who advises consciously doing these daily gestures that we usually carry out in multitasking mode, without meaning or necessity.
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The danger of assuming multitasking as normal
In fact, Barrous’s words are somewhat reminiscent of those of Tim Kendall, former president of Pinterest, who in the Netflix documentary The dilemma of social networksShe remembers how she would get off work following long hours and keep looking at her mobile despite the fact that her children “required my love and attention. In fact, I might be in the pantry checking the mail at the same time”, he recalls, describing a situation that is probably familiar to most of us who have assumed multitasking and hyperconnectivity as a lifestyle.
The brain is not prepared for multitasking
“Multitasking does not exist in the strict sense. By having to perform several functions at the same time, our brain diverts its attention from one to another. That is to say, it jumps from task to task, from process to process, but it does not carry out these activities simultaneously”, he explained to us on one occasion Paul Rodrigopersonal development expert, to explain that multitasking actually detracts from efficiency And it causes a lot of stress.
The advantages of doing things slowly and consciously
This small habit of doing micro-stops is a way of launching into our brain a positive and reassuring message that we don’t give when we do several things at once (no matter how simple and everyday those actions may be). “If we run, the body and our brain understand that there is a danger behind that urgency and the brain gives the order to secrete cortisol, the stress hormone that is also inflammatory and ends up generating, if it is maintained over time, gastric problems, joint pain, insomnia… If we brake and slow down, concentrating on each step when carrying out the task, our brain interprets that there is no danger and that is how we manage to increase concentration, and even enjoy what we do” explains the psychologist Laura Palomaresof Advance Psychologists.
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