Learn: Your PFC battery
Life’s multitude of stresses wear down our PFC capacity each day. You might recognise this yourself if you feel that your brain is tired after particular events or situations.
By building awareness of events or activities that deplete your energy, you can begin to counteract the drain of your PFC.
Energy draining events
Consider which of the energy-draining events listed below occur in your daily life. You might find it useful to jot down those that stand out to you so you can refer to them later.
- Managing limbic threats and needs
- Change
- News and drama
- VUCA: volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity
- A difficult environment (noise, poor light, smells, clutter, etc)
- Not enough sleep
- Poor nutrition or a very restrictive diet
- Task switching aka 'multi-tasking'
- Too much to do
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Focusing on negativity or drama
- Working without a break
- Using devices on your break time
- Skipping lunch
- Dealing with pain
- Long or stressful commutes
Are there any other life events that drain energy from your PFC? If so, write them down for your own awareness.
How it works
When your PFC is charged, you will be more effective at managing your limbic reactions and needs. This means you can be more patient with others, more curious about their ideas, more intentional about your impact and generally more collaborative. We now know what depletes our PFC. How, then, can we recharge it? The answer will be slightly different for everyone.
Watch this video to consider which activities give you energy and replenish your PFC.
Recharging your PFC battery
In addition to the ABC model, there are many other ways to recharge your PFC, some of which are shown below. You will have your own personal preferences. Which of these do you feel would work well to boost your energy?
Take notes in your notebook.
Get a good night’s sleep
Take breaks during the day
Take breaks during the day
Take breaks during the day
Take breaks during the day
Take breaks during the day
Eat healthy foods
Take breaks during the day
Eat healthy foods
Exercise
Go for a short walk
Eat healthy foods
Go for a short walk
Go for a short walk
Go for a short walk
Breathe deeply
Go for a short walk
Go for a short walk
Take breaks from technology
Spend time with people you enjoy
Get outside and get fresh air
Get outside and get fresh air
Spend time with people you enjoy
Get outside and get fresh air
Spend time with people you enjoy
Spend time with people you enjoy
Spend time with people you enjoy
Be positive and practise gratitude
Take breaks from drama (news, dramatic people, your own drama, limbic reactions)
Take breaks from drama (news, dramatic people, your own drama, limbic reactions)
Take breaks from drama (news, dramatic people, your own drama, limbic reactions)
Take breaks from drama (news, dramatic people, your own drama, limbic reactions)
Take breaks from drama (news, dramatic people, your own drama, limbic reactions)
Practise mindfulness (e.g. a short meditation)
Take breaks from drama (news, dramatic people, your own drama, limbic reactions)
Practise mindfulness (e.g. a short meditation)
Laugh, play, dance or be creative
Laugh, play, dance or be creative
Practise mindfulness (e.g. a short meditation)
Listen to inspiring music
Laugh, play, dance or be creative
Listen to inspiring music
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