Are you working harder and longer but feel you’re not as productive as you used to be? Worse, are you also seeing signs that you’re just not as sharp as you’d like to be?

​Welcome to the downsides of living and working in an “always on” environment, where even high-performing individuals often feel overwhelmed, stressed and on edge. That’s because when you’re always connected to technology, you set yourself up to run on empty.

The irony is that it’s easier to keep your devices charged than to ensure your cognitive capacity is full. In fact, you may be depleting your cognitive capacity faster than you’re able to recharge it.

In this Forbes Coaches Council article, How simple steps can help you think better and give you more ideas, I explain how you can break this pattern and start to restore your cognitive capacity on a regular basis. And even better, you can unlock and improve your innovative thinking. Even better, these actions aren’t hard to do, once you become aware and build them into your day. And you can feel so much better as well as think better!

Basically, the secret is:

1. Give your brain’s executive network some short, nourishing breaks throughout your waking hours.

2. Then make space and time for activities that allow your brain to switch to your brain’s default mode network. This allows you to take full advantage of the power of your brain’s default network. (The article explains how this network can help you in so many ways.)

The article, which was published online April 10, 2026, also includes some practical tips for ways to keep your cognitive capacity charged.

Cognitive capacity is key to working well.