PAPERmaking! g! FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TECHNOLOGY ® Volume 9, Number 3, 2023
4. Start a Daily Meditation Practice Meditation has a wide range of research-backed benefits. When it comes to clear thinking, one positive outcome is particularly notable: relaxation. When you’re stressed and anxious, it becomes dif ficult to work steadily and thoroughly through a problem. Stress leads to racing thoughts and catastrophizing, neither of which is conducive to clear, effective thinking. Meditating for as little as ten minutes per day can have long-lasting and tangible effects. Setting up a regular daily practice, possibly with the help of an app like Headspace, will increase your overall level of calm throughout the whole day. 5. Organize Your Workspace Ever heard the adage “Tidy room, tidy mind”? Well, it’s not just a throwaway piece of advice that’s uttered by beleaguered parents attempting to get their children to clean their rooms. Studies have shown that organized spaces are good for us. Working in an orderly environment boosts concentration and cultivates calm, both of which contribute to clear thinking. One study also demonstrated a link between reduced clutter and increased academic performance. Cleaning guru Marie Kondo has become a household name in recent years for her revolutionary stance on tidying and streamlining one’s possessions. Her fame and success are likely a result of the real Breaks have an array of benefits, from eradicating decision fatigue to restoring concentration and motivation. Thinking clearly requires mental resources, and taking breaks allows you to replenish these resources. Human beings have limited attention spans. While omitting breaks to work longer hours may seem like a good idea o n the surface, it’s an approach that’s almost certain to diminish productivity. You can also give your breaks an added boost by going outside. Research shows that undertaking activities in nature leads to short and long-term improvements in mental health, including reduced stress and anger, improved mood, and greater self-esteem. 7. Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Sleep Over the last several years, a retinue of scientists, business leaders, celebrities and other public figures have come out to promote the benefits of sleep and dispel the myth that working longer means working better. Good sleep habits are irrefutably linked with mental clarity and better judgment. If you want to think more clearly, ensure that you are getting between seven and eight hours of sleep every night, which seems to be the sweet spot for most people. And if you’re the kind of person that struggles to drift off, try removing artificial sources of light, which are known to inhibit sleep, from your room. psychological benefits that come from decluttering. 6. Take Regular Breaks (Preferably Outdoors)
Article 12 – Thinking Skills
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