Chris Bailey on How a Calm Mind Increases Productivity
Jan 15, 2023
57:17
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Quick takeaways
Finding a balance between digital and analog activities can cultivate calmness and improve productivity.
Chronic stress is the main cause of burnout, but by focusing on engagement, individuals can reclaim control and boost productivity.
Practicing a stimulation fast, engaging in analog activities, and savoring positive experiences can lead to a calmer and more focused state of mind.
Deep dives
The Importance of Calmness in Anxious Times
In this podcast episode, Eric Fisher interviews Chris Bailey, author of the book 'How to Calm Your Mind: Finding Presence and Productivity in Anxious Times'. They discuss the concept of calmness and its significance in a fast-paced and anxious world. Bailey shares his personal experience with burnout and how it led him to explore the connection between calmness, productivity, and well-being. He emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between digital and analog activities, engaging in savoring practices, and taking breaks from overstimulation. Bailey also suggests undertaking a stimulation fast to reset the mind and enhance presence. Overall, the episode provides valuable insights and actionable tips for cultivating calmness and improving productivity in today's anxious times.
Understanding Burnout and Engagement
Bailey delves into the topic of burnout and explains its three primary components: exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy. He highlights the role of chronic stress as the main cause of burnout and identifies the six factors that contribute to its development, such as workload, lack of control, insufficient reward, community, fairness, and values. Bailey also discusses counterbalancing burnout with engagement, which involves reducing chronic stress, finding energizing activities, and reclaiming a sense of control, purpose, and productivity. By flipping the triggers to engagement, individuals can experience greater energy, positivity, and productivity in their work.
The Science of Calmness and Dopamine
Bailey explores the science behind calmness and its relationship with dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. He explains the effects of dopamine on our brain and the role it plays in our craving for novelty and stimulation. Bailey introduces the concept of a stimulation fast, which involves eliminating activities that primarily stimulate the mind, such as constant social media use and online news consumption. By practicing a stimulation fast and engaging in analog and well-rounded activities, individuals can achieve a calmer and more focused state of mind. Bailey also highlights the benefits of savoring positive experiences and how it can lead to greater presence, enjoyment, and productivity.
Embracing Analog Activities and Slowing Down
Bailey emphasizes the importance of embracing analog activities and slowing down in a digital-driven world. He discusses how spending excessive time looking at screens affects our overall well-being and ability to be present. Bailey encourages individuals to create a balance between digital and analog experiences by engaging in activities that exist at a lower level of stimulation. He suggests making a savor list, which includes enjoyable analog activities that promote presence and help cultivate a calmer mind. By prioritizing analog experiences and reducing reliance on digital stimuli, individuals can find more meaning, engagement, and focus in their daily lives.
Developing the Skill of Savoring
Bailey explores the science behind savoring and its ability to convert positive experiences into positive emotions. He explains that savoring is a skill that can be practiced and improved over time. Bailey introduces various techniques for savoring, such as reminiscing about the past, anticipating future events, luxuriating in the present moment, giving thanks, and marveling at the beauty around us. By deliberately savoring experiences, individuals can activate the brain's here and now network, which leads to greater engagement, focus, and presence. Savoring serves as a pathway to enhancing enjoyment, finding meaning, and fostering a calmer and more productive mind.
This was a really timely conversation for me and I suspect it will be for you as well. Chris and I discuss the events that led up to him writing this book while exploring a number of techniques, and tips for finding presence and calm that he developed and practiced along that journey. We discuss digital fasting, the advantages of analog items for productivity, and how slowing down your lifestyle can often lead to speeding up your efficiency!
Chris Bailey is a productivity expert, and the bestselling author of two books about productivity: Hyperfocus https://amzn.to/3iGCsCF, and The Productivity Project https://amzn.to/3CP2dHT. Chris writes about productivity at https://chrisbailey.com, and speaks to organizations around the globe on how they can become more productive, without hating the process.
