My people, we can rebuild ourselves.
We have the technology. We can make ourselves better than we were. Better, stronger, faster.
How… is the six-million-dollar question.
Have you already given up on your New Year’s resolution? Or did you skip it altogether?
If you’re like me, you probably don’t feel the need to reinvent yourself every year. Instead, you tighten up what already works. You focus on small improvements that compound over time. I only have room for changes that are seamless and deliver noticeable impact. If it’s expensive, time-consuming, or complicated, it’s dead.
So, I’ve collected my list of micro-habits that are backed by data and help me become more alert, improve my brain function, and think of new ideas in 2026.
Here are my 2026 daily hacks that are making our office here at Giant Shoe a little more productive:
You can stop reading here, but if you want to know why and how these small things make a big difference, read on.
Why: A Stanford study found that walking—indoors or outdoors—improved creative thinking by an average of 60% compared to sitting. Importantly, the benefit persisted even after participants sat back down to work.
How: Walk before strategic thinking, after meetings, or when you feel mentally stuck. I also like to take a short walk away if someone is about to tell a bad joke.
Why: Multiple studies show that chewing gum enhances attention and alertness during cognitive tasks and helps prevent declines in focus over time.
How: Chew gum before meetings or during deep work. Your coworkers will probably appreciate it and, if you like the minty stuff, it also helps with the next one!
Why: In this controlled study, drinking peppermint tea significantly improved cognitive performance and increased cerebral blood flow compared to a placebo. Even the smell of it was enough to show positive results.
How: Make a mug of peppermint tea mid-morning or mid-afternoon, and say “you’re welcome” to everyone else in the office who is feeling the benefits.
Why: Drinking water improves short-term memory, and mood… especially when you’re already 4 cups of coffee into the day.
How: One glass first thing in the morning and another before taking on a task.
Why: Writing by hand activates more brain regions than typing and strengthens neural connectivity associated with learning and cognition.
How: Use a notebook for your morning brain dump, problem framing, or end-of-day reflection.
Why: Participants who doodled while listening retained 29% more information than those who did not, likely because doodling prevents cognitive disengagement.
How: My team doodles while I talk all the time. I consider it a compliment. You can also doodle during calls or while thinking through problems.
When running a creative marketing agency, every minute counts. Small habits that give me a mental edge don’t just help me, they help the whole team.
I’m not chasing big overhauls. I’m looking for little wins! This year, we’re working on being sharper, more creative, and more present for the work and people that matter.
Are any of these already a part of your routine? If not, which one will you try first? Or is there a small habit you swear by that I should test next? Book a meeting with us and we can chat about how our team can be a part of your team’s growth this year.
