If you're stressed out and tired, it's hard to learn new things. Exercise, sleep, and a good diet are all essential for keeping your brain in peak condition, but you can also do the following to perform at your cognitive and creative best: Change perspectives. Improve mental flexibility by rapidly trying on new points of view. This exercises your mind. For example, what would a potential customer think about this idea? Your boss? Your competitors? Reboot. Take a break from work every hour, or more often if you're already frazzled. Get out of your chair, water a plant, or just let your mind wander. These breaks recharge your brain. Summon a positive thought. Negative emotions impair thinking, memory, creativity, and strategic thinking. Try to crowd out unconstructive thoughts with positive ones, which improve these capabilities. Adapted from "Prepare Your Brain for Change" by Margaret Moore. Visit Harvard Business Review's Management Tip homepage Purchase the HBR Management Tips book