Habits for a Healthier, Happier Brain
Plain and simple, our brains are involved in every single thing we do. When our brains are functioning better, we function better, and vice versa. Our energy, our mood, our focus and alertness, our creativity, you name it… it’s all impacted by the brain. And while you may be mindful of avoiding things that could harm your brain, when was the last time you intentionally did something to help it?
Here are 5 ways you can be intentionally feeding your brain this week:
1. Drink More Water
Our bodies are 70% water, but our brains are 80%! This means there’s an even greater need for adequate hydration when it comes to keeping our brains healthy. While each person’s daily needs will vary based on a number of factors (ie. age, activity level, climate, etc.), a good place to start is aiming for 10 cups daily!
2. Meditate
Meditation may not seem like much, but the effects on our brains are huge! When we meditate, we literally shift what’s happening in our brain – it reduces inflammation, it shrinks that part of the brain that registers and experiences anxiety, it increases memory, attention, and our ability to learn new information! If meditation seems complicated or for people with hours to spare each morning, don’t overthink it! Show up for yourself for just 5 minutes a day and watch the difference it makes.
This 5-Minute Guided Meditation is one of my go-to’s!
3. Create Art
It’s not just pretty! An increasing amount of research has shown that art actually increases brain function. One study found that neuroplasticity in the brain (the brain’s ability to change and adapt) supports the development of visual artistic skills. It also revealed that the brain’s frontal white matter reorganized itself as art students became more creative, and brain activity patterns changed as their drawing skills developed. So next time you doodle or try something creative, remember you’re also supporting your brain!
4. Feed Your Brain
There is so much evidence that what we eat impacts our brains. Your brain uses 20-30% of the calories you consume, so don’t think that you can ignore what you’re eating when it comes to brain health! While basic groups of foods have been shown to support the brain (seafood, leafy greens, nuts & seeds, rainbow produce, and fermented foods), Dr. Drew Ramsey helped create what is called the Anti-Depressant Food Scale – a list of the top 40 foods for brain health – and it’s worth checking out! There’s so much to be said about this, but this is a good place to start!
5. Evaluate Your Circle
Mental health is brain health and brain health is mental health. They truly are inseparable and you can’t have a healthy brain without considering your mental health (and vice versa). One place to begin is with your circle. The people we spend time with either build and support our mental health or tear it down. It’s a hard truth, but one very worth acknowledging. How do your relationships make you feel? Are they life-giving? I encourage you to ask yourself what you’re craving in this area of Primary Food and what you need less of. I promise it’s a worthwhile practice.
While there’s so much more to be said about brain health, these 5 practical steps are ones you can take today to help nourish your mind and better your brain. I hope you take the time to do so because a happier brain is absolutely correlated to a happier you!
As always, if this is an area you feel you’d benefit from having support in or you’re interested in learning more about, you can always reach out via the Contact Page or send me a DM on Instagram and I’d love to chat!
Talk soon!
-Audrey
