22/5/2022 Where Attention Flows, Focus GoesPaying full attention to what you are doing increases the odds of having a successful result.
Do you ever feel like you are doing everything and nothing at the same time? This happens because there are too many distractions coming your way. Simultaneous phone notifications, personal interruptions, and thoughts make your brain work against the clock to process the incoming information. In the present culture of success, feeling disorganized and unable to deliver proper results can trigger overwhelming emotions and undesired behaviors. Anxiety, sadness, rumination, procrastination, and unproductivity are the most common responses to multitasking. Additionally, it can negatively impact teamwork and socialization. Is there anything you can do to help your brain focus? The answer is yes. Your brain at work: processing the information Your body has six senses: hearing, sight, taste, smell, touch, and movement. They each have different types of receptors that receive information from the outside and transmit it to the brain for processing. The brain then organizes, prioritizes, and decodes this information to give the best possible response. The amount of information you are receiving can become an attention thief. Luckily, the brain becomes selective using a filtering process. To preserve itself from overloading, it does not give the same amount of work and spotlight to every stimulus. This is key to optimizing your focus. Attention control: Can you manage your attention? In 2020, the prestigious journal Frontiers published a study on attention control. The authors define it as the capacity to have control of your attention regardless of the positive or negative characteristics of the incoming stimuli. There are two fundamental mechanisms to take control of your attention: Attentional shifting: this refers to disengaging your attention from one specific situation and consciously paying attention to something else. You can use this resource according to your priorities. If you are doing something important that you need to get done, you should avoid shifting your attention to something less meaningful. However, if you are scrolling on social media or watching Netflix and you need to have something done, attentional shifting is a must. It’s a conscious mechanism that you can master with will and determination. Attentional focusing: this refers to focusing your attention on one particular situation, and not letting new stimuli distract you. The success of this resource depends on self-discipline, it’s all about resisting the urge of doing something else. Staying a little longer, or doing one more push-up can be the difference between success or eternal procrastination. Be Aware Of Your Automatic Behavior Your brain has become so accustomed to grabbing your phone that it will do so even if you have no desire to look at it. Your hand just grabs your phone and starts opening apps, sending unnecessary messages, and scrolling on social media. When something like this happens to you, it means it has become a habit, an automatic behavior. They are unconscious; you do them without noticing it. Be aware of these habits as they hack your concentration. Take control Of Your Automatic Behaviors 1- Identify the automatic behaviors that hack your focus: phone scrolling, unnecessary visits to the fridge, walking around the house, opening random websites, or visiting YouTube. 2- Draw limits: Putting your phone out of your immediate reach or blocking some websites can go a long way. Mindfulness Can Boost Your Ability To Focus Mindfulness can be a resource to help you control your attention flow. It enables your mind to fully attend to the present moment. When you switch your attention from one thing to another, usually anxiety is playing a role. Wondering what others are doing, fears, and intrusive thoughts, are attention control enemies. Meditation practice can enable you to strengthen your mind and focus. How Can You Start? Have you ever tried to concentrate on your breathing just for 3 minutes? It seems an effortless task. But it can feel impossible. 1- Check your focus status. Try to concentrate on your breath for 3 minutes. How do you feel? Do you want to stop? 2- Give yourself consistency. Practice the 3-minute breathing for a week. That way, you will teach your brain to gain control over overwhelming information. How you handle your focus can be decisive in your life. Use it wisely. . 8/5/2022 Vegan Protein vs. Animal ProteinClick here Getting enough protein is essential for your everyday health and well-being. Protein is essential for critical processes such as cell structure, growth, cellular processes, and immune function, among others.
Therefore, getting the right amount of protein in your diet each day is highly important. The good news is that you can get your protein intake from either vegan or animal protein. Some people claim that there is no difference between whether you get your protein from animals or plants, whereas others state that one is better than the other. Here we will discuss the pros and cons of each type of protein and which one you should include in your diet. Frequently Asked QuestionsIs animal protein better than vegan protein?Research has proven plant protein is harder to digest than animal protein, meaning your body absorbs less of what it requires from plant protein, although the difference is minimal. Is plant protein the same as animal protein?The difference between animal proteins and plant proteins tends to be whether they are complete or incomplete. Animal proteins are complete proteins and therefore contain all the amino acids essential for your diet. Plant proteins are often incomplete sources of protein. There are pros and cons to both incomplete and complete protein. Can you build muscle with plant protein?An exclusively plant-based diet that includes high protein will support mass gains and muscle strength as a reaction to resistance training, in the same way, that an animal protein-based diet would. The Amino Acid Content can Differ.Proteins consist of many amino acids. The human body utilizes around 20 to build proteins, and while your body can create some itself, you need to get the remaining nine amino acids from your diet. Protein sources differ significantly in regard to what type of amino acids they contain. Animal proteins are well known for providing complete proteins, which means they have all nine amino acids within them. Some plant proteins, such as peanuts, wheat, and beans, lack at least one of these amino acids and are known as incomplete proteins. However, some proteins such as soybeans and pea proteins are complete proteins and often get used in protein shakes. Animal ProteinThe ProsAs I have touched on, animal protein is regarded as providing complete protein, which