What we read has always influenced our perception about things around us to a great degree. Of course, am talking about stuff that appears in sources more reliable than, say, TOI (if there is a disagreement, you have my sympathies). Cutting to the chase, a lot of advice and 'scientific findings' that we encounter in newspapers and magazines are extremely primitive. My advice is not to take their's too seriously.
How often has it been seen that these 'masters of good living' contradict their own findings weeks later? Any research that they undertake is, more often than not, either too personal or too complex. When they research personal issues, the results depend largely on their subjects' mannerisms. When they try to investigate issues like the ones concerning the working of the brain, say, they slip into complex domains. The brain remains to be very mystical and elusive. I am often struck by how much more we know about distant galaxies light years away, than of that which is why we know these things. Also, another interesting thought - The human brain is the only entity in our known existence to know of its own existence. Simply put, nothing in this world ( or any other that we know of) knows that it exists, save the human brain.
So, when it comes to brain usage, development, capacity and what not, your judgement can suit you the best. Be open to ideas like GTD (Getting things done.. something that Srik lives by), but keep in mind to restrict their influence only to the degree to which they can come to your aid. If any of these are overdone, the results could be detrimental to the development of your own personality.
