Brain Chemicals with Neuroscientist Nicole Vignola

If you are at all interested in brain chemicals, how to be happier, less addicted, and reach your BHAG goals, I highly recommend this podcast while you drive. In chronological order, here are my favorite takeaways

1. Reflecting on small wins often is proven to make you happier

   • Record your "Small win" and "Big Win" of the week. When you start, it will feel hard, but give it time!

2. Dopamine management is super important.

   • Dopamine is what motivates us, but it is highly addictive! (and that doesn't mean we turn into motivated machines, instead we chase instant gratification)

   • Put rewards late in the day or you will chase instant gratification (getting on your phone and reaching for that piece of candy) the rest of the day

   • Sitting on your phone between tasks doesn't actually give your brain a break.

   • Nicole bans phones in her office. (Proof it is doable!!!) She doesn't expect her office to not bring their phones to work, but asks they don't have them out in their office, and instead outside so brains can keep the office affiliated with focus and work rather than distractions and often breaks

3. A brain scientists morning rules:

   • Water first! Even a 2% dehydration is proven to negatively affect your brain

   • No phones for the first hour

   • Meditate or move to increase frontal cortex activity

4. Micheal Phelps won an Olympic medal despite having his goggle's FILL UP with water !!!

   • The point of this was on visualization, but my takeaway was about how bogus excuses are!

5. Quick tips

   • When you need to get off your phone, count down from 5 to prime your brain

   • Before grabbing that sweet treat, wait 5 minutes then decide again

6. Sleep

   • If you really want to know why you shouldn't be on your phone before bed, she explains why

   • She goes over the types (Deep sleep, REM, etc) of sleep and how to get the best quality of sleep

     Find a related blog on "Why Leaders Eat Last" with Simon Sinek. He shares how many of these same chemicals are directly related to leadership.

Find a related blog on "Why Leaders Eat Last" with Simon Sinek. He shares how many of these same chemicals are directly related to leadership.