Latest news with #WendySuzuki
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
THIS morning habit is silently destroying your focus and productivity, explains brain expert-- Here's how to fix it
In today's digital age and fast-paced world, grabbing your phone first thing in the morning feels completely normal to many. Most of us do it without thinking— checking messages, social media, or the latest news before we even get out of bed. But according to Dr. Wendy Suzuki, a well-known neuroscientist and professor at New York University, this common habit might actually be causing more damage to your brain. According to the brain expert, checking your phone first thing in the morning can adversely affect your ability to focus, think clearly, and be creative throughout the day. In a recent Instagram video from her Mindful Mondays series, Dr. Suzuki explained why this morning routine could be holding you back from feeling your best. She says the first few minutes after you wake up are extremely important for your brain. This is when your brain enters what she calls 'peak neuroplastic mode.' The morning brain boost you're missing So, what is neuroplasticity? It's the brain's ability to learn and adapt, and it is at its highest right after you wake up. During this time, your brain's chemical levels—especially dopamine and cortisol—are naturally higher. While cortisol is often known as the 'stress hormone,' Dr. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Find out: this is how you clean your yoga mat! Kingdom Of Men Undo Suzuki says that in the morning, it actually helps motivate you and sharpen your focus. This is your brain's best time for setting goals, being creative, and preparing for the day ahead. But what happens when you grab your phone first thing? You basically interrupt this golden opportunity. The moment you look at your notifications or scroll through social media, your brain is flooded with information and emotional triggers—most of which you don't need early in the day. Dr. Suzuki says this forces your brain into 'high alert' mode, making you feel anxious, stressed, or scattered before you've even gotten out of bed. A simple 20-minute trick can help boost focus and happiness Luckily, Dr. Suzuki has a simple solution. She suggests a small experiment: for the next five mornings, delay looking at your phone by just 20 minutes. Instead, spend this time doing something calm and positive— stretching, writing down your main goals for the day, or simply enjoying your coffee without any digital distractions. According to Dr. Suzuki, this small change helps your brain stay focused, calm, and productive. In a world that constantly demands your attention, giving yourself just 20 minutes of peace in the morning can be the key to feeling more in control, happy, and clear-minded all day long. 7 Positive habits to start your day
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
This morning habit is wasting your brain's peak power hour, warns neuroscientist
Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki suggests avoiding phone use first thing in the morning. She says it disrupts the brain's peak neuroplasticity. Checking phones immediately spikes cortisol and hijacks focus. Suzuki recommends delaying screen time for just 20 minutes. Instead, stretch, write down goals, or simply enjoy coffee. This allows the mind to process and prepare for the day. Neuroscientist Dr. Wendy Suzuki suggests that checking your phone first thing in the morning can disrupt your brain's peak neuroplasticity. This habit hijacks focus and elevates cortisol levels, leading to anxiety. (Image: iStock) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Your Brain's Golden Window: Neuroplasticity at Its Peak Phones Are Stealing Your Brain's Spotlight Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Neuroscientist's 20-Minute Fix In today's hyper-connected world, scrolling through your phone first thing in the morning may seem harmless — even natural. But according to neuroscientist Dr. Wendy Suzuki , this seemingly routine gesture could be the very thing disrupting your brain's potential. In a recent Mindful Mondays Instagram reel, the New York University professor revealed how this habit could be sabotaging your mental clarity , creativity, and focus before you even brush your teeth.'When you first wake up, your brain is in peak neuroplastic mode,' Dr. Suzuki explained in her video. This is the brain's most flexible, learning-friendly state — a time when dopamine and cortisol levels are naturally elevated. Contrary to what many believe about stress hormones, this early morning cortisol spike isn't harmful. In fact, it helps boost motivation and primes your mind for focus and creativity But the trouble begins when that state is hijacked.'If your first move in the morning is checking your phone, your brain misses out on its most powerful window of the day,' Dr. Suzuki said in the Instagram reel. That instant influx of notifications, news, and social media updates sends your nervous system into high alert, disrupting the calm balance and redirecting your attention externally — often to anxiety-inducing or dopamine-draining caption further drives the point home: 'Reaching for your phone first thing spikes cortisol, hijacks your focus, and puts your nervous system into high alert before you've even taken a breath.'Instead of grabbing your phone, Dr. Suzuki recommends a simple yet effective experiment. 