Helping your brain to think and work smarter with Phil Dobson (NNP #70)
Release Date: 02/11/2020
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Helping your brain to think and work smarter with Phil Dobson (NNP #70)
New Normal Project
Phil Dobson, who runs “BrainWorkshops”, talks about maintaining brain fitness; managing brain stress; optimising brain health with exercise, sleep and learning; dealing with the distractions of modern life; and the value of mental rehearsal.
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New Normal Project
Host Dr Andrew Davies talks about 3 recent scientific papers; what videos, podcasts & books he's recently watched, read and listened to; what's happening for him in the health pillar of sleep; and some new challenges he’s made over the last few episodes.
info_outlineThis episode of the New Normal Project is all about the brain and keeping your brain healthy.
It features Phil Dobson who is the creator of BrainWorkshops, the mission of which is to help people get more from their brains.
Phil used to be a musician. But when he badly broke his ankle over a decade ago, his career and life radically changed. He trained as a clinical hypnotherapist, set up a practice in London, and rapidly recognised that many of the people he saw knew very little about how their brain functions; and how they could work on improving and maintaining their brain health. He saw many people struggling with sleep, who were significantly stressed, and who seemed to have their brains working against them rather than with them.
Phil began to work with businesses, teaching groups of people how to manage stress and to improve their sleep, and as he learnt more about neuroscience and about cognitive and behavioural psychology, he turned this into BrainWorkshops, where he now provides online material, a book, and physical workshops, all loaded with applicable techniques designed to provide people with a scientific approach to optimising mental performance in the modern workplace.
Phil works with businesses all over the world, and when I heard him speak eloquently at a medical conference last March, I asked him to come on the podcast.
In the episode we cover:
- Phil’s transition from a musician to a brain coach
- His recently published “The Brain Book” and what's in it
- The 5 key components to maintaining your brain fitness
- 3 ways you can master the stress your brain is under
- The beneficial effect of exercise for your brain
- The importance of sleep and preventing sleep deprivation
- His number 1 tip for helping you get more sleep
- The value of challenging your brain with novelty & learning
- Understanding circadian rhythms to be more productive
- His recommended steps to working smarter
- Dealing with the distractions of modern life
- How digital technology may influence your ability to master your own reactions
- The difference between mindfulness and focused meditation
- How Phil practices meditation and mindfulness in his life
- The value of mental rehearsal and why elite sports performers use it
- What Phil does on a daily basis to help his own brain
Please enjoy listening to Phil Dobson.
Live well, feel well, do well.
Andrew Davies
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About the New Normal Project podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to live a life of optimal health, fitness and wellness, by hearing scientific evidence, experience-based information and real-life stories in the areas of the lifestyle pillars such as nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, sleep, connection and purpose. You’ll hopefully glean insights to help you to consider making choices about your daily habits so you become more healthy, fulfilled and conscious.
Although I’m a doctor this is not medical advice as I don’t know your personal circumstances or your health conditions. Please see this as general information for you to consider, and then to learn more about, so you can discuss it with your doctor.
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Links related to Phil Dobson
Links to people and resources (in order of mentioning)
Book “The Brain Book: How to Think and Work Smarter” (by Phil Dobson)
Progressive relaxation technique
Book “Sleep Revolution” (by Ariana Huffington)
Book “Thrive” (by Ariana Huffington)
Book “Sapiens” (by Yuval Noah Harari)
Book “The Brain That Changes Itself” (by Norman Doidge)
Brain Workshops Online Courses
Mastering Intensive Care podcast
Links related to New Normal Project podcast
New Normal Project podcast - Episode 65 with Andy Ramage
New Normal Project podcast - Episode 66 with Dr Neal Barnard
New Normal Project podcast - Episode 67 with Dr John Orchard
New Normal Project podcast - Episode 68 with Dr Alan Desmond
New Normal Project on Facebook
New Normal Project on Instagram: @newnormalproject
New Normal Project on Twitter: @newnormalproj
Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66
Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66