Do you ever feel like your day falls into separate parts no matter what happens? It's not a coincidence! Our brains have the fascinating ability to divide our daily experiences into "chapters", to better manage and process them. This division doesn't just happen to make us more organized, but to help the brain distinguish important from mundane events, creating lasting and more meaningful memories.
What are "chapters" in our brain?
Like a book that is divided into chapters to create a comprehensible story, the brain divides the day into "parts." A study from "Columbia" University revealed that important, emotional events serve as key points where the brain creates new chapters. This gives meaning and structure to our day, causing some moments to remain vivid in our memory while others pass unnoticed.
How does the "chaptering" of our day help?
In everyday life, we are faced with an unstoppable flood of information. By dividing experiences into chapters, the brain conserves energy by focusing its resources only on the most significant moments. When an event is important to us (such as an important conversation, an exciting experience, or a surprise), the brain labels it as a special "chapter." This helps to process memories more easily and improve our ability to reflect.
Now that we know how the brain works, how can we use this ability in our everyday lives?
Here are some ways to manage your day better by fitting this pattern:
Take intentional breaks: Breaks during the day give the brain a moment to create new chapters. Use short breaks to break up events, whether it's a short walk or a fun activity.
Tag important events: If something is important to you, stop and mark it in your mind as a valuable moment. This can be a way to reinforce positive memories.
Manage emotional load: The brain creates new chapters when there is an emotional change. Be careful when dealing with strong emotions - help yourself manage stress better by dividing your day into lighter and more intense moments.
Why is it important to stop and reflect?
Reflection is the part where the brain retrieves and processes experiences. If you're always on the move, your brain doesn't have time to divide the day into "chapters" and you can feel overwhelmed. Create spaces to analyze experiences and decide which experiences are most important to you.
Dividing the day into chapters is an effective way to understand yourself and live each moment more fully. Make your day a book where every chapter has special value.
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