Here's how a simple yawn can be your secret weapon to tackle a tough day

Some experts suggest intentionally inducing yawns to sharpen mental clarity and focus.

Bernard O'Shea. Photograph Moya Nolan

I stared at the computer screen and thought, "Not today". 

It was one of those days where the sight of a lunchbox or even the thought of boiling a potato made me feel physically ill. I just wanted to do nothing except watch history documentaries on YouTube and drink tea. But as my granny used to say to me when I didn't want to do something, "You might as well be fighting the tide". 

My day would happen, and it would drench me in stagnant salt water whether I liked it or not. With a deadline on the horizon, it inevitably got me thinking. What should you do on the days when your body and mind are telling you "No."

As a self-employed person, I envy those who can call in sick to work or have the illustrious "duvet days". Large and small companies have copped onto giving their employees days off that they don't have to account for. But the only person at the end of the day I have to account for is myself. When I was a fancy foot and free, I had no real responsibility to another human being. Still, now, with three little persons and bills to pay, etc., no matter what state I'm in, I have to be on.  

We all go through days where we want to exit the scene and leave the world to those performing their lines perfectly. Those days when you are stuck in traffic, and it's not moving, you burst to go to the toilet. The entire world got together the night before to gang up on you as you contemplate spending a penny on the hard shoulder just before the exit for Saggart on the M7. 

As humans, we first take a pitstop in the "I have it good compared to others" lane and thank God for what we have. But that wears off once you get a text message telling you that the meeting you are travelling to has been cancelled even though you have been stuck in your car for hours. Then you repeat the familiar mantra, "Just get through today", and that helps until your car decides for the first time in its motoring life to tell you that everything is wrong if you don't put something called "Adblue" into me in the next seven seconds, it will explode.

But there is one brilliant little trick you can play on yourself to get you through the day, no matter how crap it's been. It might sound bizarre, but yawing (obviously, don't do it if you driving or in the middle of your quarterly year review) can help you metaphorically and physically restart your day. 

Yawning has been associated with intriguing changes in brain activity.

Yawning is often seen as a sign of tiredness, and we've all experienced it during moments of exhaustion or monotony (hopefully, my editor isn't doing this right now while she's reading this). However, yawning has some surprising benefits. Yawning has been associated with intriguing changes in brain activity, particularly in the precuneus. This brain region, nestled in the parietal lobe, plays a pivotal role in our cognitive landscape. It is a hub for essential mental processes, including spatial orientation, memory retrieval, and self-awareness. 

As a core component of the default mode network (DMN), the precuneus influences introspection and problem-solving, guiding our inner thoughts and reflections. "Richness in Functional Connectivity Depends on the Neuronal Integrity within the Posterior Cingulate Cortex." 2017 

Some experts, such as renowned neuroscientist Dr Andrew Newberg, believe that yawning can be a cognitive enhancer. Dr Newberg suggests intentionally inducing yawns to sharpen mental clarity and focus even when you're not weary. This proposition opens up exciting avenues for exploring the potential cognitive benefits of this seemingly mundane reflex. Consequently, as a critical player in this intricate neural dance, the precuneus underscores its significance in self-awareness and optimising our cognitive capabilities.

Yawning also serves as a social function. Depending on the circumstances, it could signal a need for vigilance or a call for a break. Studies revealed that witnessing yawning could increase vigilance, making individuals more likely to detect environmental threats. For example, if my wife yawns during one of my epic stories, it might be time to cut to the chase and stop.

So, the next time you feel a yawn coming on, don't suppress it. Embrace it as a natural way to restart your day and give your brain a little boost. Just make sure it's not on a Zoom call with your boss. I've been there. If it does happen, try explaining the precuneus to them!

There is one brilliant little trick you can play on yourself to get you through the day, no matter how crap it's been.