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Braintenance: A scientific guide to creating healthy habits and reaching your goals
In Braintenance, neuroscientist and communicator Dr Julia Ravey empowers you to reach your goals and have more control of your life with practical, research-led self-help.
Your brain likes to keep you safely in your comfort zone. And that is what holds you back.
We have no trouble imagining the goals we would like to achieve – a healthier lifestyle, passing exams or embarking on a new career – but turning them into reality is far harder. Dr Julia Ravey explains the practical methods that will enable you to transform your life for the better.
By using the latest developments in science and psychology you will learn how to direct your focus, boost belief, beat procrastination – and why you should forget motivation. Using our current understanding about the brain and the way we behave, Ravey has developed techniques that enabled her to pursue her goals – and they will work for you, too.
The more you understand about your thinking, the more control you can have over your life. Change is good. Your brain just needs some convincing.
Your brain likes to keep you safely in your comfort zone. And that is what holds you back.
We have no trouble imagining the goals we would like to achieve – a healthier lifestyle, passing exams or embarking on a new career – but turning them into reality is far harder. Dr Julia Ravey explains the practical methods that will enable you to transform your life for the better.
By using the latest developments in science and psychology you will learn how to direct your focus, boost belief, beat procrastination – and why you should forget motivation. Using our current understanding about the brain and the way we behave, Ravey has developed techniques that enabled her to pursue her goals – and they will work for you, too.
The more you understand about your thinking, the more control you can have over your life. Change is good. Your brain just needs some convincing.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2023
35 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 29, 2023
Definitely take her advice to make notices as you write as there are a million things you will want to remember and short term memory can’t commit them all.
I loved how honestly Julia was in this book. Not only did she show and explain how the brain deals with everything and how we may response to counteract them but she also showed how despite all this knowledge she has and things she does, she is human. She has days where these tips don’t work or that are hard or when the ‘self-doubt is twice as large as the self-belief’. And i think it helps to see that everyone has these days.
Here are two quotes that i think we all need to here from the conclusion of this book:
“But if failure is taken as something to be expected and seen as a sign you are pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, then it won't knock you with as much force.”
“A final note: you are enough. As you are right now. You are enough, and you are deserving of happiness, joy and love as you are. Chasing the goal or trying to improve certain elements of life can be all encompassing, and it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling not good enough until that milestone is reached. But who you are at this moment is worthy of celebration. So celebrate yourself every day, for what you have been through, for showing up, for being kind to others, for per-severing, for being kind to yourself, for seeking joy, for just being you.
No accolade or achievement can match your inner greatness. And you are carrying that with you wherever you go. Celebrate the you of today and, achievements aside, know that you are worthy.”
I loved how honestly Julia was in this book. Not only did she show and explain how the brain deals with everything and how we may response to counteract them but she also showed how despite all this knowledge she has and things she does, she is human. She has days where these tips don’t work or that are hard or when the ‘self-doubt is twice as large as the self-belief’. And i think it helps to see that everyone has these days.
Here are two quotes that i think we all need to here from the conclusion of this book:
“But if failure is taken as something to be expected and seen as a sign you are pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, then it won't knock you with as much force.”
“A final note: you are enough. As you are right now. You are enough, and you are deserving of happiness, joy and love as you are. Chasing the goal or trying to improve certain elements of life can be all encompassing, and it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling not good enough until that milestone is reached. But who you are at this moment is worthy of celebration. So celebrate yourself every day, for what you have been through, for showing up, for being kind to others, for per-severing, for being kind to yourself, for seeking joy, for just being you.
No accolade or achievement can match your inner greatness. And you are carrying that with you wherever you go. Celebrate the you of today and, achievements aside, know that you are worthy.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2023
Julia is my friend so I'll try to be as objective as possible in writing a review.
The book is actually great and gives a guide into healthy lifestyles based on understanding why as humans we resist to change and what we can do to trick our brain into cooperating with changes. Julia wrote a well researched book including neurosciences, behavioural studies and psychology so I get why it got published and why it's selling well.
The only comment I have is that it doesn't consider much the perspective of neuro divergent people or those who live with chronic mental illness. Some advice aren't just applicable. For example, embracing periods of changes as a catalyst for change overall.
This is Julia's first book and I'm sure she will improve as writer with time
The book is actually great and gives a guide into healthy lifestyles based on understanding why as humans we resist to change and what we can do to trick our brain into cooperating with changes. Julia wrote a well researched book including neurosciences, behavioural studies and psychology so I get why it got published and why it's selling well.
The only comment I have is that it doesn't consider much the perspective of neuro divergent people or those who live with chronic mental illness. Some advice aren't just applicable. For example, embracing periods of changes as a catalyst for change overall.
This is Julia's first book and I'm sure she will improve as writer with time
December 27, 2022
Thanks to the author, Publisher and NetGalley for a preview copy of this book.
Very readable and easy to follow. The science of the brain is explained really well in easy to understand terms which are accessible even to readers without a scientific background. Lots of suggestions backed up with explanations for getting the most out of your brain and changing habits. Really enjoyed it - thank you.
Would like to read this as a hard copy as some of the diagrams are distorted on the Kindle page.
Very readable and easy to follow. The science of the brain is explained really well in easy to understand terms which are accessible even to readers without a scientific background. Lots of suggestions backed up with explanations for getting the most out of your brain and changing habits. Really enjoyed it - thank you.
Would like to read this as a hard copy as some of the diagrams are distorted on the Kindle page.
May 15, 2023
Understand your brain and beat procrastination
I’ve always been fascinated by how things work and what makes us tick. Julia takes us through how our brain works, why we procrastinate and what we can do about it to get more out of life.
Julia focusses on our looking to understand what’s going on in our brains when we’re indecisive and can’t move forwards. Rather than beat ourselves up, or engage in hand wringing, she emphasises the need for self-compassion and to cut ourselves some slack when we hit a self-imposed road block. Julia then goes on to provide a range of helpful techniques we can use to overcome our internal resistance and get ourselves back on track.
I found the book very interesting and useful and will be applying the techniques to hopefully make procrastination a thing of the past.
I was given this book from the author via netgalley only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to.
I’ve always been fascinated by how things work and what makes us tick. Julia takes us through how our brain works, why we procrastinate and what we can do about it to get more out of life.
Julia focusses on our looking to understand what’s going on in our brains when we’re indecisive and can’t move forwards. Rather than beat ourselves up, or engage in hand wringing, she emphasises the need for self-compassion and to cut ourselves some slack when we hit a self-imposed road block. Julia then goes on to provide a range of helpful techniques we can use to overcome our internal resistance and get ourselves back on track.
I found the book very interesting and useful and will be applying the techniques to hopefully make procrastination a thing of the past.
I was given this book from the author via netgalley only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to.
January 22, 2023
A really lovely book focusing on how to help harness your brains potential, with great focus on habit formation and goal setting. The book makes neuroscience really accessible to readers, with easy to follow explanations and lots of research to back up the points made. The audiobook narration being done by the author was a great idea because it really brought everything to life with enthusiasm and energy.
May 21, 2025
A book that dives into brain function and habit formation. The early chapters focus heavily on the biology of the brain, which I found less interesting. I jumped ahead to around chapter 7 for more practical habit-building techniques. There are some solid tips scattered throughout. It's not an extravagant read, but it gets the job done.
April 26, 2024
Loved this, felt like it was an easy and well explained book about goal setting and achievements as well as insights into the brain.
February 25, 2025
This was interesting, definitely a lot of information to digest I wish I was writing it down 😂 A good insight into healthy habit forming !
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews