What if your most productive, brilliant ideas don’t come from pushing harder, but from doing the dishes, knitting, or folding laundry?

In this episode of Energy + Hours, I’m joined by neuropsychologist, TEDx speaker, and fellow Canadian Dr. Nicole Byers to talk about the surprising brain science behind efficiency, creativity, and why “old lady hobbies” might be the missing key in your time management.

Nicole helps high-achieving women bend time around their brilliance by designing their days to match how their brains actually work. And today we go deep into how to access your sharpest, most creative thinking without burning yourself out.

We talk about:

• Why efficiency isn’t the real goal

  Why constantly trying to optimize your time can shut down the exact brain networks needed for creativity, big-picture thinking, and problem-solving.
  

• The brain science behind your best ideas

  Why genius insights show up in the shower, before bed, or on a walk and what’s actually happening neurologically when your mind wanders.
  

• The power of “old lady hobbies”

  How repetitive, two-handed tasks like knitting, crochet, gardening, dishes, folding laundry, and other “old lady hobbies” actually activate creativity, focus, and cognitive flexibility.
  

• Rest through busy work (especially for ADHD-ish brains)

  Why some brains don’t relax through meditation and how busy work becomes a sneaky, sustainable way to reset your nervous system.
  

• Color-coding your to-dos by cognitive load

  Nicole’s red / yellow / green system you can use with sticky notes, your planner, or your digital calendar to protect your best energy.
  

• How to design days around your brain, not the rules

  Why some of us shouldn’t be working 9–5, what to do when you hit your natural “afternoon crash,” and how to personalize productivity every single day.
  

• The truth about dopamine + motivation

  What dopamine actually does, why anticipation matters more than reward, and how to use tiny incentives to get through tasks you’d normally avoid.
  

• Delegation as a neurological power move

  Why letting go of tasks you “can” do creates massive capacity for brilliance.
  

About Dr. Nicole ByersDr. Nicole Byers is a neuropsychologist, TEDx speaker with over 1 million views, consultant for the NHL, and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Calgary. She helps high-achieving women move from “barely handling it” to feeling consistently sharp, focused, and energized by working with their brain, not against it.

Nicole is also the host of the Call Her Brilliant podcast, a show celebrating the many forms of women’s brilliance and how to access your zone of genius even on low-motivation days.

Connect with Nicole

• Website: drnicolebyers.com
  

• Podcast: Call Her Brilliant

• Instagram: @drnicolebyers
  

Connect with Jill & Energy + HoursIf this episode sparked something, take a screenshot, share it to your stories, and tag me — I LOVE seeing what resonates.

And if you’re craving more tools for time, energy, rest, and personal rhythms, come hang out over on Substack or tune in next week for more Energy + Hours.

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