After suffering a panic attack in a speaking engagement in front of some 100 people, Chris Bailey decided to investigate the cause of the anxiety he suffered. The result is his book, "How to Calm Your Mind."
For years leading up to the attack, Bailey, who's first book was "The Productivity Project," had been obsessed with the subject of productivity, the topic he was on stage to speak about.
Yet striving for accomplishment can make us less productive, said Bailey. "Researching and writing "How To Calm Your Mind" showed me that we become more productive when we leave the frenetic pace behind and instead work deliberately and calmly on what's truly important. Studies show that a standard eight hours of work can take around nine and a half hours when we're working anxiously--and that's a conservative estimate," he said.
Spend more time in the analog world versus digital, Bailey told Steve Tarter.
Be aware that the internet is loaded with distractions and our brains gravitate to what releases the most dopamine--superstimuli included. One of the things he advises is that people take a month-long "stimulation fast" to settle the mind.
"I follow a simple rule: if I want an experience to be meaningful or have depth, I do it in the physical, analog world. If I want something done efficiently, I do it digitally," he said.
Comments & Upvotes