So much has changed during the COVID-19 era. Our patterns of living have been altered in ways we never expected. But what is pandemic living doing to our brains? Dr. Wendy Suzuki is a professor of neural science and psychology at New York University. She says, “Lack of stimulation, loneliness and increased stress and anxiety have created a perfect storm that is taxing our brains in ways we could never have imagined.” But there’s a way to fight back.
The following 4 brain-boosting activities won’t be new to any of you. They are all things we know we should be doing but often struggle to actually do. So use these gentle reminders to make changes in your daily habits that help to build your brain through exercise, sleep, nutrition, and learning something new.
Exercise
While I haven’t done formal research on the link between my own exercise and brain activity, I know that when I work out regularly, my mind feels clearer and stronger. Something about moving on a regular basis seems to chase away brain fog. And there’s scientific evidence to back up my personal experience.
Harvard Health Publishing quotes a study from neurologist Scott McGinnis who found that “engaging in a program of regular exercise of moderate intensity over six months or a year is associated with an increase in the volume of selected brain regions.” Translation? Exercise grows your brain. Literally.
If a bigger brain isn’t motivation to start working out, I don’t know what is. Plus, with so many online programs to choose from these days, you don’t even have to step foot in a gym. Tom’s Guide recently put out a list of the best at-home workout apps for 2021. Topping the list are PEAR, Fitbit, and Workout Trainer. But you can read the full list here. When you are considering whether you should invest in one of these training programs, remember that you are investing in more than your body. You are investing in your brain, as well.
Sleep
Healthline says 1 in 3 adults in the US aren’t getting enough sleep. The same article cited research which found that “sleep deprivation disrupts our brain cells’ ability to communicate with each other, leading to temporary mental lapses that affect memory and visual perception.”
So if we aren’t getting enough sleep, we aren’t able to think and see things clearly or to process them as quickly as we could if we were more rested. If you struggle with remembering your presentation or recalling a word, it could be that you simply need to get more sleep.
Nutrition
One of the silver linings of the pandemic Dr. Suzuki identified is that we now have more control over what we put in our bodies. Many of us are spending more time at home and are cooking more. Because we aren’t out and about as much, we aren’t tempted to pull through Starbucks or McDonald’s on a whim.
Dr. Eva Selhub says that our brains require constant fuel. And she says, “that ‘fuel’ comes from the foods you eat—and what’s in that fuel makes all the difference . . . Multiple studies have found a correlation between a diet high in refined sugars and impaired brain function.”
So work to build your brain by improving your nutrition. One of the simple tricks I use for myself and my kids is to try choose foods that would naturally come without a nutrition label. This points me toward fruits, vegetables, proteins, and water.
Learning a New Skill
The final tip for boosting your brain during a pandemic is to learn a new skill. Many of us have done this naturally. When pandemic boredom set in, lots of us engaged in new activities. Some learned how to play an instrument or took an online art class. Others found joy in journaling or learning a new language.
My husband and I threw ourselves headfirst into home improvements we had never done before. Guided by online instructional videos (thank goodness for YouTube!), we built out a couple walls and added 3 barn doors to close in our home office. While we were working side by side, I didn’t even think about the fact that we were boosting our brain power. But we were! Learning a new skill creates a stimulating environment which helps you to boost your brain’s activity.
It’s easy to get bored and complacent during the long months of pandemic living. But you can still build your brain during the COVID-19 era by exercising, getting enough sleep, watching your nutrition, and learning a new skill.
We hope to come out of the pandemic with healthier brains and habits. Ones that will make us better presenters and people. Ready to learn more about how Ethos3 can help you tell your story?
