“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” — Maya Angelou
To live long, keep your brain young and healthy. An unhealthy brain makes a long life pointless.
We need better brain habits. They protect our brain power from old age.
To improve brain health, you need three habits. Consume nutrient-dense food, engage in frequent physical activity, and get adequate rest.
You can adopt a few simple habits for better brain plasticity. They will keep your brain young into old age.
Your mind will lead you to better plasticity.
Your brain wanders to better places to escape the boring, soul-sucking reality. This escapism mostly occurs in visuals.
Your brain will take you to some wonderful places if you look up from your phone and stare into the abyss. The memories and possible future scenarios will play in your mind like a mini-movie.
The world demands laser-sharp focus for peak productivity. So, people see daydreaming as a bad habit. But it can boost creativity and problem-solving.
Daydreaming is what happens when you still yourself in a moment of boredom. It is a masterclass in creativity.
Ever have those shower thoughts? Yeah, it’s cause finally you aren’t mentally stimulated by getting off social media, partner bitching at you or watching the tv. It’s good stuff.
Daydreaming is the best habit to hack plasticity with zero work. It builds new neural patterns that help differentiate between two images.
Also, a little daydreaming can reduce stress and anxiety. It can boost imagination, too.
This active state of quiet wakefulness can help you recoup from your hectic and tedious life.
Here’s what to do
Let your mind wander to the deep dark ends.
Schedule a phone-free daydreaming time block every day for better creativity. Work constantly occupies my mind, promoting intense concentration and mental clarity.)
Daydreaming is good but only in small doses so don’t use it to postpone real life.
A Mental Model That’s Forced on You
Positivity is preached everywhere. You are forced to find the bright light at the end of every hardship.
You’re constantly reminded to adopt a positive mindset to improve your mental health. But there’s a fine line between optimism and delusion.
Optimism is hoping for the best while preparing for the worst. Delusion, on the other hand, is only thinking about the positive.
Blind optimism prevents you from logical thinking. It’s a sign of low cognition. People with the highest cognition were 22% more likely to be realistic. They were 35% less likely to be “extremely optimistic.”
So, adopt a positive mindset, but not at the cost of your common sense. Evolution has blessed us with a cautious nature on account of safety, use it to make the right decision.
It won’t help your brain if you don’t use your skills to spot and prepare for a future problem.
People with higher cognitive abilities are better at preparing for future challenges. They use realism, which helps improve their neuroplasticity.
Positivity will boost your mental health, but not if you let go of realism. So, hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst.
Here’s what you can do
Practice positivity but with caution. Plan for future problems; don’t rust your cognitive abilities in the name of positivity.
Being realistic is the sure-shot way to enhance mental clarity. So, think positively, but always be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
An Ancient Practice That Will Put Your Mind At Rest
Dr. Andrew Huberman is the most influential neurologist on social media. His podcast alone has reached an audience of 4 million people.
This Stanford graduate professor has many tricks for better brain health. The most popular is Yoga Nidra (Sleep).
You can find the cure for every disease in yoga including brain aging. Yoga Nidra is a Non-Sleep Deep Rest(NSDR) activity that puts your brain at complete rest.
Dr. Huberman uses this ancient practice to reduce stress and improve sleep. But, a regular practice of yoga sleep can also boost brain plasticity.
Here’s what you can do
YouTube is filled with Yoga Nidra videos that’ll guide you to a complete session in less than ten minutes.
Find a serene environment where you can relax. Ge a comfortable mat or a blanket to lie on and start with a short yoga nidra session.
#1 Marker Of A Mentally Healthy Person
Compassion is a depleting resource in today’s society. Everyone wants acceptance. But, few will tolerate opposing views.
This close-mindedness is harming your brain and causing more unrest.
A more empathetic mental model can help you boost your neuroplasticity easily. It forces you to broaden your views on things that you can’t fathom.
It makes you more accepting in a world that is always ready with one hand on a sword.
Here’s what you can do
Listen more than you talk.
Don’t be a dick.
Conclusion
Your habits are at the base of your brain health. Healthy food, quality sleep, and an active lifestyle will help you keep your brain young.
But there are a few behavioral habits that you can adopt to boost your brain plasticity through the roof.
Practice positivity with a constant dose of caution.
No Negative Inner Dialogue.
Don’t be afraid to wander into the deep end of your mind to daydream. (Meditate)
Adopt a more compassionate approach to life to become more empathetic.
Get a journal and start writing daily. Positive affirmations, what you’re grateful for and things you want to accomplish.
That’s all I for ya’ll this week.
I hope it helped you. If it did. Be a friend, tell a friend.
Til next time.
Your Montana Friend,
Cody
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Have a positive week,
Cody