watch this if your brain is broken

Summary

In this video, Colin from Yale University shares five habits to enhance brain power and productivity. He advises leaving your phone behind in the bathroom, using airplane mode for focused work, walking daily to boost mood and energy, reading books for knowledge and wisdom, and engaging in fun, authentic conversations to recharge. These habits aim to improve focus, happiness, and overall life quality.

Takeaways

• 📱 Don't bring your phone to the toilet to save time and increase mindfulness.
• 🛫 Turn on airplane mode while working to eliminate distractions and enter a flow state.
• 🚶‍♂️ Walk more to boost brain power, mood, and energy.
• 📚 Read more books to reform your dopamine systems for learning and gain wisdom.
• 💬 Have fun and authentic conversations to recharge your brain and enjoy life.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Engage in physical activities like playing sports to rest, socialize, and have fun.
• 🧠 Fixing your brain can lead to better focus, productivity, and overall life improvement.
• 🏫 The speaker, Colin, achieved high academic success while maintaining a balanced life.
• 🌟 Implementing even one of the suggested habits can lead to significant life improvements.
• 🔄 The video emphasizes the importance of being present, authentic, and not taking life too seriously.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video script?

The main issue discussed is the struggle many people face with maintaining focus and productivity due to short attention spans and addiction to digital distractions, which makes it difficult to achieve personal goals and aspirations.

Who is the speaker in the video script?

The speaker is Colin, a student at Yale University studying computer science, who shares his experiences and strategies for improving focus and brain function.

What was Colin's academic achievement in high school?

In high school, Colin achieved a 4.0 GPA while studying for only about 2 hours a day.

What is the first habit Colin suggests to transform one's brain?

The first habit Colin suggests is not bringing your phone to the toilet, which can help save time and increase mindfulness.

Why does Colin recommend turning on airplane mode while working?

Colin recommends turning on airplane mode to eliminate distractions, making it easier to enter a flow state and be more productive during deep work sessions.

How does walking contribute to brain health according to the script?

Walking is said to increase brain power, improve mood and energy, and help clear the mind for better idea generation. It's also a way to become more physically fit.

What is the significance of reading books as mentioned in the script?

Reading books is highlighted as a way to reform dopamine systems for learning satisfaction, gain wisdom, and become smarter by acquiring knowledge from various authors and subjects.

What type of conversations does Colin encourage to improve brain function?

Colin encourages having fun, authentic, and intellectually stimulating conversations with friends and family to recharge the brain and enjoy life.

How does Colin incorporate physical activity into his routine?

Colin includes physical activities like playing basketball or ping pong with friends as a way to rest, socialize, and have fun, which also contributes to better focus and brain health.

What is the overall message Colin wants to convey through the video?

The overall message is that by implementing simple habits such as reducing phone usage, focusing during work, walking, reading, and having meaningful conversations, one can improve brain function and take control of their life.

What are some of the books Colin recommends for personal development?

Colin recommends 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear and 'Feel-Good Productivity' by Ali Abdaal as good starting points for personal development through reading.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Transforming Your Brain for Success

The speaker, Colin, addresses the audience, acknowledging their aspirations and the challenges they face in maintaining focus and productivity. He introduces himself as a successful student from Yale University with a 4.0 GPA, achieved while studying only two hours a day. Colin emphasizes the importance of fixing one's brain to become more powerful and shares five habits that can help transform one's brain and regain control over life. The first habit discussed is avoiding the use of a phone in the toilet, which is described as a silent killer of productivity. Colin suggests using shower time for mindfulness and awareness, which can lead to increased presence and happiness. He also recommends turning on airplane mode while working to eliminate distractions and enter a state of flow, which can significantly improve productivity and focus.

05:01

🚶‍♂️ Boosting Brain Power and Enjoying Life

Continuing with the second habit, Colin advocates for walking more as a way to increase brain power and mood. He cites studies that show a boost in brain power after just 20 minutes of walking and suggests walking in the morning with sunlight for added benefits. Colin also encourages reading more books, which he believes is the fastest way to fix the brain by reprogramming the dopamine system to find satisfaction in learning. He shares his personal reading habits and recommends books like 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear and 'Feel-Good Productivity' by Ali Abdaal. The final habit discussed is having more fun and engaging in deep, intellectual conversations with friends and family, which Colin sees as a way to recharge the brain and enjoy life. He also mentions his recent routine of playing basketball or ping-pong with friends as a way to rest, socialize, and have fun. The video concludes with Colin expressing confidence that implementing these habits will lead to a better life, and he encourages viewers to share the video to help others.

