3 techniques to trigger gamma brain waves and achieve peak performance
Great performers enter a state of complete connection to the task while remaining completely relaxed. In so doing, they consistently deliver exceptional performance. From a brain science perspective, they are able to access a state of intense brain activity when the entire brain works together at once.
During the global activation of the brain, gamma brainwaves sweep across your brain from front to back, beginning in the prefrontal cortex where thinking occurs and sweeping back through the sensory areas.
Here are three techniques you can use to access gamma brainwave mode.
1. Put your body in The Zone
From a body perspective, gamma brainwave mode relies on a very interesting bodily state that is most often called The Zone.
A few years ago, a team and I climbed the Chimborazo volcano in Ecuador.
We decided to climb the volcano because we wanted to be the closest earthbound humans to the stars, which is possible on Chimborazo because it is the furthest point from the centre of the earth. (If you consider the equatorial bulge, Chimborazo is actually two kilometers higher than Everest.)
The challenge we faced with this climb is that it is very dangerous. It required being in a peak performance mode for hours at a time, including climbing through the night.
From a bodily perspective, that meant getting into The Zone.
What does that mean? It means that the energy in your body exceeds the tension.
You cannot enter into a gamma brainwave state when you're physically tense. If you're tense, you climb hard and stiff, which increases the odds you will fall and die. You have to be energetic, but not tense.
The challenge with Chimborazo is that you start out by trekking through a graveyard of the people who have died on the mountain, which makes it tough to stay relaxed. But you have to. The climbing is steep and technical. You cannot tense up. If you do, you fall.
The exact same state is required for peak performance in a business context. When you are walking into a big meeting, you need to be energized but not tense. If you're tense, you won’t be as clear, focused and optimized as you can be. Not to mention that people will detect it. Nervousness kills deals.
You've got to be loose. You need to flow through space. Be energetic, focused, and loose.
2. Set aside judgment and embrace pure perception
In a gamma brainwave state, you push to the limit of your perceptive capacity. Everything is open. All of your senses are taking in data. You engage non-judgmentally with what's happening around you.
Part of our climb up Chimborazo took place through the night. As we moved up through the clouds and into the sky, I remember my senses opening and taking everything in without judgment or evaluation. Everything was what it was. I was just moving through the experience.
When you are entering a performance moment, focus on those two key elements: perception of everything and zero judgment or interpretation. Simply move toward your goal.
That mode is what enabled Dr. Gillian White and Sara Thompson, two of brilliant researchers who are both now doing amazing work in other fields, to reach the summit of Chimborazo. (The rest of us decided we wanted to keep living, so we came down when they kept going up.)
3. Step into a loving space of gratitude and compassion
The final piece of the puzzle for peak experiences is to enter a space of love, compassion and gratitude.
When this is your emotional state, your brain is free to engage fully in the performance. Otherwise, your stress, negative thoughts and fear of failure will get in the way of your brain’s ability to get into a state where gamma brainwave waves are created.
In business, this mode involves embracing opportunities, possibilities, and your company’s mission. Know why your work matters, and immerse yourself in those priorities.
I know many millionaires in financial services who are deeply miserable because their work has no meaning. What’s more, they don’t realize how much their headspace is limiting their ability to achieve peak performance.
For me, I achieve a peak performance space partly through my work at SickKids. I also achieve it by connecting with audiences and readers about their health and performance. Both of these activities give me a sense of meaning and perspective that fuels peak performance.
What makes your work meaningful?
Want to learn more?
Check out my new book Rest Refocus Recharge! In the book I cover simple and innovative ways to fight fatigue, feel stronger and live better.
In a 24/7 world, it can be a real challenge to get proper rest and give your mind and body the opportunity to fully recharge. In my new book, I outline how small changes in the way you rest, refocus and recharge can help you improve your mental health, prevent illness and deliver optimal results. In high-performance athletic circles, “deliberate recovery” practices are the secret weapon of the very best. But you don’t have to be an elite athlete to benefit from these strategies. Rest Refocus Recharge offers simple and practical techniques that you can easily incorporate into your existing routine, including:
Rest and sleep
Relax and create
Reflect and learn
Recharge and focus
Regenerate and perform
Let me know what you think about this article and the new book in the comments section below!
