Overloaded Circuits and Strategies for Best Thinking

Sally DeWittFebruary, 2005

Based on work by Edward M. Hallowell, MD

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Why Smart People Underperform

• Overloaded Brain Circuits• Brain Function • Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Trait• Strategies for Best Thinking

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What contributes to brain overload today?

• Increasing demands on our attention…−Waterfall of information−Tidal wave of tasks−Relentless requests−Ongoing shifts of context−E-mail, phones, cell phones, voice-mail, text

messaging, Blackberrys−Push to do more with fewer people−Expansion of world to encompass the globe−Addiction to speed…do everything faster, faster,

faster

“Never in history has the human brain been asked to track so many data points…”

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What is the result?

• Fear or Panic• Guilt that you can’t keep up—or can’t just suck it

up• Rushed in everything you do• Curt or irritable• Flexibility and creativity decline• Working memory declines (the number of data

points you can keep track of at once)

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This is your brain

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Brain Overload: ADD and ADT

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD)− Rooted in genetics, affects brain physically and

chemically

• Attention Deficit Trait (ADT)− Response to hyperkinetic environment− Upon overload, brain fires signals of crisis:

• Fear• Anxiety• Impatience• Irritability• Anger• Panic• Impacts endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular,

musculoskeletal, and peripheral nervous systems

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ADT: Triggered by trying to deal with more input than you can

• Results in “survival mode” behavior:− Impulsive judgments−Hard to think clearly−Black-and-white thinking−Angrily rushing to closure on tasks, decision, etc.−Robbed of flexibilty−Sense of humor evaporates−Forget big picture, goals, values−Lose creativity and ability to change plans−You may meltdown, blame others, sabotage

self…or, go into avoidance mode and denial

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Strategies for Best Thinking: Preventative measures

• Promote positive emotions• Create a trusting, connected work environment – promote

brain power by fostering connections and reducing fear• Have a friendly, face-to-face talk with a person you like

every 4-6 hours

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Strategies for Best Thinking:Preventative measures

• Take physical care of your brain− Sleep− Good diet, lower in refined carbohydrates− Take a multivitamin and an omega-3 fatty acid supplement− Exercise (your brain loves the chemicals that result from

moving your body)− Don’t drink much alcohol

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Strategies for Best Thinking:Preventative measures

• Organize for ADT• Keep your frontal lobes in control− Break large tasks down into smaller ones− Keep a section of your work space clear at all times− Keep a portion of your day free of appointments and

e-mail− Limit your e-mail hours− Attend to critical tasks first when you start your

day…don’t get sucked into the e-mail or voice mail black hole

− At the end of the day, make a list of no more than 5 priorities for the next day

− Do your most important work during your best time of day

− Note how you work best (music, standing, walking around, etc.) and set up your work space to allow for it

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Strategies for Best Thinking: Preventative measures

• Protect your frontal lobes• Take time to comprehend what’s going on• Listen, ask questions, digest

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What to do if you begin to feel overwhelmed• Slow down• Do an easy rote task• Move around• Do not worry alone – ask for help, delegate, or

brainstorm with a colleague

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Ramifications Discussion

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Reference: “Overloaded Circuits: Why Smart People Underperform,” by Edward M. Hallowell, MD. Harvard Business Review, January 2005

To Order the Article for online download: http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu