The gym was (predictably) crowded today, this being January 2. I can always spot the gym newbies; aimlessly they wander from one machine to the next, not bothering to change the settings. Some use the paltry machine-dispensed paper towels to wipe their sweaty faces and no one thought to bring a water bottle. A few – gasp! – are here without headphones. Somebody help them!
How many, I wonder, plan to hit the Brain Gym this year? What resolutions can we make, starting today, to help the neurons continue their snappy patter – and at lightening-fast speed? For starters, here are mine:
1. Keep exercising. I’m very, very faithful here, to the point of being cranky on the rare days I have to miss a workout. However , there is always room for improvement in toning those pesky “problem” areas. (Note to self: order that “Brazilian Butt Workout” DVD pronto.)
2. More fish, fewer carbs. I see Chicken of the Sea salmon packets in my future.
3. Do. One. Thing. At. A. Time. I know, I know – multi-tasking is a fantasy but it is slow to die. I mean, what am so afraid of missing that compels me to run 2 laptops AND the Bloomberg channel? From now on, no online radio while the frontal cortex is working. Period.
4. Spend time with friends. That shouldn’t be so hard to do but truthfully I have to actually schedule such an activity or it won’t happen. Friendships, even long-standing ones, take effort to maintain. Facebook pokes don’t count.
5. Keep stretching mentally. Ditch the routine and seek out the novel, however uncomfortable. Act on it.
6. Take coconut oil (more on this later). Supposed to do heaps for brain health.
7. Avoid the cortisol stress hormone and reach for the, uh, zen. Not ALL of the Interstate drivers are IDIOTS, are they? A calm brain is a focused brain and focus is what I want lots of in 2012.
Happy New Year.
BN
Posted in Learning, Uncategorized
Tags: brain health, frontal cortex, new year, resolutions