Dr. Nalin Chandrasoma

  Why We Procrastinate and What Actually Helps You’re sitting at your desk, the task is right in front of you, and you know you need to get it done. But somehow, you’ve checked your messages, refilled your coffee twice, and now you’re watching a video about how pencils are made. Sound familiar? Procrastination is something almost everyone knows too wel l. It’s not always about being lazy or disorganized. Most of the time, it’s more personal than that, stress, fear, or just the way your brain tries to dodge discomfort. Why It Happens Let’s be honest: starting is hard . Even a simple task can feel heavy when your mind is already full. You might think, “I’ll just do it later,” but later keeps moving. That quiet loop in your head, “Not now, I’ll do it after lunch… maybe tomorrow”, builds up, and soon the deadline feels like a freight train. Some common reasons this happens: 1. Fear of messing up If you’re scared the end result won’t be good enough, it’s easier to just not begin . No at...

The human brain has an incredible ability to adapt and change, no matter how many birthdays have passed. Scientists call this ability, neuroplasticity , which means the brain can form new connections between nerve cells and even strengthen existing ones. This process was once thought to slow down significantly with age, but research now suggests that learning remains possible at any stage of life. Many people assume that older adults struggle to learn new things because their brains are less flexible. This belief has been challenged by studies showing that mental stimulation, practice, and curiosity can keep the brain active and capable of change. The key lies in how the brain responds to challenges. Just as muscles grow stronger with exercise, the brain strengthens its pathways when used regularly. A well-known study from the University of London examined the brains of taxi drivers who had spent years memorizing the city's streets. Brain scans revealed that the part of the brain ...

Cal Newport’s Deep Work is a book that stands against the distractions of modern life. It presents a way to work better, focus harder, and achieve meaningful results in less time. The idea is simple: deep work means long, uninterrupted periods of concentration that allow a person to produce high-quality work. This kind of work is rare, but Newport argues it is necessary to stand out in today’s world. Here are ten key ideas from the book that can help anyone improve their ability to focus and produce valuable work. 1. Shallow Work Is Everywhere Most people spend their days in a state of shallow work, answering emails, checking social media, jumping between tasks. This kind of work is easy and doesn’t require much effort, but it fills up time without producing much of value. Newport points out that shallow work is seductive because it feels productive, even though it rarely leads to significant accomplishments. 2. Deep Work Creates Real Value Work that requires long periods of focus allo...

A tired brain looks for a quick fix. When sleep is lacking, caffeine often steps in. It sharpens attention, lifts mood, and helps with sluggishness. But it doesn’t replace rest. The two don’t work the same way, and trying to swap one for the other leads to problems. Sleep rebuilds the brain. During deep sleep, memories settle in, damaged cells repair, and the brain clears out waste. Without this reset, thinking slows, mood sours, and basic tasks feel harder. Caffeine doesn’t rebuild anything, it only blocks tiredness. It stops adenosine, a chemical that makes the brain feel sleepy, from doing its job. The tiredness is still there, just hidden for a while. Many people depend on caffeine to wake up and stay sharp. A morning coffee or afternoon tea keeps energy up. But there’s a limit. When caffeine is used too much, it loses its edge. Tolerance builds, and the brain starts making more adenosine. That means when the caffeine wears off, tiredness comes back stronger. More caffeine might se...