Reset and Rebalance
The irony of tough times is that our brains are hardwired to NOT provide the resilience, agility, and innovation we need when things are difficult.
This is because our brains are programmed to direct all resources to flight or fight reflexes to ensure we survive when things get rough.
Our Old Friend: Fight or Flight
You know your brain is in fight or flight when you want to:
Fly under the radar screen
Work harder to prove your worth
Dial it back because your efforts won’t make a difference anyway
However, this is not inevitable.
In fact, we can leverage our innate biology to also reset and rebuild, with a little guidance.
Experiment with the behaviors below to harness your body's ability to reset and rebuild.
CAUTION: this isn't like taking a pill. Results will take a bit of time.
Shore up Your Foundation
Leverage your natural biology to set you up for success:
Sleep: Your brain needs a certain amount of sleep to process stress hormones. Without this, the brain can not move out of fight or flight. Figure out the amount of sleep you need (usually 7 hours) and find a way to make that happen routinely.
Physical activity: Exercise makes the brain more elastic and better able to adapt to unexpected changes. A regular exercise routine (3 times a week) is optimal. No time to exercise? Mix varied bursts of physical activity into your day: stand at your desk, walk briskly between meetings, run up stairs, etc.
Zoom Out Routinely
Zooming out of the details to see the bigger picture jump starts agile thinking.
Consider these techniques:
Focus on your core values 1x a week at the beginning of your workday. Look for opportunities to weave them into your day-to-day life.
Notice that the people around you are struggling too. Notice their challenges. Put yourself in their shoes. Extend small kindnesses to them - even a smile or a hello to connect human-to-human.
Recollect the challenges you have overcome in the past. It will remind you of how resilient you can be.
Notice the natural world because it will help your brain put things in perspective and see the bigger picture. Notice the sunlight coming through the window, the smell of the fresh air when you open the door. Scan the horizon as you drive. Zoom in and out of details - clouds, trees, grass.
Remind yourself of the many aspects of your life and self: work, family, friends, fun, exercise, curiosities. The higher your sense of self-complexity, the more resilient you will be.