In today’s increasingly anxious age, it’s easy to be wooed by multi-step methods that promise us ultimate fulfilment. But what if society’s obsession with self-optimization actually stands at odds with the way we are wired?

For neuroscientist Dr. Rachel Barr, understanding our brains is not just a profession but an immensely personal endeavour. Having witnessed her own mother’s struggles with mental ill-health, Rachel embarked on studies that would help her understand and share the simple steps that we can all take to better our own mental well-being.

In stark contrast to the relentless effort and productivity of the multi-step optimization movement, Rachel offers a refreshing alternative: by simply aligning with our brain’s natural rhythms–from its need for sleep to rewiring its tendency towards negativity bias–we can all experience more peace in our day-to-day lives.

Offering a scientifically backed guide to harnessing what should come naturally (were it not for the success-driven society surrounding us), Rachel invites you to discover that true wellness might be less about pushing ourselves harder, and more about tuning into our own inherent patterns and becoming better friends with our brains.

Dr. Rachel Barr is a neuroscientist and Behavioral Science Consultant, with a PhD in Molecular Neuroscience with a focus on the relationship between sleep and memory. She is passionate about bridging the gap between dense neuroscientific concepts and our everyday experiences, and uses social media to share these learnings with her over one million followers.