The Health Chronicles: What I am Doing for My Brain
5 Things You Can Do Today!
As many of you know, I read Dr. Daniel Amen’s “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life” book almost every day. He suggests that you do so daily because not only are you creating a habit of doing something healthy, but also because that’s how the book is intended to be read. It is like a daily reminder of the healthy (and unhealthy) things that we do to our brains.
I think we know some of them, but we also know it’s hard to break the habit of bad addictions. And a lot of the things we are addicted to are especially harmful for our brains. So, I don’t want to be too lengthy this week. Here are some easy ways to look after your brain in a healthy way, and many of them you will feel the effects shortly after starting.
Get enough sleep.
I mentioned in my 9 goals for 2025 that I would like to get more sleep. Apart from the last couple of days, I would say that I am well on my way to that goal so far. And the best part about this is the fact that the effects are almost immediate. I can’t wait to see the continuing trickle down of prioritizing sleep and how it affects the rest of my life in a positive way.
Minimize screen time.
I wrote earlier this week thanking both Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg for making their platforms a free for all when it comes to hate and toxic activity. I truly feel that way, and the more we take addictive platforms off of our mobile devices specifically, the more our screen time goes down. I read books now on my commute instead of scrolling the feeds. It feels a little weird seeing so many others staring at their phones, but I also get to engage in another one of my favorite activities, which is people watching.
Go outdoors and/or get as much natural light as possible.
Some people are not outside people. I get it. I’m someone who basically grew up outdoors whether that be always playing outside or camping. Therefore, going on endless walks or just sitting in a park are things that come naturally to me. But I also love using natural light as much as possible. Windows are always open and I’ll only turn lights on in the house (my room really) only when absolutely necessary.
Be cognizant of the “news” you consume.
I have mentioned plenty of times that I really vet the news I allow to pop up on my phone/other devices. With Twitter inserting “news” into their feed now and no ability to remove it (so far as I know), it becomes more obvious that the “news” those in power want us to consume isn’t meant to inform but meant to make us sicker. It is meant to make us tired. It is meant to make us doom scroll and engage with their platforms. I believe everyone should be informed, 100 percent. But allowing yourself to be bombarded by just any “news” is definitely not healthy for your brain.
Eat healthier food, even just a little.
Eating healthy can be a daunting task. It can even be debilitating, especially if you live in a food desert. This is why I say starting small is better than not starting at all. I don’t have the means to implement all of the healthy dietary adventures I would love to explore. But, I can do little things here and there, such as eating a banana instead of a donut and drinking tea and water instead of soda. Some of that is easier said than done, since sugar is so addicting, but if we do a little here and there we can also wean ourselves from the harmful ingredients that are in many of the foods we consume today (especially in America). Your gut and brain will thank you later.
Like I said, all of these things are something we can implement every day. I have been working at some of them for a couple of months and have stepped up my efforts going into the new year. I have even stumbled this year, but because of the habits I have been building it was easier to get back into the routine. We truly have to look out for our own health nowadays, especially our brains, because they are always under siege. I don’t mean to sound so negative, but it is the best way I can describe it.
So, try those 5 things I mentioned, or a few, or maybe even just 1. I think you’ll like the way you feel and perhaps will want to learn about more ways to move towards having a healthier brain. I’d love to talk with you all about it!
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You forgot a 6th point. "Book a trip to Japan" LOOL.
Overall, a great list to follow!
A very good path to follow. I would add eliminating all big pharma drugs is also a positive step.