Brain fog and futures thinking

"Your future is dependent on the quality of the thinking that imagines it."

This is what futurists believe, and is a well-used saying when working with clients through the process of improving their competency of futures thinking.

Good quality futures thinking however, is surely far more difficult if somebody is struggling with things like brain fog, or is tired, or is stressed.

In the recognised academic futures literature it is often simply assumed that good futures thinking happens simply with the right facilitator, the right frameworks, enough time and an inspiring venue that encourages reflection.

But what if the barriers to quality futures- and strategic thinking also include physiological issues like brain fog?

If quality futures thinking is the aim, shouldn't these issues be dealt with before we are able to think empowering thoughts about the future?

There is much evidence to strongly suggest that for many people, the quality of the thinking that they produce is very much dependent on the type of fuel that the brain has access to. Brains that are incorrectly fuelled are literally not able to function effectively no matter how brilliant the environmental enablers might be.

What this highlights (for ourselves at least) is that the mental firepower required for good thinking, strategy and outperformance, if lacking, should be an important part of the innovation practice if effectiveness is the aim.

Should futurists be encouraging the health and wellness of their clients?

Well, if better futures start with better thinking - then surely the health of the brains doing that thinking is critical. No?