Sir John Hargrave (@JohnHargrave) is the CEO of Media Shower, a content marketing and media company. Following a background as a high profile internet prankster, he has examined the conditions and obstacles that modern professionals face — many of which are mental. His upcoming book Mind Hacking discusses techniques for training a stronger mind and overcoming these obstacles.

Our conversation discusses the symptoms that affect creative pros and how we can hack our mind with simple, daily techniques and habits.

More information about the book is available at MindHacki.ng. Print and digital versions are available from the site.

Mind Hacking by Sir John Hargrave

Mind Hacking by Sir John Hargrave

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“Mind-Hacking is a bit like training a disobedient dog.”

—Sir John Hargrave

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“We need to de-mistify meditation. It's strength training for the mind.”

—Sir John Hargrave

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“When you split an atom, energy escapes. When you switch tasks, focus escapes.”

—Prescott Perez-Fox

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Tools

Techniques

  • Learn to detach from your mind, to observe moments where we stray and get distracted
  • Concentration Training aka Mindfulness aka Meditation
  • Treat Concentration Training like a video game. Award yourself “awareness points” whenever you bring your mind back from distraction
  • Replace “All or Nothing” thinking with “Habit Formation” thinking
  • Set up a queue and a reward for each [desired] habit
  • Keeps rewards positive and healthy (smoothies, relaxing with a book)
  • “Eat a frog” early in the day
  • Reduce Multitasking, Increase Focus
  • Mental Decluttering: look for alerts and distractions you can shut off

Habits

  • Produce something everyday; eventually your quality will improve as well as quantity
  • Make list of “Positive Loops”, small goals which help your practice and life
  • 3MIT methodology
  • Get mental rest during the day, not just at the end

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About the author: Prescott Perez-Fox

Prescott Perez-Fox is a graphic designer, brand developer, and educator with 18+ years experience in branding, packaging, graphic design, and web design. He runs The Busy Creator.

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