April recap - books, news, studies that will help to boost your productivity

Monthly Recap: Tools, Books, and Ideas to Help You Think Sharper and Live Smarter

You don't have to wait for the New Year to change your life, each month brings new opportunities to upgrade your thinking, habits, and overall well-being. Whether you're aiming to improve how you communicate, boost your brain health, or find calm in chaos, here are some standout ideas and resources that can support your journey.

Books That Level Up Your Skills

Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo

Want to become a more impactful speaker or communicator? This book breaks down the science behind the most successful TED talks, showing how storytelling, emotion, and simplicity can turn your ideas into something unforgettable.

Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg

Great communication isn’t just about clarity — it’s about connection. This book reveals the habits of people who navigate tough conversations, build trust quickly, and leave others feeling heard and understood.

A Beginner’s Guide to the Stock Market by Matthew Kratter

Perfect for anyone looking to build financial confidence. This guide is jargon-free and helps demystify the stock market so you can make informed investment decisions — even if you’re just starting out.

Learning That Sticks (courses that blew my mind on Masterclass.com)

Branding Lessons from the CEO of Liquid Death

What does it take to build a wildly successful, disruptive brand? This Masterclass is packed with bold branding lessons — ideal for creatives, founders, or anyone looking to stand out in a saturated market.

Negotiation Skills from Chris Voss

Based on high-stakes FBI negotiation tactics, these tools can help you handle everything from business deals to daily disagreements. Key tip: Use “tactical empathy” — the art of understanding emotions before solving problems.

Managing Anxiety with Awareness

Anxiety often signals a need to slow down or shift perspective. This month’s research spotlight: combining nervous system regulation techniques (like breathwork or grounding exercises) with mindfulness can help manage anxiety more effectively than white-knuckling through it.

Mindset Upgrades to Try

• Stop playing small. Recognising your strengths — and actually using them — is one of the most powerful mindset shifts you can make. Confidence is often a decision, not just a feeling.

• Create space for things to come to you. Hustle culture glorifies constant motion, but stepping back often invites better alignment, clarity, and opportunities you can’t force.

• Recharge in nature. Studies confirm what most of us already feel — time spent outdoors can improve mood, reduce stress, and boost cognitive function. Even a short walk counts.

🧠 Brain Health Highlight

This month’s standout discovery:Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274, a probiotic strain, is showing promise in supporting memory, spatial awareness, and overall cognitive resilience. It may also help reduce brain inflammation and oxidative stress — two key factors in long-term brain health. Worth keeping an eye on if you're interested in nootropics or natural brain enhancers.

You can find the link to the whole study here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9661342/

Growth isn’t always about big goals — sometimes, it’s about learning one powerful idea or adopting one small shift that creates a ripple effect.