Do you stress eat?


Jun 10, 2021

 by Thomas Sampson
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I just HAD to share this with you, because when I read this, it completely blew my mind.

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Have you ever … 

  • Attended a virtual meeting while you scrolled your phone for the latest headlines (or, ahem, checked your social media notifications)? 
  • Juggled two work projects at the exact same time because you thought you could do them in half the time?
  • Listened to a training/course/book while folding the laundry, cooking a meal, and/or caring for a family member?
  • Checked your email or phone several times in the middle of a project?

It might seem like you’re streamlining your to-do list by tackling several things at once, but you can actually be cluttering your brain. 

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This can lead to more mistakes, retaining less info, and actually changing how your brain works (not for the better).

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In fact, multitasking on projects that require a lot of thought can make your IQ score dip the same way it does for people who stay up all night! 

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Check this out: in one study, men who multitasked had their IQ drop 15 points … so that their score was the same as an average 8-year-old child.

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This happens because of the way our brains function, according to researchers from the University of Southern California.

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When you need to pay attention to something, your brain’s prefrontal cortex springs to action. It keeps your brain focused on a single goal while also working with other parts of your brain to help you finish the task.

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And when you work on one task at a time, both sides of the prefrontal cortex work together in beautiful harmony.

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BUT … if you try to focus on TWO TASKS at a time, the left and right sides each do their own thing.

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You can see how this would make it hard for your brain to FOCUS … 

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making it even harder to pay attention to the details and retain more info. Plus, researchers say it can cause THREE TIMES as many mistakes!

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So, what is the solution? It works like a charm… and it also cuts down on stress – more on that in a sec.

 

The tip: Set a timer for 15-30 minutes and FOCUS ON ONE TASK. Then, take a mini 5-10 minute “intermission” break, and set the timer again for another period of focus.

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Game-changer! 

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BONUS BENEFIT ALERT … people who felt stressed while multitasking ate more unhealthy snacks, according to researchers.

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This isn’t surprising, since stress is linked to food cravings!

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So moral of the story is, be mindful of the multi-tasking and do yourself a HUGE favor. Keep lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy snacks on hand so IF the cravings come you have good things to reach for.

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Just something to think about. :-)

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Make it a mindful day,

Coach Thomas Sampson, CFL-3, USAW-2, Sports Nutritionist