Teena Vescio, EA to the Chief Compliance Officer at Commonwealth Bank, shared her review of The Natural Advantage by Dr Jenny Brockis, with Executive PA magazine.
“If you’re anything like me, I am all for making my brain that little bit smarter. In an era where being sharp and astute gives you an edge, I was keen to get stuck into reading Dr Jenny Brockis’ The Natural Advantage… and well, now I am a little scared for my brain!
Let me explain.
We are all a little guilty of not looking after one of our most important organs, the Brain. We take it for granted that the computer that runs everything locked away in our heads will just kind of work when we want it to. Overall, we don’t appreciate optimisations of neuroplasticity.
Brockis’ book is well-detailed and practical. It gives us humble explanations of the functions of our brain and focuses on how leveraging your abilities can lead you to have stronger neurological function for a longer period. Brockis, a doctor, medical practitioner and lifestyle medicine physician, breaks down how the factors in our lives, primarily work, family, stress, and general overstimulation, impact the brain’s ability to work optimally. It’s impressive that you can unlock little-used functions by following practical tips on improving the brain’s functionality.
What I enjoyed about the book is Brockis’ ability to not make you feel like you have been doing it all wrong. Her real-world examples and case studies make you realise that there are many types of ‘brains’ and that each one functions differently at different times. A highlight for me was her discussion on neuroplasticity – how the brain is always working and changing with the information we put into it and how, with care and learning, the brain continues to adapt and rewire itself to accept the challenges we throw at it.
It gives gentle reminders to take care of oneself and isn’t a ‘self-help’ book or a medical journal; it centres around showing readers how to problem-solve, explaining key ways to feed the brain to get the best results.
The book is especially helpful in the EAs world, where we are the epicentre of the office. As the author notes, “stress is not the enemy of performance; it is unmanaged stress that holds us back”.
Also read: The fully engaged EA | Executive PA Media