means you don't need to worry about getting the remaining amino acids from other foods. Not only that, but it is easy to source animal protein in local supermarkets, online, or as part of protein powders or protein bars. The ConsWhile animal protein is certainly more accessible than complete plant-based proteins, there are some unhealthy side effects if you eat too much of the same animal proteins. For example, if you get most of your animal protein from red meat, you become more susceptible to higher blood pressure and other health issues. Vegan Protein The ProsPlant-based protein diets have been proved to help reduce blood pressure in comparison to diets full of animal protein. Studies have also suggested eating a vegetarian diet also helps lower body weight, reduce cholesterol, and lower the chance of heart disease, cancer, or getting a stroke compared to those who eat meat. Plant protein can also improve blood sugar management and help treat and prevent type 2 diabetes. The ConsAs mentioned, the one potential downside to plant-based proteins is that the proteins might be incomplete. However, this is not the case when it comes to certain plant proteins, such as peas, which often tend to be one of the main ingredients of vegetarian and vegan protein shakes. Vegan Protein vs. Animal Protein: Summary and Key TakeawaysIn summary, the source of protein you choose really depends on your particular needs and what you deem as reasonable side effects. For example, if you are searching for easy ways to get complete protein into your system and you are not too concerned by the potential health side effects of eating too much red meat, then an animal-based protein diet could be the right choice for you. Alternatively, if you are willing to change your diet to ensure you get all of your essential amino acids and you want to lower your blood pressure, among other things, then a vegan-based protein diet could be a better option. Ultimately, it is important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, and whichever option you choose, be sure to consume foods in moderation for the best results. 6/5/2022 Changing a Habit for Lazy a PersonAre you convinced that you will never know how to become less lazy? Keep reading because I've compiled some tips that you can implement each day to break your habits and start being more productive.
Each person has a different idea of what is deemed as laziness. For some, getting out of bed and doing a few jobs is a lot! This could be due to many reasons. For others, they struggle to see why others aren't as active or productive as them. In this article, I will show you how to improve your levels of productivity rather than asking you to achieve unrealistic levels of productivity straight away. Ready? Let's do this! Is It Possible to Change the Habit of Laziness?It is easy to think that some people have a natural ability to go out and accomplish everything they want to do each day. It is also easy to believe you are naturally lazy and find it hard to be a go-getter. Although many people claim habits are easy to change, it certainly doesn't feel that way sometimes. For some reason, it's much tougher for many of us to get out of lazy habits. If you find yourself living with these habits, it's important to know it will be tough to break these habits, and it will take a lot of hard work. But it is possible. Three Steps to Creating New HabitsSo, how do you break these bad habits? Let's dive deeper into how to get rid of your pesky laziness habit. Getting into the habit of regularly doing something is much easier said than done. We often find it easy to acquire bad habits with minimal effort, yet forming a positive habit can be tricky. So, let's cut it down into three steps for you to follow until you have made this new behavior a habit you no longer have to think about, like breathing or brushing your teeth. Specify What New Habit Will Replace an Old Lazy Habit What productive, new habits are you keen to instill? Be really specific, as this will help you implement it. For example, don't simply state you are going to run more. Instead, state, "I am going to do two 2km runs a week." Remind Yourself to Do the Non-Lazy Thing The first few days are easy. You are excited and highly motivated, and sticking to your goal is simple. However, after a few days, you might notice as you try to slip back into your old habits. Perhaps it is raining or cold. Or maybe you just have a really busy day. Make sure you set daily reminders, either on your phone or add your new habit to your to-do list. Remind yourself that it is hard to change all bad habits at once, and focus exclusively on your chosen goal. Keep it manageable. You are 100% able to handle more than you imagine, but that doesn't mean you need to push yourself to those limits each day. Make the New Action Part Of Your Routine Until It Becomes A Habit Before your new activity becomes automatic, implementing a routine will allow you to complete it without relying on reminders and willpower. Try completing your new habit after something you have to do and something you want to do. So, going back to the running example, try implementing your run after you come home from work before you settle in for the night. You always come home from work, so you know that cue will always be accessible. And completing your run before you get too comfortable at home gives you a little reward to look forward to when you get home. Practice this routine each day, and you will notice your new habits become part of your identity. How Long Does It Take To Create A New Habit?It takes a fair amount of time before a new behavior becomes a habit. It is important to be realistic about your expectations and be aware that you will have to put conscious thought and effort into being productive for some time. For some, a habit can be changed in 21 days. However, for most of us that live busy lives, it can take 66 days or longer. The best option is to focus on one area at a time. This will help you make significant progress much quicker. Think about how much you could have changed in a year's time! What Should I Do If I Mess Up?It's important to be honest with ourselves - no one is perfect. It's almost impossible to create a new habit without the odd mess up along the way. However, during the habit-creation stage, try your best to keep your new habit on track. Just be sure not to throw the towel in and give up if you make a mistake. One bad day is not a failure. Tomorrow, you can get right back to it. |
AuthorI have been weight training, running and cycling for 38 years and I have gained a vast amount of experience in fitness both as a Soldier in The British Army and in the past 22 years having been involved in the fitness industry. Archives
February 2023
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