'For the next five mornings, delay screen time by just 20 minutes,' she suggested. What should you do instead? Something that centres you.'Stretch. Write down three things you want to focus on. Or just sit with your coffee and your thoughts,' she advised. By giving your mind some space before the floodgates of digital distractions open, you allow it to process, prepare, and a world that glorifies constant connectivity, perhaps the best way to take control of your day is to start by disconnecting — even if just for 20 minutes.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Neuroscientist wants you to do this for five mornings in a row
Dr Wendy Suzuki, a professor at New York University, warned that one common habit is not so good for the brain It's easy to assume that the first moments of our days are fairly insignificant, but a neuroscientist has claimed this isn't the case. You may be surprised to hear that the brain is incredibly impressionable in the initial "window" upon waking up. While this can be a peaceful time for some, Dr Wendy Suzuki, a professor at New York University, warned that one habit is ruining it for others. In a recent Instagram video, she said: "You've been starting your day out all wrong, and your brain hates it. If your first move in the morning is checking your phone, your brain misses out on its most powerful window of the day." Right after waking, Dr Suzuki claimed that the brain is generally in its "peak neuroplastic mode", which describes a high ability to adapt and change due to surroundings and experience. Dopamine, known as the 'feel-good chemical', is also replenished during sleep, meaning that levels are naturally higher. But the specialist claimed that anyone turning to a screen first thing may disrupt this process. She continued: "Dopamine and cortisol are naturally high, giving you a boost in motivation, creativity, and focus. "But screens hijack that potential. So, here's your experiment. For the next five mornings, delay screen time by just 20 minutes. Instead, stretch. Write down three things you want to focus on. Or, just sit with your coffee and your thoughts. Watch what happens when you give your brain space to lead." Besides this, it's crucial to note that scrolling before bed may have a detrimental impact on mental health, too. In one study, researchers from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia found that an overwhelming nine out of ten participants indulged in pre-sleep screen time. Although just under half (41.7%) reported 'poor sleep quality', scientists approximated a 'two-fold' risk increase among people using their smartphones for '16 to 30 minutes' at bedtime. The danger escalated further to 'more than three-fold' for those engaged with their devices '31 to 45 minutes' during night-time hours. At the time, the team wrote: "Our findings suggest that employees who use their smartphones more at bedtime have more risk of being poor sleepers. More attention should be drawn to the misuse of smartphones and its effect sleep quality, health and productivity of adults." Crucially, this was a 'cross-sectional study', meaning it didn't definitively establish phone usage as the cause of poor sleep, but rather identified a pattern in results. However, other experts do suggest a causal relationship exists. Rosey Davidson, a sleep consultant at Just Chill Baby Sleep, previously told Gloucestershire Live that our bedtime habits can significantly impact our sleep quality. She said: "Looking at phone content late at night affects our sleep by exposing us to blue light, which suppresses melatonin production, a hormone crucial for sleep. "To improve sleep and mental health, establish a bedtime routine that limits screen time an hour before sleep." Furthermore, Rosey advises against using phones first thing in the morning, as this habit can greatly influence your mood for the day. "When we wake up, our brain transitions from the deeper sleep brain waves (like delta and theta waves) through alpha waves and finally to beta waves," she continued. "This transition makes us more relaxed and suggestible, which is why consuming phone content immediately upon waking can strongly influence our mood and mindset for the day "Upon waking, take a few moments to breathe and set intentions before reaching for your phone. If you can charge it on the other side of the bedroom, or outside of the bedroom this puts an extra barrier in place."
