The human brain consists of 100+ billion neurons. These nerve cells collect and transmit electrochemical signals to control and coordinate a wide array of tasks (e.g., breathing, heart rate, body temperature, etc.) while enabling us to think, dream, reason and experience emotions. And occasionally, amidst all this amazing complexity and simultaneous interaction, we experience a momentary pause or shift in thought often accompanied by an utterance of something fantastically stupid.
Or more plainly stated, a brain fart.
It is just one of the many cognitive quirks that can distract, disrupt, delay and divert our mental productivity. Much like their bodily equivalents, these quirks are largely involuntary, temporary and relatively harmless. But they can be signals of a larger issue, so be conscious of their occurrence. Here are a few others you have likely experienced:
Brain Itch – An irresistible urge to focus on something else—email, internet browsing, TV, eating, texting, etc. The urge can be brief and disappear quickly (distraction) or it can be sustained and prolonged over an extended period of time (procrastination). In either case, ignoring the itch usually proves futile. Instead, consider scratching it for limited amount of time to provide temporary relief and then get back to the task at hand. If the itch persists, there is likely an underlying issue (fear of failure, tactical ignorance, no perceived value, etc.) that must be addressed—or at least acknowledged and dismissed—prior to resuming the task.
Brain Spasm – A painful mental block that prevents you from progressing with any task, such as when you are stuck on a word, phrase, idea, theory, etc.. While they can be annoying, most are usually temporary and will subside without immediate treatment, like struggling for the right word when speaking. But others can be mentally paralyzing and make concentration extremely difficult. This type of spasm is often diagnosed as “analysis paralysis” and may be the symptom of a larger issue, such as an overwhelming list of unfinished tasks and postponed decisions. If left untreated, you can expect more increasingly painful spasms in the future.
Brain Yawn – Stream of thought often brought on by rote or repetitive tasks which require little attention or focus—such as driving your car, mowing the lawn, folding laundry, etc.. While mental yawning can be a precursor to full fledged daydreaming, it can also yield unexpected insight or an unanticipated great idea. Hence why during times of mental stress or anxiety so many individuals purposefully engage in “mindless” activities (walking, vacuuming, showering, bathing, etc.) to allow their brains to relax and wander.
Brain Hiccup – A recurring thought that continually interrupts your focus on the current task, such as when you hear a song and then play it over and over inside your head for the rest of the day. Mental hiccups are largely innocuous and short lived. But if you find yourself consumed with the same thought for days on end (e.g., “REDRUM, REDRUM”), it might be time to seek professional help.
Each of these challenge the productivity of a creative mind—on some days more than others. I have found these quirks to occur with greater frequency during times of intense strategic planning, deadline driven content creation, in-depth data analysis and/or excruciating service process design sessions. I can only assume it is a mild side effect of working my brain a little harder.
But I could be wrong. 🙂
