The Working Brain

Optimize Your Workday Performance

In The Working Brain, Dr. Brynn draws on her academic research and corporate career to show you how to get more from your brain while asking less of your willpower. This science-backed practical guide is the missing manual for how to use your brain better at work. Understand how to tap into the brain’s natural rhythms and use Dr. Brynn's MERIT Framework (Move, Eat, Rest, Interact, Think) to customize your workday for optimum productivity and performance. With actionable tips for boosting your mental wellness, The Working Brain is designed to help you tap into your fullest cognitive potential each workday and over the course of your career.

Available now in the USA at the following retailers:

The Working Brain Endorsements

  • Dr. Edward Phillips, Edward M. Phillips, MD, author, and podcast host, “Food, We Need to Talk,” Founder and Director of the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, Associate Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School

    Finally, a user’s manual for your own brain. The Working Brain is a must-read to improve your cognitive performance and mental wellness at work. Organizations should share this book to strengthen their employees’ health, wellness, and performance. Dr. Wingard masterfully distills the wisdom of mind-body and lifestyle medicine into a succinct framework you can remember and use: the MERIT framework - Move, Eat, Rest, Interact, Think. As a proponent of exercise medicine and culinary medicine myself, the focus on movement and nutrition as levers for professional optimization under your control, makes this book essential reading. 'Health care' starts with 'self-care' and this comprehensive guide is indeed the missing professional manual for better wellness, happiness, and performance.

  • Dr. Andrea Merrill, Surgeon and Medical Writer

    “Even as a physician, I learned so many new things about how my brain works that I never learned in medical school. Dr. Winegard eloquently breaks down the brain’s function in a way that is accessible to all readers. This book is for everyone who wants to improve their mind’s function at work, regardless of profession!"

  • Dr. Jonathan Bonnet, Physician and author of the Lifestyle Medicine Handbook

    “A fantastic "brain blueprint" filled with practical tips, tricks, and evidence-based strategies designed to enhance cognition and improve performance at work and in life. Dr. Winegard's MERIT Framework (how you move, eat, rest, interact, and think) beautifully encapsulates the pillars and practices of Lifestyle Medicine as they pertain to cognitive health. A must-read for any professional looking to optimize their health, performance, and longevity! "

  • Dr. Kathleen Rodenburg, Associate Dean Academic, Associate Professor, University of Guelph

    “Dr. Winegard's explanation of brain function in 'The Working Brain' provides compelling reasons and motivation to optimize our cognitive potential using the MERIT framework: Move, Eat, Rest, Interact, and Think. As a university professor, I am excited to apply these actionable insights in my courses to help students achieve peak mental performance. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their productivity and unlock the full power of their mind."

  • Greg Wells Ph.D., Senior Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children and author of The Ripple Effect.

    "My friend and colleague Dr. Brynn has crafted a brilliant book on how to perform to your potential while optimizing your brain. She presents a powerful framework and clear path to better mental health and performance for her readers. Her recommendations are based in research and science as well as her extensive expertise in the business world. I am thrilled that this book has made its way into the world!"