How to take care of your pet fish


The Ten Habits of Highly Effective Brains

The LA Times just completed a wonderfulenvironments. Once new neurons appear in your
4-part series on how learning and memorybrain, where they stay in your brain and how
work. The NYT re-emphasized the importance oflong they survive depends on how you use
physical exercise for neurogenesis (thethem. "Use It or Lose It" does not mean "do
creation of new neurons). To put this news incrossword puzzle number 1,234,567". It means,
better perspective, let's review some good"challenge your brain often with
lifestyle habits we can follow to maintain,fundamentally  new  activities".
and  improve,  our  vibrant  brains:
6- We are (as far as we know) the only
1- Learn what is the "It" in "Use It or Loseself-directed organisms in this planet. Aim
It". A basic understanding will serve youhigh, listen to inspiring commencement
well to appreciate your brain's beauty as aspeeches. Once you graduate from college,
living and constantly-developing dense forestkeep learning. The brain keeps developing, no
with billions of neurons and synapses, fullmatter your age, and it reflects what you do
of what Marian Diamond calls the magic treeswith  it.
of the mind. Devote time to practicing
mentally  stimulating  habits.7- Explore, travel. Adapting to new locations
forces you to pay more attention to your
2- Take care of your nutrition. Did you knowenvironment. Make new decisions, use your
that the brain only weights 2% of body massbrain.
but consumes over 20% of the oxygen and
nutrients we intake? As a general rule, you8- Don't Outsource Your Brain. Not to media
don't need expensive ultra-sophisticatedpersonalities, not to politicians, not to
nutritional supplements, just make sure youyour smart neighbour... Make your own
don't  stuff  yourself  with the "bad stuff".decisions, and mistakes. And learn from them.
That way, you are training your brain, not
3- Remember that the brain is part of theyour  neighbour's.
body. Things that exercise your body can also
help sharpen your brain: physical exercise9- Develop and maintain stimulating
enhances  neurogenesis.friendships. We are "social animals", and
need social interaction. Which, by the way,
4- Practice positive, future-orientedis why 'Baby Einstein' has been shown not to
thoughts until they become your defaultbe  the  panacea  for  children  development.
mindset and you look forward to every new day
in a constructive way. Stress and anxiety, no10- Laugh. Often. Especially to cognitively
matter whether induced by external events orcomplex humor, full of twists and surprises.
by your own thoughts, actually kills neuronsBetter,  try to become the next John Stewart.
and prevent the creation of new ones. You can
think of chronic stress as the opposite ofNow, remember that what counts is not reading
exercise: it prevents the creation of newthis article-or any other-, but practicing a
neurons.bit every day until small steps snowball into
unstoppable, internalized habits...so, pick
5- Thrive on Learning and Mental Challenges.your next battle and try to start improving
The point of having a brain is precisely toat least one of these 10 habits today!
learn and to adapt to challenging new



1 A 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71