Listen to the Episode Here (12:14)
This week we are starting a 12 week Super Deep Dive into Evolving Your Life
We are talking about evolving your mind, body, money, business, and lifestyle.
20 years of mentors, contacts, connections….sharing with you the success secrets…
…the success clues that create the greatest change.
Topic Today: 10 Brain Tips to Keep You from Getting Frustrated or Fed Up from the Amen clinic and Doctor Daniel Amen…best selling author.
Problem:
So many people are dealing with Depression & Anxiety or Health Issues that are caused by the brain and not optimizing this amazing tool. Today I want to talk to you about ways you can optimize your brain/mind on a daily basis.
Here is the Challenge & Questions to Ask Yourself?
Are you taking care of your mind…your brain…your body?
What specifically are you doing and what can you do better?
What types of problems or symptoms are you having that might improve your overall life with a little focus and attention to your brain?
Solution:
10 Brain Tips to Keep You (and your kids) From Getting Frazzled, Frustrated, or Fed Up
1. Look for the positive.
The human brain is hardwired for negativity.
Tip: Train your brain to look for successes.
2. Fuel your brain.
Feed your brain high-quality foods and start the day with some protein for better focus and energy.
Amen- Brain is comprised of 80% water, and being even mildly dehydrated can negatively impact your moods—making you feel more anxious, tense, depressed, or angry—in addition to sapping your energy levels and lowering your ability to concentrate.
Tip: Drinking a gallon of water daily will change your life.
3. Exercise to boost blood flow to the brain.
Brain uses 20% of the oxygen and blood flow in your body.
Anything that impairs blood flow hurts your brain and impairs function.
Exercise enhances moods, reduces stress and anxiety, and increases focus and energy.
Tip: Daily Rituals in morning of exercise help you win the day.
4. Create a physical space for work and school.
Train your brain by setting up physical boundaries.
Tip: Do not take work into the bedroom at night or it will impact your rest.
5. Give your brain a break.
The ideal amount of time to work on a single task is 75-90 minutes,
Learn to Time Block Critical Tasks around these 90 min blocks.
Take mini breaks.
Tip: This does not mean TV or Social Media Break…
6. Share the load.
Community, Mentoring, Personal Trainers, Friends, and Family all help to lower stress, anxiety and overwhelm.
Tip: Join a small masterminds, groups or attend networking events…
7. Practice mental hygiene.
In a pandemic, mental hygiene is just as important as washing your hands.
Amen Clinics calls these ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) that steal your happiness.
Sometimes naming items helps to identify and eliminate negative thoughts.
Tip: This week try to Recognize your negative patterns or thoughts immediately when they happen.
8. Encourage active listening at home (and work).
Learn to listen first and then repeat back what you heard.
It helps others feel “heard” and also helps to clarify and eliminate any miscommunications.
Tip: In business this is a great way to help others feel you are listening and respect and loyalty and performance…
9. Tell your brain it’s time to relax.
At the end of the day, learn to shut down your mind…super super difficult I know…I’ve been there.
Find activities, boundaries and even rituals that help you shut down your mind…like journaling, meditation, music, etc.
I find it really helpful to list what is on my mind for tomorrow so it helps you to let it go easier.
Tip: I’ve spoken about the idea of the Corporate Athlete…meaning the growth is in the recovery not the stress…
10. Stick to a sleep schedule.
Amen Clinics suggests- While you’re sleeping, your brain is hard at work performing some very critical functions necessary to keep it operating at optimal levels. For example, during sleep, your brain cleans or washes itself by eliminating cellular debris and toxins that build up during the day (basically taking out the neural trash), consolidates learning and memory, and prepares for the following day. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that children ages 6-12 get 9-12 hours and teenagers 13-18 years old get 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Adults should aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Adequate sleep improves attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, moods, and mental health.
Tip: Create a sleep routine for yourself and your children and stick to it.
Anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, and other mental health conditions are real and it does not help to just avoid or sweep them under the rug.
Find ways to take your #1 Asset (your brain) and turn it into a super power and ultimate tool for growth…practice self care.
I think it is so important for us to remember that we are not our minds. Our brain is a tool and like anything else, you MUST keep it sharp, clean and focused. I highly recommend any of Dr Amens books on Mental Health and Brain health and he also has an incredible podcast that he and his wife do which gives you small nuggets of health and nutrition information as well as activities for the brain and life in general.
I’ll leave the link to this article and his podcast in my show notes….
Thanks for listening. George Wright III
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