Brain Food

Nourish your mind. Explore to restore.

How to make your brain more valuable (without going anywhere near a university)

Boost the return on your brain rental scheme with these simple tips.

5 Min

What I learned from my worst ever job

Sometimes it takes a terrible experience to truly appreciate the value of good psychological safety.

5 Min

Your life is about to get a whole lot more joyful

To find more joy there's one simple question you need to ask.

5 Min

Articles

articles

How to make your brain more valuable (without going anywhere near a university)

Boost the return on your brain rental scheme with these simple tips.

5 Min

What I learned from my worst ever job

Sometimes it takes a terrible experience to truly appreciate the value of good psychological safety.

5 Min

Your life is about to get a whole lot more joyful

To find more joy there's one simple question you need to ask.

5 Min

Supportive grounding

This practise enables you to centre your mind and body, reconnecting to a sense of grounded, balanced awareness. During the practise you are guided to anchor into the nourishing and soothing qualities of the breath. You are also guided to welcome and release tension and sensations in the legs and feet.

Basic grounding

This short, simple mindfulness workout will enable you to centre your mind and body and connect with the present moment.

Mindful breathing

Mindful breathing is a simple method for re-connecting with the present moment. This practise only takes a few minutes and can be used at any time, particularly if you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

Mindfulness

mindfulness

Supportive grounding

Basic grounding

This short, simple mindfulness workout will enable you to centre your mind and body and connect with the present moment.

Mindful breathing

Disrupting Distraction

The neuroscience of how mindfulness restores attention, vitality and wellbeing

A Little Spot Of Calm

5‑day mindfulness mini‑series

Therapy Demystified

What really happens when you see a psychologist

Events

events

Disrupting Distraction

The neuroscience of how mindfulness restores attention, vitality and wellbeing

A Little Spot Of Calm

5‑day mindfulness mini‑series

Therapy Demystified

What really happens when you see a psychologist

S1 E5 with plane crash survivor Guy “Digger” Boland

Listen to Guy Boland's story of remarkable resilience and discover what has helped most in his recovery.

S3 E1 Plain language can prevent suicide

Dean Bayliss, a proud Gomeroi man and CEO of Healing Works Australia, talks about suicide prevention among First Nation's People.

S2 E7 A life of purpose: ex-cop finds meaning after PTSD

We speak with former police officer James Maskey, who works at Fortem Australia, a not-for-profit wellbeing support organisation for first responders and their families.

Podcasts

podcasts

S1 E5 with plane crash survivor Guy “Digger” Boland

Listen to Guy Boland's story of remarkable resilience and discover what has helped most in his recovery.

S3 E1 Plain language can prevent suicide

Dean Bayliss, a proud Gomeroi man and CEO of Healing Works Australia, talks about suicide prevention among First Nation's People.

S2 E7 A life of purpose: ex-cop finds meaning after PTSD

We speak with former police officer James Maskey, who works at Fortem Australia, a not-for-profit wellbeing support organisation for first responders and their families.

The shorter way to do many things is to only do one thing at a time.

- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Distractions destroy action. If it’s not moving towards your purpose, leave it alone.

- Jermaine Riley

The man who chases two rabbits catches neither.

- Confucius

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.

- William James

A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.

- Herbert Simon

In the age of distraction, single-tasking is a superpower.

- Greg McKeown

A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other.

- Simon Sinek

Listen always to understand, not to reply. In that soft pause of presence, trust begins to root and safety can finally grow.

- Mindarma

The goal isn’t more money. The goal is living life on your terms.

- Chris Brogan

Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.

- Warren Buffett

Being told not to worry about worrying is a hell loop, worse the Crazy Frog on repeat in a submarine.

- Suzi Ruffell

We were made to live and work and play and heal in community. Our deepest strength lies in our ability to be there for one another. When we remember we belong to each other, everything changes.

- Wayne Muller

Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.

- Bell Hooks

The hunger to belong is at the heart of our nature. Cut off from others, we atrophy and turn in on ourselves.

- John O’ Donohue

The heart of man is very much like the sea; it has its storms, it has its tides, and in its depths, it has its pearls too

- Vincent Van Gogh

Give me beauty in the inward soul; may the outward and the inward man be at one.

- Socrates

The world breaks everyone and afterwards many are strong at the broken places.

- Ernest Hemmingway

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.

- Albert Schweitzer

Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of human change.

- Bob Kerrey

Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business.

- P.T Barnum

Quotes

quotes

The shorter way to do many things is to only do one thing at a time.

- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Distractions destroy action. If it’s not moving towards your purpose, leave it alone.

- Jermaine Riley

The man who chases two rabbits catches neither.

- Confucius

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.

- William James

A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.

- Herbert Simon

In the age of distraction, single-tasking is a superpower.

- Greg McKeown

A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other.

- Simon Sinek

Listen always to understand, not to reply. In that soft pause of presence, trust begins to root and safety can finally grow.

- Mindarma

The goal isn’t more money. The goal is living life on your terms.

- Chris Brogan

Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.

- Warren Buffett

Being told not to worry about worrying is a hell loop, worse the Crazy Frog on repeat in a submarine.

- Suzi Ruffell

We were made to live and work and play and heal in community. Our deepest strength lies in our ability to be there for one another. When we remember we belong to each other, everything changes.

- Wayne Muller

Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.

- Bell Hooks

The hunger to belong is at the heart of our nature. Cut off from others, we atrophy and turn in on ourselves.

- John O’ Donohue

The heart of man is very much like the sea; it has its storms, it has its tides, and in its depths, it has its pearls too

- Vincent Van Gogh

Give me beauty in the inward soul; may the outward and the inward man be at one.

- Socrates

The world breaks everyone and afterwards many are strong at the broken places.

