What Your Heart Tells You About Your Brain and Work Performance: The Link Between HRV, Cognitive Function, and Productivity

Have you ever heard of heart rate variability, or HRV? Chances are you haven’t, unless you’re a fan of biohacking or sports science. However, it’s a particularly interesting metric that tells us something about how flexibly our bodies and brains handle stress, focus and performance. In this blog, we’ll dive into the fascinating triangle between HRV, cognitive function and productivity – with a critical eye on the science.

💓 What is HRV anyway?

HRV measures the variation in time between your heartbeats. And that may sound contradictory, but a 'varying rhythm' is actually a good sign. A heart that moves a little is more flexible and adapts better to what life demands - physically and mentally.

The higher your HRV (especially at rest), the better your autonomic nervous system works. And that nervous system regulates more than you think: from stress responses to recovery, from focus to energy management.

🧠 The connection with your brain: especially your executive functions

There is growing evidence that people with higher HRV also perform better on cognitive tasks. Particularly on so-called executive functions – think of your ability to pay attention, inhibit impulses, or switch flexibly between tasks.

For those working in a demanding work environment, these are exactly the mental muscles that make or break your day. Think of that busy meeting day where you also have to quickly switch between a difficult customer email, a report and your colleagues' questions.

📈 What about productivity?

This is where it gets exciting. It seems logical: better brain = getting more done, right? Science largely supports that too – but with nuance. Higher HRV → better executive functions → potentially higher productivity. That’s the chain that’s mentioned most often.

But… whether increasing HRV (for example through breathing exercises or biofeedback) directly leads to more output at work, that is not yet sufficiently proven. The link is probably there, but it is complex and indirect.

🌬️ Can you influence HRV yourself?

Absolutely. Relaxing your body and breathing are proven ways to temporarily increase HRV and improve your stress response. Many people also experience greater calmness, focus, and less tension. But the effects on thinking and work output vary depending on who you are, how you apply it, and in what context.

🧭 What can we do with this?

HRV is not a miracle cure. But it is a valuable reflection of how well your body and brain work together under pressure. By consciously dealing with it, you can improve your resilience and self-regulation. And those are exactly the skills that help you stay sharp, focused and productive, even when things are not going well.