In today's fast-paced world falling into a cycle of stress, overwork and exhaustion happens from time to time. You work hard to succeed, but often feel empty and burned out at the end of the day. However, if you begin to understand your own biorhythm and make certain behaviors a habit, Dr. Christian Poensgen promises you can not only work more effectively, but also feel better and be more successful in the long run.
His approach to „Sustainable Peak Productivity" is all about integrating periods of deep focus into one's daily life, turning off stress factors, and using healthy behaviors like adequate sleep and nutrition to improve productivity. Using proven methods and scientifically based findings, Dr. Christian Poensgen explained to our startups how they can find out when is the best moment for them to concentrate, but also to work creatively. Because everyone is a little different, some may like to start their first deep focus especially early, others a little later. Larches, owls and third birds - that's what Dr. Christian Poensgen called the different chronotypes and recommends: It's best to start a deep focus even before checking your mails!
The startups shared their experiences with the group, told how hard it is not to look at the smartphone or get lost on social media platforms in between and exchanged tricks on how they manage to resist distraction in everyday life. In dialogue with the coach, the participants found out how they can avoid multitasking and distractions, use positive stress, breaks, exercise and nutrition for themselves. A question from Alexander Busse (Cybervize): "In Germany we like to measure performance in working hours, often there is the classic eight-hour day. If breaks make us more productive, should we also book breaks as working time?" "Absolutely not," says Dr. Christian Poensgen. After all, he explains, it's during breaks and when we're moving that our brains start working on important solutions. That's why insights often come outside of regular working hours, while showering or just before falling asleep. "We are knowledge workers, something is always happening in our heads, even during breaks," says Poensgen, "so a break is working time. I would like it to be seen that way." The important thing, he says, is to figure out how to flip the switch, to alternate between focus and rest. If we manage to understand and deal with our inner rest system, then we can control the switch between stress and rest mode, enabling us to work effectively and healthily at the same time.
Scientist, author, speaker, coach and consultant who sets up organizations and professionals in high-stress environments for long-term success. Since receiving his doctorate on the interplay between stress and performance, he has been obsessed with all things productivity.
His forthcoming book „Ultraproductive" is the operating manual on how to destress, work less, and accomplish more in a challenging world of overstimulation.