Keywords

💡Productivity

Productivity refers to the efficiency of an individual or system in converting inputs into desired outputs. In the context of the video, productivity is linked to the ability to focus and complete tasks effectively. The speaker suggests habits that can enhance productivity, such as turning on airplane mode while working to minimize distractions and entering a 'flow state' more quickly.

💡Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the moment. The video emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, particularly during activities like showering without a phone, which allows for increased self-awareness and a more focused state of mind.

💡Flow State

The 'flow state' is a concept in psychology where an individual is fully immersed in an activity, experiencing a sense of energized focus and complete involvement. The video suggests that removing distractions, such as by using airplane mode, can help achieve this state more readily, leading to greater productivity and enjoyment of tasks.

💡Dopamine

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with the brain's reward and pleasure centers. The video mentions reforming dopamine systems through reading, suggesting that engaging in learning activities can lead to a more satisfying and rewarding experience, which in turn can improve focus and cognitive function.

💡Habits

Habits are regular patterns of behavior that are often hard to change but can be cultivated for personal improvement. The video outlines several simple habits that can 'fix' the brain, such as not using a phone in the bathroom, walking more, and reading books, which are presented as strategies for enhancing focus, well-being, and personal growth.

💡Distraction

Distraction refers to anything that diverts attention from the current task or activity. The video identifies distractions, particularly from mobile devices, as a significant obstacle to productivity and focus. Strategies to minimize distractions, like using airplane mode, are presented as key to improving cognitive function.

💡Walking

Walking is highlighted in the video as a beneficial activity for both physical and mental health. It is described as a way to boost brain power, improve mood, and increase energy levels. The speaker recommends walking outside for an hour a day as part of a routine to enhance cognitive abilities and overall well-being.

💡Reading

Reading is presented as a powerful tool for self-improvement and learning in the video. It is suggested that reading books, particularly in areas of interest such as business, psychology, and self-improvement, can reform dopamine systems to seek satisfaction from learning and expand one's knowledge base.

💡Conversations

The video emphasizes the importance of engaging in meaningful conversations as a way to recharge the brain and enjoy life. It suggests that being present and authentic during conversations with friends and family can lead to intellectual stimulation and a greater sense of fulfillment.

💡Recharge

Recharge, in the context of the video, refers to the process of regaining energy or focus, often through leisure activities or social interactions. The speaker mentions that activities like playing sports or having fun conversations can help the brain recharge, leading to improved focus and productivity when returning to work or study.

Highlights

The audience is encouraged to improve focus and attention span, which are crucial for achieving personal goals.

Colin, a Yale University student, shares his personal experience of achieving academic success and a balanced life.

Fixing one's brain is key to transforming one's life, according to Colin's experience.

The first habit suggested is to avoid using the phone in the toilet to save time and increase mindfulness.

Showering without the phone can help build self-awareness and be more present.

Turning on airplane mode during work can significantly boost productivity and help achieve a flow state.

Walking for an hour a day is recommended for increasing brain power and improving mood.

Walking can also contribute to physical fitness, making one leaner and more aesthetically pleasing.

Reading books is emphasized as a fast way to improve the brain and gain knowledge.

Reading 10 to 15 minutes before bed is suggested to foster a love for learning.

Having fun and engaging in deep conversations is a habit that can recharge the brain and make life more enjoyable.

Authenticity and a light-hearted approach to life are encouraged for better social interactions and mental health.

Participating in active hobbies like basketball or ping pong can help rest the brain and foster social connections.

Implementing these habits can lead to a significant improvement in one's life, as Colin confidently asserts.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to share the video and help others improve their lives.

