There is a common myth that people can only use 10% of their brain at any given time. Unfortunately, this urban legend is untrue and is the result of a misunderstanding. It is most likely the words of William James that led to this great confusion. In his book, The Energies of Men, he writes “We are making use of only a small part of our possible mental and physical resources.” Sadly, this claim that humans can only use 10% of their brains is untrue, but there are different ways to make our brains more efficient.
In today’s world, if you need help solving a problem, you turn to the computer in your hands. For most people this is such a common part of their day, they don’t even second guess its helpfulness long term. People now use their GPS to show directions instead of printing them out or use their phone’s calculator instead of working the problem mentally. This kind of access to knowledge is not a negative thing, but if we allow it to be the only way we get information, we could be hurting ourselves. Because of this, we will be explaining how to gather information in a way that makes our brains more effective.
Expand Your Comfort Zone
If you spend all your time learning about the same topic, over and over again, you’re never going to grow. Sure, studying one particular topic may make you an expert in that area, but it makes you limited overall. This is why it is important to expand your comfort zone. An effective brain is one that is always growing. As soon as you feel comfortable in the information you are learning, it is time to move on to something more challenging. Getting in the habit of implementing this idea helps set the new standard for understanding. This routine also helps get employees more comfortable with the idea of upskilling, which is a good way to reinforce connections and help recall information later on.
Engage with the Video
When watching training/educational videos it is important to engage with the video. Most training videos today are set up in a way to keep the viewer interested and engaged, but it is up to the viewer to put in the effort. Making a point to gather information about the course, such as the course name or what they hope to learn from the course, is a good way for viewers to be prepared for the information they will receive.
Additionally, while watching the videos it is important for viewers to listen to the main points. Main points are used by creators to help viewers reflect on previous topics. This is a beneficial way for viewers to train their brains to be more effective. Reflecting on a previous topic helps our brains realize that this information is important and should be remembered for the future.
Lastly, most training/educational videos have an activity of some sort at the end. This is an excellent way to make your brain more effective because you are learning by doing. This, in addition to reflecting on previous topics, helps move information from short-term memory to long-term.
Bigger Brains is an excellent example of a company that focuses on all three of these points. Our videos feature a teacher/learner format, so the viewer feels as if they are part of a classroom. Additionally, Bigger Brains makes it a point to feature main topics and points in the lessons to make sure viewers remember the overall flow of the course. Lastly, Bigger Brains includes lots of course materials and handouts that can be completed while watching the course, or after completing it.
Relevant Content
There are some other beneficial training styles that can help make your brain more effective. Just-in-Time Training is trending now, changing how companies deliver their training materials and simplifying how employees receive it. Because of Just-in-Time training, it is easy for viewers to engage with a short video relevant to their issue, and retain that information for the future since they are more likely to use what they learned immediately. That reinforcement makes the brain’s ability to retrieve information more efficient.
Overall, there are lots of engaging ways for people to train their brains more effectively. Bigger Brains is dedicated to powering productivity, one brain at a time!
