Less Stressed (but More Productive)
Dr. Tharaka
High performance expert and psychiatrist
Dr. Tharaka ‘Dr T’ is a three-time TEDx speaker, Podcaster and has recently appeared in the new celebrity TV series in the UK - "Can I Improve My Memory?" on Channel 4. As creator of the 'Mind, Action, Profit' Blueprint, with his unique Medical background and motivational style, he brings his ‘mind and performance’ insights to professional audiences around the globe in order to help them improve their personal wellbeing, effectiveness, leadership, teamwork, focus and concentration. He believes that when you ‘manage the mind, you can manage your bottom line’
In this expert session, Dr. T sheds light on the significance of managing stress in both personal and professional aspects of life. With our increasingly hectic schedules, self-care often takes a back seat, leading to potential mental health issues. Dr. T introduces the concept of a "stress bucket" – if we fail to manage our stress effectively, it can overflow and manifest as emotional or mental health problems.
To help prevent burnout, Dr. T encourages identifying coping mechanisms and setting aside time for them. He suggests creating a bucket diagram with a tap representing life's demands and an overflow symbolizing potential stressors. Participants are then encouraged to identify their top coping mechanisms by drilling holes in the bucket and labeling them.
Dr. T emphasizes the importance of recognizing what helps individuals manage stress, be it relaxation techniques, hobbies, team lunches, or effective communication with colleagues. He advises prioritizing these coping mechanisms and protecting them at all costs.
The expert also discusses productivity traps such as people pleasing and perfectionism, offering tips for managing these challenges effectively. Dr. T suggests practicing a "soft no" when dealing with distractions or non-priority tasks, taking time to make decisions, and aiming for progress rather than perfection.
Dr. T then shifts the focus to multitasking in today's fast-paced world. He explains that despite our best efforts, people are multitasking more than ever before, with work culture changing due to the pandemic. Dr. T emphasizes the importance of being aware of this trend and its potential negative effects on brain health and productivity.
To illustrate his point, Tharaska conducts an interactive activity using the Mentimeter app. Participants are asked to identify various elements occurring in a picture and multitask by answering multiple-choice questions while writing digits under each corresponding letter. The results show significant differences in performance among participants.
Dr. T concludes that there is no such thing as multitasking for the brain; instead, we're single-tasking and giving ourselves an illusion of doing multiple things at once, which can lead to increased brain fatigue and toxic stress. To combat this, Tharaka advises staying focused on one task at a time and taking breaks to give your brain a rest.
Throughout the session, Dr. T shares valuable insights on managing multitasking, recognizing stressors, prioritizing coping mechanisms, and maintaining work-life balance. Participants are left with actionable tips for improving their overall wellbeing in today's fast-paced world.
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high performance expert and psychiatrist
Key Learnings
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Recognize and Manage Stress Effectively: Identifying personal coping mechanisms and making time for them is essential for maintaining balance and preventing burnout in both personal and professional life. (Dr. Tharaka's expert session emphasized the importance of a stress bucket, highlighting relaxation techniques, hobbies, effective communication with colleagues, and prioritizing self-care.)
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Mastering Multitasking: Contrary to popular belief, multitasking is not an efficient way to get things done. Focus on one task at a time and take regular breaks to give your brain a rest for improved productivity and mental wellbeing. (Dr. Tharaka demonstrated the negative effects of multitasking during his expert session and advised participants to stay focused on one task to avoid brain fatigue and toxic stress.)
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Productivity Tips and Tricks: Overcoming productivity traps like people pleasing and perfectionism can significantly improve your work-life balance. Practice saying "soft no's" when dealing with distractions, take time to make decisions, and aim for progress instead of perfection. (Dr. Tharaka shared valuable tips during his expert session on managing multitasking in today's fast-paced world, including staying mindful of productivity traps and employing effective strategies to overcome them.)
Interaction
During the expert session, Dr. Tharaka engages the audience through a live demonstration using the Mentimeter app, where they identify stress coping mechanisms by drawing and labeling them on a virtual bucket. Tharaka also leads an interactive activity involving multitasking tasks to highlight its impact on performance and brain health. Throughout the session, he shares valuable tips for managing multitasking, burnout, and productivity traps, encouraging participants to prioritize self-care and effective communication.