- Ernest Hemmingway

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.

- Albert Schweitzer

Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of human change.

- Bob Kerrey

Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business.

- P.T Barnum

Dadirri

Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr discusses ‘Dadirri’, the practise of Deep Inner Listening and quiet still awareness, which connects us and nurtures spiritual well-being

Every living thing is family

Uncle Bob Randall, traditional keeper of Uluru and respected elder explains how we are caretakers for the Earth.

Being a good ally

Yorta Yorta man Tom Forrest aka Outback Tom yarns with First Nations folks about how allies can actively participate in reconciliation and be there for mob.

Indigenous Wisdom

wisdom

Dadirri

Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr discusses ‘Dadirri’, the practise of Deep Inner Listening and quiet still awareness, which connects us and nurtures spiritual well-being

Every living thing is family

Uncle Bob Randall, traditional keeper of Uluru and respected elder explains how we are caretakers for the Earth.

Being a good ally

Yorta Yorta man Tom Forrest aka Outback Tom yarns with First Nations folks about how allies can actively participate in reconciliation and be there for mob.

The Miracle of Mindfulness

Thich Nhat Hanh

In this beautifully written book, Buddhist monk and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh explains how to acquire the skills of mindfulness.

No mud, no lotus

Thich Nhat Hanh

The secret to happiness is to acknowledge & transform suffering, not to run away from it. Thich Nhat Hanh introduces ways to be in touch with suffering without being overwhelmed by it.

Average at Best

Astrid Jorgensen

Pub Choir founder Astrid Jorgenson’s memoir reveals what happens when you put aside perfection and start doing what truly brings you joy.

Books

books

The Miracle of Mindfulness

Thich Nhat Hanh

In this beautifully written book, Buddhist monk and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh explains how to acquire the skills of mindfulness.

No mud, no lotus

Thich Nhat Hanh

The secret to happiness is to acknowledge & transform suffering, not to run away from it. Thich Nhat Hanh introduces ways to be in touch with suffering without being overwhelmed by it.

Average at Best

Astrid Jorgensen

Pub Choir founder Astrid Jorgenson’s memoir reveals what happens when you put aside perfection and start doing what truly brings you joy.

You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.

This video argues that boredom is beneficial: it gives space for creativity, self-reflection, and mental rest.

Introduction: When the Going gets Tough

A brief introduction to 'When the Going gets Tough', the final module of the Mindarma program by Senior Psychologist Dr Sadhbh Joyce.

Introduction: Brain and Body Boosters

A brief introduction to 'Brain and Body Boosters', the ninth module of the Mindarma program by Senior Psychologist Dr Sadhbh Joyce.

Videos

videos

You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.

This video argues that boredom is beneficial: it gives space for creativity, self-reflection, and mental rest.

Introduction: When the Going gets Tough

A brief introduction to 'When the Going gets Tough', the final module of the Mindarma program by Senior Psychologist Dr Sadhbh Joyce.

Introduction: Brain and Body Boosters

A brief introduction to 'Brain and Body Boosters', the ninth module of the Mindarma program by Senior Psychologist Dr Sadhbh Joyce.

Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity

Frequent task switching reduces productivity because of the time and mental effort needed to refocus, even when people feel they are multitasking well.

The cost of interrupted work: More speed and stress

This paper shows that frequent interruptions significantly slow task performance and increase errors because people take time to resume their original focus after being distracted.

Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks

This article explains why switching between work tasks is hard, showing that people’s attention often sticks to unfinished tasks and reduces performance when they try to move to a new one.

Research

research

Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity

Frequent task switching reduces productivity because of the time and mental effort needed to refocus, even when people feel they are multitasking well.

The cost of interrupted work: More speed and stress

This paper shows that frequent interruptions significantly slow task performance and increase errors because people take time to resume their original focus after being distracted.

Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks

This article explains why switching between work tasks is hard, showing that people’s attention often sticks to unfinished tasks and reduces performance when they try to move to a new one.

Colouring in: afternoon cup of tea

Suitable for teen & adult

Take a mindful pause as you drink your tea slowly and reverently.

Open PDF

Gratitude list

Suitable for primary age & teen

Write a list of 5 things you are grateful for, and then add some colour.

Open PDF

Colouring in: robot

Suitable for preschool & primary age

Add some colour to Rodney the Robot and remember, showing emotion doesn’t make you weak, it makes you less of a robot and more human.

Open PDF

Activities

activities

Colouring in: afternoon cup of tea

Suitable for teen & adult

Take a mindful pause as you drink your tea slowly and reverently.

Open PDF

Gratitude list

Suitable for primary age & teen

Write a list of 5 things you are grateful for, and then add some colour.

Open PDF

Colouring in: robot

Suitable for preschool & primary age

Add some colour to Rodney the Robot and remember, showing emotion doesn’t make you weak, it makes you less of a robot and more human.

Open PDF

The National Pleasure Audit

The National Pleasure Audit (Australia) is a research project aimed at providing a snapshot of the nature and extent of Australians’ pleasures.

1800RESPECT

Provides free counselling plus a support toolkit (via Text/Chat/Phone 24/7)

Small Business Debt Helpline

The Small Business Debt Helpline (SBDH) offers free, independent, and confidential advice to small businesses and sole traders in financial distress via phone (1800 413 828) and web chat.

Explore more

explore-more

The National Pleasure Audit

The National Pleasure Audit (Australia) is a research project aimed at providing a snapshot of the nature and extent of Australians’ pleasures.

1800RESPECT

Provides free counselling plus a support toolkit (via Text/Chat/Phone 24/7)

Small Business Debt Helpline

The Small Business Debt Helpline (SBDH) offers free, independent, and confidential advice to small businesses and sole traders in financial distress via phone (1800 413 828) and web chat.