- Commune with Nature *
- Engage in a Creative Outlet *
- Organize Living/Working Environments *
*These topics will be presented in great detail on the website
- Stay Physically Active:
Regular exercise increases blood flow to the brain and body, thus feeding it with increased nutrients and oxygen. It also detoxifies it, eliminating wastes and pushing stagnations in the circulatory and lymphatic systems away. Exercise can hep relieve the feelings of anxiety and depression by releasing endorphins, which are natural mood elevators. - Get Adequate Sleep:
Sleep provides the conscious brain rest. The operating system, or unconscious brain, gets re-boated as it processes, files, problem solves, and organizes, “catching up” from the days activities without interruption from the conscious brain. Not all brains are alike, so different brains may need different amount of sleep and on different cycles. Study your own brain. When is it most alert? When does it beg for sleep or down time? How can you accommodate your brain for maximum efficiency? Or, how can you re-train your brain so that it can function adequately on the scheduled work time in your life?
Example 1: My best time for focused concentration, doing the things I find hardest to do is from 5-8AM, so getting up in the dark and start to work in this most peaceful time of day works for me. My natural downtime is from 1-3PM… my body and mind want a rest, but that is impossible in my work life. So, on my work days I think, What do I need?… No, not coffee! I need mental and emotional stimulation, so I schedule clients from 1-6PM, rather than in the morning. Did I get a rest? No, but I got a type of a mental break and re-charge by scheduling less taxing and more enjoyable activity. Afterwards, I am exhilarated and ready for the evening activities.
Example 2: My ADD son, on the other hand, has a different biorhythm. His best time for concentrated focus and creativity is from 11PM-3AM. Being a song writter, musician and producer, that works for him. His brain does not need as much sleep as most, so from 3-8AM works for him. He does have to exercise every day to keep balance, and his body needs a rest in the afternoon, so he schedules a nap before picking up his son from school. The point is to become aware of what is natural for you, and either work with or compensate for it, so your body and mind get the amount and type of rest they need. - Practicing Mindfulness:
Mindfulness means being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and actions. It means being aware of the effect the outside and inside world has on you. It means being aware of cause and effect. It means tuning in to the things that give you peace and tranquility, the things that stimulate productivity, the need for rest, the need for friendship and companionship, and the time to be alone with yourself. It means choices… which things to keep and which to let go. Being mindful allows one to make decisions that can foster balance of mind, body and spirit. - Manage Stress:
This is easier said than done, and there are hundreds of books written on the topic. In brief, find the healthy activities that help you personally cope with stress. Many are covered in detail on this website. - Set Realistic Goals and Celebrate!:
In this society of over-achievement, we often put undue pressure on ourselves by setting unrealistic goals and deadlines. It is wise to have only as many goals as you can comfortably reach in a reasonable amount of time. Resist the temptation to put too much on your plate. For many, half of what we plan would be reasonable and comfortable. Take each goal and break it down into smaller goals with a reasonable deadline. When you reach a small goal, celebrate! with something you deem a reward. This will motivate you to get to the next step. In no time, the slow and steady win the race! - Practice Gratitude:
The thoughts and attitudes we practice affect our state of mental and emotional well-being. Being mindful of the blessings we have each day and at each moment can change out outlook on life. Yes, we all are struggling in more than a few ways, and to a greater or lesser degree. Have you ever talked to a dying cancer patient and listened to what they are grateful for? What about a child bound to a wheel chair for life – how often do you hear them complain? If they can be grateful and excited with little things, can’t we look at our lives realistically and recognize the blessings? Practicing this attitude of gratitude will change our brain and state of mind in very profound ways! - Limit Media Time And Content:
Media is a blessing when used with limits. It is very stimulating to the brain. It’s like hitting the brain with constant lightning strikes that it has to absorb, process and react… like unending video games. The brain can get fatigued. As media becomes a bigger part of our lives, the brain will adapt and grow bigger in those areas. Potentially other areas that we need, but have less stimulation, could actually shrink and be compromised. Balance is critical. Content is also important…”We are what we eat”. Likewise, We are or will become what we feed out minds on through our eyes and ears. Beware! Take control to protect your precious computer! - Build And Maintain Positive Relationships:
Humans are social beings. We need and thrive on interpersonal relationships, however, the health of these relationships can affect our mental and emotional well-being to a greater or lesser degree. It is important to surround ourselves with positive, supportive people who motivate, inspire and cheer you on. It is prudent to limit association with negative or toxic people who destroy your self esteem, rob you of peace and whose speech is primarily negative and complaining. These attitudes can weaken a healthy brain, and can rub off on another person very easily.