As business owners, we are busy. We are also always striving to be better. One way we can do that is by taking care of our brains. We all know the brain is a muscle, and we have to work on it. You’ve heard of hacking a computer, but did you know you can hack your brain and wire it to be more successful? Your brain operates like a network that forms new connections each time you learn something new. The more often you learn new things, the easier it is for your brain to form those connections and the faster you learn! So, let's dive in and learn a little more about your brain.
Know Thy Brain
The first step to hacking your brain for success is getting to understand your brain better. When you understand how it works, you can use it to your advantage. Your brain controls your thoughts, movements, senses, intelligence, and everything that makes us human. Your sensations, memories, feelings, and more are the result of signals passing through neurotransmitters. This is the part you want to exercise, keep those neuropathways clear, and moving, and you can hack your brain to be more efficient than ever.
Right or Left?
You have probably heard the terms “right-brain” and “left-brain” to describe someone good at math or art. While it is not proven, some scientists believe you can have a more dominant side of your brain which will determine your strengths in math and art among other things. When hacking your brain you want to play to its strengths. This will help you better understand how you specifically learn things and speed up the process of learning. So take a moment and reflect. Are you more analytical and methodical when it comes to thinking? If yes, you are probably left-brain dominant. Are you more artistic and creative in thinking? You could be right-brain dominant! Now, this is not to say if you are artistic then you will never understand math. It's quite the opposite. When you understand your strengths you can use them to your advantage. If you already know that you work better in creative circumstances, and have to approach an analytical problem, the simple understanding that this is out of your comfort zone will help things move along. As you get more practice, you can learn how to make problems work for you and formulate them in a way that your brain can understand.
Learn How You Learn
On top of having a dominant side of your brain, each individual also has a dominant learning style. There are 7 basic learning styles, and many more when you get into combinations.
- Visual: You thrive on spatial relations and learn best when you can see something.
- Aural: You learn best when you hear something through music.
- Verbal: You prefer words, both speech, and writing.
- Physical: You take things in best through your body and sense of touch.
- Logical: Mathematical equations are your favorite, and you use analytical thinking.
- Social: You are constantly learning in groups and from people around you.
- Solitary: You prefer to work alone.
Reflect on which two or three of these learning styles compliment you best, it probably is in line with the dominant side of your brain! Why would you struggle through looking at photos and graphs when you know you are a verbal learner? Understanding what learning style works best for you will save you a lot of headaches. Have you ever listened to a lecture and not retain a single word? Why would you put yourself through that waste of time when you know you are a physical learner. Work with your strengths and save a lot of time when trying to learn new things. These are not set in stone and have probably already changed throughout your life, and that goes to show that you can master learning styles that are not your strong suit if you take some time and practice.
Old Dogs CAN Learn New Tricks
It is never too late to start learning new things. You can learn all sorts of things that will help you be successful in business and life. If you thought you would never be able to master your accounting or social media, because you always end up banging your head against the wall, then perhaps you were not studying in a way conducive to you as an individual. Even if you’ve put off learning new things for a while, it's never too late. Your neural pathways don’t form cobwebs. The more you know, the easier it is to build on that. So loosen up your neurotransmitters by learning something new and expanding your knowledge. Try to learn something new this week that will benefit your business, and hack your brain to success!