Swimming Against the Current: A Turbo Thinker's© Guide to Mindful Productivity
A recent trip to the library led me to a fascinating discovery: "The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health" by Dr. Ellen Langer. This groundbreaking work explores how our thoughts can significantly impact our physical health, challenging the common belief that health only deteriorates over time. Dr. Langer introduces mindfulness—actively noticing new things—as a powerful tool for improving well-being. Through various studies, she demonstrates how changing perspectives can lead to real physical changes, from weight loss to faster wound healing.
As I delved deeper into Dr. Langer's research, I couldn't help but wonder: If our thoughts can so profoundly affect our physical health, how can we Turbo Thinkers© harness the superpower of our neurodiversity to significantly improve our well-being and performance? How could we apply her definition of mindfulness to improve our focus and productivity?
As a Turbo Thinker© myself, I'm not one to easily take advice from others. In fact, our brains naturally rebel against being told what to do. That's why I find Dr. Langer's approach so refreshing. Her work, rooted in decades of research, provides compelling evidence that inspires us to live more mindfully rather than mindlessly on autopilot. The results speak for themselves.
Many of my clients come to me with a sort of awakening. They've been doing the "right" thing their whole lives, yet they still feel overwhelmed, stressed out, and unfulfilled in their work and personal lives. Often, we discover that questioning what "right" really means can inspire us to change our mindset and approach to productivity. Asking, "What does 'right' mean for me?" is the beginning of intentional, effective living.
Dr. Langer's research shows that simply noticing can shift our perspective and invite us to live differently or feel differently, eventually leading to improvements in our physical health. All change begins with awareness. Many of my clients start with a time audit of how they spend their day or an emotional audit of how they feel during or after certain tasks. By noticing, we can question what has led to success or struggle, and then choose to continue practices that work for us and change those that don't. This is mindful living in action: noticing, building awareness, and inviting curiosity to inspire change and growth.
Langer defines mindfulness not as meditation or emptying our minds, but as "the process of actively noticing new things." For us Turbo Thinkers©, this definition is a game-changer for both creativity and productivity. Our minds naturally notice and connect ideas at lightning speed. But how often do we consciously direct this power?
One of the most intriguing aspects of Langer's work is her take on stress. She posits that stress isn't inherent in events themselves, but in the view we take of those events. As Turbo Thinkers©, we often find ourselves overwhelmed by negative evaluations and judgments, worrying that we'll encounter problems without solutions. But what if we could pause and ask ourselves, "Is this a tragedy or an inconvenience?" More often than not, it's the latter. By reframing our perspective, we can deal with challenges more efficiently and move on, significantly improving our performance and focus.
Langer also invites us to embrace uncertainty. As Turbo Thinkers©, we often seek certainty and predictability. But what if uncertainty is actually our playground for creativity and innovation? For example, if you believe you're going to lose your top client, can you come up with five reasons why you wouldn't? Or five reasons why losing that client might actually benefit you? This exercise in perspective-shifting can open up new possibilities we hadn't considered before.
For Turbo Thinkers©, who often struggle with fixed beliefs about our capabilities, Langer's approach offers a liberating alternative. Instead of accepting blanket judgments like "I can't focus" or "I'm not productive enough," we can pay attention to variability in our experiences. Did you work more efficiently today than yesterday? Why might that be? Was it your environment, your sleep quality, or perhaps your motivation to leave work on time for a special event? By noticing these variations, we can identify factors that contribute to our success and exert more control over our performance.
Even our perception of time can be a tool for empowerment and increased productivity. Langer's research shows that when we think time is passing quickly, we're often able to accomplish more. Conversely, when we perceive time as moving slowly, our progress tends to match that perception. How might consciously shifting our time perception affect our efficiency and overall well-being?
As Turbo Thinkers©, we often find ourselves overwhelmed and busy, constantly reacting to crises both professionally and personally. Mindfulness offers us a way to approach each moment with kindness and curiosity, leaving judgment, comparisons, and rankings at the door. It allows us to let go of what doesn't serve us and make space for what does, inviting a sense of play and wonder into our daily lives.
So, how can we put this into practice? How about we start by using our Turbo Thinking© powers as an asset for both well-being and productivity? Can we engage in reflective questions and challenge the mindless acceptance of the status quo? Moreover, can we share these mindful moments with others? Mindful conversations and collaborations can bring greater ease, joy, and efficiency to our daily lives.
How can we use our natural noticing abilities more intentionally in our daily tasks?
What assumed limitations could we challenge by paying attention to variability in our experiences?
How might embracing uncertainty fuel our creativity and problem-solving skills?
In what ways could a mindful approach to time change our productivity and well-being?
How can we reframe our challenges as opportunities for mindful engagement rather than sources of stress?
By questioning assumptions, embracing uncertainty, and approaching each moment with curiosity, we can transform our challenges into strengths. Dr. Langer's work provides us with a scientifically-backed framework to harness our unique cognitive gifts for both personal growth and enhanced productivity.
Let's use our Turbo Thinking© powers to notice more, question deeply, and live more intentionally. The journey to a more empowered, productive, and fulfilling life begins with choosing to swim in our own “right” direction rather than mindlessly floating with the current. What will you actively notice about your work and life today?