When we give ourselves a break from overwork, we increase our brainpower and convert stress into productive and creative energy. Have some playtime. 2. Switch Autopilot On This doesn’t mean being “mindless” and bumping into walls because we don’t know where we are. It’s about using our brain’s natural ability to run on well-grooved habits, which are more powerful than willpower in carrying life’s burdens. 3. Unshackle Yourself Take time to break free from things that tax us, like our smartphone’s constant siren song. It opens the door to more joy, and it’s much simpler to do than you think. 4. Cultivate Relationships What are friends for? Lots of things. It’s a cliché and it may sound hokey, but life is simply hard to pull off all by ourselves, and there is solid science that tells us our brain is healthier when we nurture our connections to others. 5. Tolerate Some Discomfort Do what it takes to develop mastery, which makes hard things easy; have the courage to follow your passion and purpose; and learn how to bounce back when the going gets rough.
