Magic mushrooms are optional

Sep 27, 2020 3:46 am

Hello!

No preamble this time, let's jump in to it.


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We all sleep each night to let our body recharge. Why don’t we all pause each day to let our mind recharge?


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After I finished reading How to Change Your Mind I took a bit of a deep dive into ways to increase brain neuroplasticity. I think of brain plasticity as keeping one’s brain resilient or at an optimal functioning level.


The technical definition (from wikipedia) is that “neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity, is the ability of the brain to undergo biological changes. Examples of neuroplasticity include brain changes resulting from learning a new ability, changes resulting from sociocultural conditioning influences, as well as changes that can happen as a result of experiencing psychological stress.”


Why do I want to increase neuroplasticity? The short answer is I want a healthier brain!


These are the top things I found to help increase neuroplasticity.

  1. Play video games: Different types of games build new synapses in the brain. They can even help with stress relief.
  2. Learn a new language: I once read about the Nun Study. It showed the nuns who knew more languages were less likely to develop dementia.
  3. Play music: Learn to play an instrument, not streaming Spotify (or Apple Music if you’re me). Although there may be an argument to be made for jazz and classical.
  4. Travel: Variety is the spice of life. Traveling to new places whether close or far helps keep neurons firing and regenerating. In the current conditions, I’m thinking road trip!
  5. Make art: Drawing, painting, singing along to that instrument you’re learning to play. All of it involves creating new pathways in the brain.
  6. Read novels: Researchers at Emory University have found that reading fiction creates heightened connectivity in the brain.
  7. Laugh: Laughing helps with deep breathing. Deep breaths keep the oxygen flowing and your brain fed and healthy. Has anyone ever gone to a Laughter Yoga session? I’m curious about them.
  8. Dancing: Think less choreography and more free style. Let your body be swept up by the music. Jazz hands are optional.
  9. Exercise: It helps with production of new synapses.
  10. Fasting: Calorie-restriction increases synaptic plasticity, promotes neuron growth, decreases risk of neurodegenerative diseases, and improves cognitive function according to the Society for Neuroscience. *The HuffPo told me this one.
  11. Get proper sleep: Sleep gives your brain time to rejuvenate. Just like our muscles need rest days when lifting weights, our brains need recovery time too.
  12. Meditate: There’s a reason top CEOs meditate every day, it keeps their mind fresh. I’ve also always found it incredibly fascinating that every major religion I know about takes time to include silent prayer as part of their practice. Could that be another form of meditation perhaps?


Looking this list over it really seems like it could be summed up by saying pick up a new hobby. I think the important part in that sentence is the word new. New stuff keeps our brain fresh.


There are dietary suggestions to help with grey matter too but I haven't looked too far into those recently. If that interests you, you may want to check out Jim Kwik's podcast. The first couple of dozen episodes are brief and full of great ideas. Episode 5 has his top 10 brain food suggestions.


Also, go check out that book, How to Change your Mind by Michael Pollan. I learned so much!


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That's all I have at the moment. If you like what you're reading let me know. Better yet, let me know and share this with a friend.


Until next time true believers,

Adam

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