The key to productivity is seldom finding more time

So it's 8am in the morning here, 

I've cycled and dropped Annabelle at school, I've stopped in the park and done some chins and dips in one of the many outdoor gym areas. 

There a loads of people doing the same, it's such a morning country. 

Now I'm at one of these Danish sea swimming club things. 

Basically it's a large pier with cornered off areas of sea and then showers, changing rooms, saunas, naked zones.*

*if you're thinking bay watch you should move your mind somewhere closer to cocoon. 

You shouldn't be tricked into thinking I'm describing a paradise of comfort, the sea is 16 degrees which makes being in it for longer than 10 minutes a skill to be mastered. 

I used the Wim Hoff breathing method today which made it much easier. 

I have always wrestled with when I should be at work or thinking about work and when I should relax. 

The truth is though, brains don't work like that. 

They are always consciously or unconsciously trying to solve the questions that occupy your mind. 

For me those questions are, why do people struggle to do the things they say they want to do and struggle to stop doing the things they don't want to do? 

What I have learned though is that once you've taken the time to study and put the information in, the unconscious mind is far better at sorting it and producing ideas. 

Sir Isaac Newton found his inspiration while sat under an Apple tree goofing off.

Archimedes was having a bath just lazing around.

Thomas Edison used to deliberately nap in order to stop conscious thought and allow his brain to connect his knowledge dots.

If your job is creative and logical problem solving then your job is keeping your brain in good shape and creating space for it to do its work. 

We are tricked with our iPhones and with our laptop and 24 hour accessibility into thinking that being available 24/7 means more work done. 

In reality, it means less work done and less innovation. 

The greatest currency of the future is not productivity it's creative problem solving. 

So start taking the time now, look after your brain. 

It's the only tool you've got...

Ed Ley