The May 8 technique is based on two premises related to brain function: the first is that this organ, like everything in the natural world, works cyclically and nonlinearly; the second premise is that attention and concentration are two limited resources.
Our brain is, in fact, fickle. He’s not willing to work all the time with full income.
- Natural processes are cyclic.
- It is a series of phases in which certain processes develop.
- So a cycle ends to make way for another new cycle.
- Such as day and night.
- Seasons.
- Menstrual cycle.
- Etc.
Concentration also has a cycle, which is related to ultradian rhythms, and the May 8 technique is based on this analysis.
Attention constraints have to do with the balance between incoming information and the brain’s ability to process it, we are not always prepared to fully receive and manage intellectual stimuli, the May 8 technique takes into account this reality.
It is important to note that while the May 8 technique is based on scientific premises, it is not a science-built method, it is an empirical pattern that has been applied and has proven to be very effective in the development of intellectual tasks.
It is especially suitable for those working with the intellect
“To reduce infinity to the finite, the inaccessible to the real human, there is only one way: concentration. -Theophile Gautier-
Ultradian rhythms are cyclic processes that last less than 20 hours, when studied specifically in terms of concentration and attention, it has been established that the human brain can maintain the line of attention for 18 minutes, then distraction appears.
However, the cycle that marks the time of sustainable intellectual activity and the absolute need for rest is between 90 and 120 minutes.
This means that we can perform a task effectively during this period of time and, after that, intellectual functions decrease considerably, so it is necessary to rest.
In addition, the technique of May 8 managed to establish that the first 220 minutes of work are the most productive of all, it is the perfect time to perform the most complex tasks.
In the rest of the working period, our intellectual performance gradually decreases, how can we apply this to daily life to optimize our performance?We’ll see below.
We have 220 golden minutes at the beginning of the working day, it is very important that we are aware of it so that there is no waste.
Many start their workday by checking the news of the day, replying to emails or interacting on social media. One thought: we may be spending the best moment of potential income on activities that don’t need it.
It is best to start the day with more complex tasks that require greater creativity, we have about three and a half hours to enjoy it, the most appropriate thing would be to do the following:
Ideally, after those first three and a half hours we should rest, most of the time that is not possible, so we will have to continue to do the work activities, however, after this first phase of higher productivity, we need to focus on working differently.
After a break of 10 or 15 minutes more, we have to start a new cycle of 210 minutes, in this new stage we will not have to warm the brain and we must focus on mechanical tasks and with a physical component that can lead us to save the activation of our brain.
The idea is to perform 40-minute tasks, followed by 10 minutes of rest.
Of course, not everyone will be able to correctly apply the May 8 technique. Therefore, it is better to adapt the method to each particular situation. The truth is that after implementing this method the results are incredible. You probably won’t regret it!
Warning: What has been stated in this article is not a rule that applies to everyone, there are individual differences large enough to extract the logic of this article, not its strict planning, each person must adapt this technique, for example, to the time of day when they feel more active.