In a previous article, I spoke about why traditional habits don’t always work for women. One of the reasons is that productivity is not linear and that cycle syncing can help boost productivity. In this article I want to go a little deeper into how the female brain operates. Understanding the unique workings of your lovely brain could help to transform your approach to productivity.
Productivity is not Linear
Society has more or less told us that we should be productive between 9 and 5 every day. But we now know that this is not possible, to be productive every hour of every day is not realistic. The reason for this is that we have biological cycles that impact our energy and focus every day.
You may be already familiar with circadian rhythms, 24-hour cycles. And Ultradian rhythms, 90 – 120 minute cycles. But have you heard of Infradian rhythms? Cycles longer than 28 days such as menstruation. When we take these biological cycles into account it is easy to see that productivity is not linear. There will be ups and downs within a day, from day to day and over a month. For this reason, the conversation about productivity has to take into account these cycles, especially when it comes to women.
Hormonal cycles hugely influence our brain chemistry and as a result our productivity. During the follicular phase, days 1-14 of your period, rising estrogen levels enhance mood and cognitive function. This time is ideal for new projects and high-energy tasks. The luteal phase,(the later part of your period) with increased progesterone, is better for reflective tasks and self-care.
If you plan your work around your natural energy cycles, you will be able to tap into your innate creativity and productivity at different times of the month. Schedule high-demand tasks during the follicular phase if possible and reserve the luteal phase for less intensive tasks and self-care.
The Female Brain’s Connectivity Advantage:
Women’s brains have stronger connections between the left and right hemispheres. This accounts for our so-called boosted ability to multitask and integrate diverse information. While pure multitasking is not possible for the brain unless one task is automated, women are naturally better equipped to handle multiple tasks effectively.
Women’s brains typically have stronger connections in areas related to emotion and social processing, this results in higher emotional intelligence, allowing women to better understand and empathise with the emotions of others.
The female brain’s connectivity also supports a more holistic approach to problem-solving. Women tend to integrate emotional and logical information, well leading to more comprehensive approach to decision-making.
And women are often better at collaborative thinking and consensus-building. The brain’s wiring supports understanding and understanding diverse perspectives, making women effective leaders.
Darwin noted in one of his books that female brains were smaller than males thus he deduced made them inferior to men. I don’t think he understood the connectivity advantage, to say the least.
Embrace Your Brain’s Strengths
Understanding your brain’s unique wiring is key to unlocking productivity. Use strategies that align with your natural strengths and rhythms. Focus on your connectivity, leveraging emotional intelligence, and work with your cycles to maximise productivity. Your brain is a powerful tool so use it effectively.
