Researchers at the University of Toronto Scarborough have found that feeling mentally sharp on a given day can boost productivity by up to 40 minutes. The study, published in Science Advances, tracked university students over 12 weeks and connected clearer thinking to setting and achieving bigger goals. Factors like sleep and workload influence these daily fluctuations.
A team led by Cendri Hutcherson, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough, examined how day-to-day changes in mental sharpness affect goal completion. Participants completed daily cognitive tests measuring thinking speed and accuracy, alongside reports on their goals, productivity, mood, sleep, and workload. On days when students felt sharper than usual, they completed more tasks and aimed higher, particularly with academic work, regardless of traits like grit or self-control. Hutcherson noted, 'Everybody has good days and bad days. What we're capturing is what separates those good days from the bad ones.'
