Neurobiologist Bernd Hufnagl: “Why constantly having to do things overwhelms us in the long term – and how doing nothing can help.”

At the Wherever Whenever – Work Culture Festival at Orgatec 2024 in Cologne, Bernd Hufnagl shed light on how our brains can keep pace with the demands of the digitalized world. Under the topic “Purposeful thinking: How we can live and work better in a digital world”, he spoke about the challenges that complex working environments pose to our mindset and well-being.

Dr. Hufnagl explained that our brains are evolutionarily adapted to prefer the familiar, to save energy and to be cautious about new things at first. What used to be a survival advantage now often leads to excessive demands and constant stress. With the growing role of artificial intelligence, machines could take on more logical tasks in the future and thus free up capacity in our brains – space that we should use sensibly to better navigate this fast-paced world.

A core idea of his presentation was the importance of meaning and motivation in working life. Hufnagl explained that people should put their “wants” above their “have to” in order to experience more satisfaction and long-lasting commitment. This also includes having a positive influence on yourself and others. He provocatively asked the audience to think about “what they infect themselves and others with every day”. His recommendation: consciously allow the brain to “do nothing” – this can activate the daydreaming network, which opens up new perspectives and creates distance from everyday life. However, he emphasized the importance of meaningfully integrating these breaks into a productive balance with activity.

“Sitting is the new smoking” – the body needs movement, the brain needs breaks

Hufnagl also warned of the health consequences of a predominantly sedentary working day. “Sitting is the new smoking,” he explained, pointing out the dangers of sitting for hours on end, which can be just as damaging to health as smoking. As the human body is not made for long periods of sitting, this behavior can promote cardiovascular disease, weaken muscles and impair concentration. Hufnagl’s appeal: integrate movement breaks – by taking short walks, stretching or standing up regularly to refresh the brain and strengthen physical health in the long term.

Take-aways from his presentation:

• Actively engage in work processes to promote genuine participation.
• Strengthen positive thinking and resilience.
• Create a supportive environment that fosters optimism.

Hufnagl concluded with an important appeal: consciously pausing is often more crucial than constant activity in order to relieve the brain and protect mental health – a message that is particularly important at a time when breaks are often neglected in favor of productivity.

Book Bernd Hufnagl for presentations with Premium Speakers. Give us a call or write directly to bernd.hufnagl@premium-speakers.com