Focus Time – Attention management for performance Today’s business context is characterized by a number of tendencies that combined have radically increased the fragmentation of time. Developments in communication and information technology have multiplied and made more immediate and intricate the nature of our connectivity. Globalization has intensified competition and with it customers increasingly expect 24/7 access, just-in-time deliveries, and minimum waiting times. in turn, firms expect their managers to be flexible, mobile, and available to meet customer expectations.

Physical Time – Improving the brain’s plasticity through exercise. In an article in the New York Times, Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang, respectively editor in chief of Nature Neuroscience and associate professor of molecular biology and neuroscience at Princeton take a critical look at computer programs to improve brain performance. The digital brain health and fitness software market is a booming business.

Connecting time – The healing power of relationships According to Matthew Lieberman, one of the founders of social cognitive neuroscience, our “evolutionary wiring predisposes us to be social,” actually causing a sense of physical pain if we are socially rejected. As such one could argue that social connection is a basic human need, very much like water, food and shelter. social support is a well-documented antecedent of wellbeing.

Time-in – Reflection, attunement, mindfulness Various studies cited by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the report “stress at Work” indicate that between 26% and 40% of all workers today feel stressed of burnt out by work. Roughly 60% of doctor visits stem from stress- related complaints and illnesses. Confronted with pressure or stress, the brain strives to reestablish and maintain homeostasis through the coordinated activation and control of neuroendocrine and autonomic stress systems.

Downtime – Disconnecting for integration and insight When explaining “down time” in workshops we found that this is the most counterintuitive component of the Healthy Mind Platter and needs quite a bit of explaining. “Down time” does not correspond with “leisure time” exactly, which is a much broader term which may refer to hobbies and sports. in the Healthy Mind Platter hobbies are more likely to come under “focus time” and sports under “physical time”. With down time we refer to a very specific type of “activity”: