A Little More: Training Our Brains

This week, we talked about our brains, and I wanted to go a bit deeper into how we can train them.

Confession, I'm a bit of a brain science junkie.

I love seeing the amazing ways God has put us together, and our minds are the most remarkable of all to me.

Scientists used to have a theory that went like this.

Once you're an adult, your brain is done growing and changing.

But new research has proven that simply isn't true.

As long as we're alive, our brains have the ability to continue to adapt.

But here's the catch.

Just like you work your body, you got to work your brain.

Here are five of my favorite ways to train your brain.

First, take a risk.

Yep, at the edge of your comfort zone is where new brain pathways develop.

Even if it's as simple as driving a different way home from work, your mind needs novel experiences.

Next, learn something new every day.

Reading, doing word puzzles, and other mental challenges have been shown to keep our brains sharper as we age and also help prevent diseases like Alzheimer's.

And you need to sleep.

When you rest, it's serious work time for your brain.

While you're not consciously aware of it, your brain is completing important tasks like converting experiences into memories and organizing thoughts.

Also, it helps to stay calm.

Easier said than done.

Stress flips your brain into panic mode, but the fight or flight response is intended to be an emergency only system.

Using it when it's not truly needed is pretty hard on our minds and bodies.

And finally, of course, we need to socialize.

Our brains are created for connection.

We grow mentally and emotionally as human beings through relationships with other people.