In the rush to increase the speed of our server, and decrease the lag time in our mobile apps, we sometimes overlook the single-most important resource in a startup: the bandwidth of the CEO. The need for constant critical decision making, and the need for “deep work” sessions, is a mental strain that our nervous system simply cannot tolerate, in a completely silent and isolated environment. As the brain is forced to solve complicated logic and the body is immobile, a neurological “pressure cooker” is formed and then the brain “blows”.
The solution to this cognitive fatigue, is not a new version of software, but the hands. The use of professional fidgets is not a return to “play”, but also bio-hacking. The hands provide a safe opportunity for action, which can actually decrease the “noise” of the nervous system, and raise the signal-to-noise ratio of the work itself.
Grounding Wire: Proprioceptive Grounding
To explore how something physical can help unblock your mind during a sprint, we need to look into proprioception – our awareness of our own body position. When you are stuck in a sit-and-stare (code or data-driven 10 hours a day), this is taken away. The ensuing fidgetiness is not a problem of weakness or laziness; it’s a physiological symptom of your brain coming adrift.
When you provide high-quality fidgets in the working environment, you provide a “grounding wire”. The sensory experiences (the friction of the silent roller, or the greater mass of the metal fidget) offer a steady stream of input to the brain. This “heavy work” satisfies the low-level needs, so that the prefrontal cortex can work on high-level goals and functional problems.
To Get Out of the Analytical “Spin”
The “analytical spin” is familiar to all founders, when you’re going round in circles and feeling anxious because of a dangerous pivot or unfixable bug. It’s a state of high arousal and fight or flight response, even though you may be sitting in an ergonomic office chair.
Haptic tools provide a “reset” from this. The rhythm of the tool’s motion is a stabilising force in the hectic and stressful work day. It is a physical way to move the brain out of stress into “flow”. This is essential for people that need to find solutions in the “grey areas” of starting their own business where there is no single answer.
Engineering for the Modern Workstation
The biggest reason for the paradigm shift in these tools is due to a design shift. We are no longer working with “plastic” coloured equipment but accessories that match other accessories. The current focus gear is being designed like a high-end keyboard or a high-end mouse:
- Industrial Materials: Incorporating stainless steel, copper and brass to provide a certain “heft” and “heatsink” quality to provide substance.
- Silent Kinematics: Designing silent bearings and frictionless pivots so regulation can be done in an online meeting or in an office that is designed for auditory mindfulness (nobody wants you regulating in a co-working office).
- Precise Friction: Offering different textures for different types of use (the satisfying click for negotiating, the slippery feel for programming).
Neuro-inclusive Scaling: A Competitive Advantage
Cognitive inclusivity is a competitive advantage in today’s market. Many of the most innovative app developers and startups have sensory needs that demand movement for optimal learning. For these super-creatives, sitting still is a no.
Inclusion of the use of tactile regulation to focus is part of a more inclusive high-performance culture. It recognises there is a variety of “focus”. Through the provision of regulation techniques, organisations allow each person to perform at their cognitive best without the exhaust of having to “ignore” their fidgetiness.
The New Executive Peripheral
We have finally moved on from productivity being measured in terms of sitting still for long periods of time. The new generation entrepreneurs understand our mind and body are connected.
Haptic tools are the future of ergonomics. Such tools are an easy, effective and robust tool to manage stress and enhance mental resilience. In the busy and noisy world we live in, the best decision is to invest in tools that will help you stay upright and in focus.
Key Technical Takeaways
- Neural Grounding: Haptic tools are a “ground wire” to reduce nervous “static” under stress.
- Attention Throughput: Addressing the body’s need for motion relieves “foggy” sedentary, stressed work.
- Professional Engineering: High-end tools use materials like stainless steel for durability and low noise.
- Inclusion as Strategy: Inclusion of different sensory needs is a key to productivity.