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Master your focus and stamina with proven science-backed habits
Explore how ultradian cycles and mindful breaks transform performance.
Mario Peshev
July 23, 2025
Welcome to The Smarter Brain, a curation of thought-provoking ideas and actionable reads to help you build better habits and become more productive.
Happy reading - See you on Sunday!
Cheers,
The Smarter Brain Team
Estimated Reading Time: 2 mins
3 Ideas for Better Habits
Why Purpose Drives Sustainable Performance
Performance coach and author, Brad Stulberg, on sustainable success.
“Purpose fosters motivation; motivation lets us endure a greater perception of effort; and enduring a greater perception of effort often results in better performance. This equation holds true in every field - from the track to the workplace.”
Source: Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success
The 52:17 Principle
Author and behavioral science expert, Daniel H. Pink, on the hidden rhythms of motivation.
“High performers, its research concludes, work for fifty-two minutes and then break for seventeen minutes.”
Rethinking Productivity: You’re More Than Your Job
Futurist and rest advocate, Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, on the productivity of rest.
“If your work is your self, when you cease to work, you cease to exist.”
Join 80,000+ Thinkers Who Read The Flow
The Flow helps you reclaim your focus with practical, bite-sized insights delivered every Sunday. It’s your weekly pause button - designed to help high-performers slow down, think clearly, and act intentionally.
Productivity Tools and Resources
How Your Brain’s Rhythms and the Pomodoro Technique Boost Focus
This insightful article explains how ultradian rhythms, your brain’s natural 90-120-minute focus-rest cycles, can be combined with the Pomodoro Technique for peak productivity. By structuring your day around these cycles, you can dramatically increase focus, avoid fatigue, and achieve more with less stress. Learn how to use ultradian rhythms and the Pomodoro Technique for better productivity.
The Psychology of Ultradian Rhythms: Timing Your Best Work
Explore the foundations of ultradian rhythms from a psychological perspective. See the difference between ultradian and circadian rhythms in cognitive performance.
Tools and Strategies to Align with Your Brain’s Natural Focus Cycles
Delve into a suite of digital tools and strategies that help you align with your brain’s ultradian cycles for enhanced concentration and output. Whether you’re managing meetings or tackling deep creative work, syncing your tools with your biology is a game-changer.
Practical Ways to Work With Ultradian Cycles for Stamina
Learn how to interpret and apply ultradian rhythms to your daily life - whether you’re writing, coding, or managing others. This article provides a foundational understanding of how 90-minute cycles influence brain function, and how you can leverage that to boost mental stamina.
What We're Reading
BPS Research Digest Newsletter - Explore the latest psychology research on ultradian rhythms, mental stamina, and evidence-based productivity.
The Browser Newsletter - Dive into curated essays that explore topics like natural focus cycles, brain science, and the habits of great thinkers.
Brain Food
Today I Learned: In Japan, letting a sumo wrestler make your baby cry is believed to bring good health. (Source)
Science: Diamond and graphite are both made of pure carbon, but arranged differently - one is the hardest material, the other soft enough to write with. (Source)
Have a productive rest of your week,
The Smarter Brain Team
Resource Spotlight
Breathwork, Brain States, Calm on Demand
Monthly insights reveal how controlled breathing taps into your brain’s built-in regulation systems - quieting stress, sharpening attention, and restoring emotional balance. Dive into the neuroscience behind simple breath techniques, with clear explanations and actionable takeaways. Designed for mindful achievers, mental health explorers, and anyone looking to build inner calm without fluff or guesswork.
The Science of Sustainable Work
Each month, explore how your body’s built-in 90-120 minute energy cycles shape attention, innovation, and tiredness. Learn actionable tips to align your work rhythm with these natural patterns - combining powerful focus sessions with vital rest periods. Ideal for professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives striving to boost productivity while avoiding burnout and fatigue.
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