Your brain is only about 2% of your body weight, but it uses about 20% of your energy every day. It makes sense to take as good care of it as many of us do of our bodies. Here are some things you can do for your brain.
Six things your brain will thank you for
- Exercise – Here’s another motivator for the time you spend (or wish you spent) at the gym. Exercise has been shown to generate new nerve cells in the brain. It has also been shown to lighten mood and lower anxiety.
- Sleep – Integration of learning, removal of toxins, all sorts of good things happen during sleep. Plus, if you get enough of it, your brain won’t have to work as hard during the day correcting mistakes. Research has shown that not only are people less productive when they haven’t had enough sleep, they also lose the ability to judge how well they’re doing. Not a great combination!
- Nutrition – Blueberries and berries in general, nuts and seeds, salmon, avocados, whole grains and, yes! dark chocolate are good for the brain. Not a list that is hard to take, is it?
- Water – Your brain is about 73% body. Doesn’t it make sense to keep it hydrated?
- Mindfulness practice – The brain changes in positive ways if you add meditation or mindfulness practice to your life. One Harvard study showed that the fight or flight center of the brain, the amygdala, shrunk after only eight weeks of meditation. Even a few minutes at a time can make a difference.
- Down time – Your brain will benefit from time off. Go to the park and sit under a tree. And I bet you know what I’m going to say next: Take time off from screens.
If you find it difficult to get yourself to do the things that you know are good for you, consider neurofeedback. My clients typically report to me that in a very seamless way it becomes easier for them to do what’s good for their bodies and brains. And easier to not do what isn’t good for them.
Latest posts by Catherine Boyer (see all)
- Six Things Your Brain will Thank You For - January 7, 2015
- What To Do and Not Do For Better Sleep - November 18, 2014
- Neurofeedback for Better Sleep Management - August 6, 2014