Transcripts

ladies and gentlemen I know a lot of you

guys that are watching this video right

now are feeling incredibly stuck in your

lives you have all these big goals and

aspirations the only problem is your

brain is broken your attention span is

literally shorter than a goldfish you're

addicted to scrolling and you don't

really know how to focus and you know

what's crazy you want to get good grades

you want to improve yourself to become

smart attractive and successful but

you're literally making it 10 times

harder for yourself if you're new here

my name is Colin and I'm a stud students

at Yale University studying computer

science in high school I got a 4.0 GPA

while studying Max 2 hours a day and now

at Yale I've learned how to do well in

school but also having lots of cool

hobbies and a fun social life and the

reason I'm able to do all this is

because I fix my brain to become

powerful now if you're already scrolling

down in the comment section or trying to

watch this video at 2x speed you really

need this video more than anyone else so

I want you to listen very carefully

because in this video I'll be sharing

five simple habits you can do to

transform your brain and take back

control over your life let's get into it

so the first habit you want to do is

don't bring your phone to the toilet you

might not realize it but this one is a

silent killer if we're being real you're

really not doing anything productive

with your phone yeah sure maybe you can

respond to some messages or read

something but let's be honest you can

probably do that before you shower or

after you shower much faster anyways

guys showers are actually super

underrated especially without your phone

it's one of the best times in a day to

be mindful and to build that sense of

awareness to yourself how are you going

to do that if every time you go to

shower you try to recite some rap lyrics

or something like that now it's not to

say that you can't listen to music in

the shower I also love listening to some

jazz or house music sometimes but I do

it in moderation usually at night but

the point is try to go to the toilet

without your phone you'll also probably

save at least 20 minutes a day in screen

time and by doing this you'll become

much more present aware and happy now

the next thing you want to do is turn on

airplane mode when you're working I'm

talking about when you're about to do

some serious deep work like studying or

writing or creating guys this is

honestly one of the most powerful habits

you can do to work less and earn more to

study less and get better grades to

focus so you can get more work done in 2

hours rather than the average person in

8 hours guys when you remove

distractions by turning on airplane mode

or do not disturb on your phone it's

such an easy way to get into the Flow

State faster oh Colin but what if

there's like an emergency I need to

settle listen I've had this same thought

and you know what I haven't bought

another phone just to solve this problem

but honestly 99% of the time you'll be

fine don't worry about it so try turning

on airplane mode or do not disturb the

next time you're about to do some work

you'll feel much more productive and

also able to unlock that flow State much

faster now the next habit you can do to

fix your brain is to walk more I

personally love walking and I walk

outside for an hour a day it's literally

a LIF hack guys studies show that your

brain power increases after just 20

minutes of walking and if you you can

get some sunlight in the morning it's

even better walking is one of the most

powerful mood and energy boosters it's

also one of my personal favorite ways to

get clear on ideas also if you can get

around 8,000 steps a day which is pretty

doable and easy you're also going to

become much more lean and aesthetic so

if you're in high school you can easily

do this in between classes or even after

school when you're at home at College

it's also very easy you can do it in

between class after a meal or even go on

a walk with a friend so get into the

habit of walking more outside you'll

super charge your brain power and also

feel much more happy now the next habit

you want to start doing is to read more

books reading books is the fastest way

to fix your brain because you're

literally reforming your dopamine

systems to get satisfaction from

learning personally I love reading books

around business power psychology and

self-improvement and I usually read

around 10 to 15 minutes a day before bed

but what I'd recommend is to read what

you love until you love to read guys

reading is one of the easiest ways to

become smart and to gain wisd wiom

because you're literally getting years

of knowledge in just a couple of pages

I've been reading one book every 2 weeks

since I was 15 and I buy books every

month at College it's almost like an

addiction at this point but if you're

just getting started I would highly

recommend reading a book a month just 5

to 10 minutes a day before bed and if

you want some books to start with I

would highly recommend reading iy guy

Atomic Habits by James clear and

feel-good productivity by Ali abdal of

course feel free to read whatever you

find fun or interesting now the last

habit that'll fix your brain and improve

your life is to have more fun

conversations I'm talking about

conversations with friends and family

we're just present in the moment I'm

talking about deep intellectual

conversations being able to share cool

ideas solve problems and Inspire those

around you is such a luxury it's what

makes life fun also it's such a great

way to recharge your brain but the thing

about having these conversations is that

you got to be real you got to be

authentic with yourself you got to have

that light-hearted Soul where you can

enjoy life and don't take things too

seriously now another another thing

that's part of my routine lately in

college is playing basketball or ping

pong with friends or simply doing

something active it's such a great way

to rest socialize and have fun at the

same time guys when your brain is able

to recharge and be present in the moment

you're able to focus better when you get

back to work or when you get back to

studying and it's such an amazing

feeling but that's going to be it for

this video I have full confidence that

if you guys follow these habits or even

just Implement one of them your life

will improve for the better I hope you

guys found this video helpful if you did

share this video and help a friend out

as always God bless Al we're all going

to Wi one day and I'll see you in the

next one

[Music]