brain. When we don't focus on our limitations, we achieve so much more. We don'
t know our full potential. 4. Get Excited. Doing things that you love switches on ...
MIND YOUR FITNESS 1. Get Active Exercise produces chemicals that are vital to learning, memory and higher thinking. • 20 minutes of exercise every 2nd day reduces your risk of developing dementia. • An hour of exercise each day, including weights twice a week, is excellent for positive mental health. 2. Look After Your Diet • Eat lots of colourful fruit and vegetables, nuts and other sources of Omega 3. • Limit alcohol and give up the cigarettes. • Avoid ‘fad diets’ – you need carbohydrates because glucose is the only fuel your brain can use to function. 3. Remove “Can’t” From Your Vocabulary Our brains are very sensitive to language so the word “can’t” inhibits our brain. When we don’t focus on our limitations, we achieve so much more. We don’t know our full potential. 4. Get Excited Doing things that you love switches on your brain cells. Working towards your aspirations produces more brain activity than simply taking care of your needs (think “want to” rather than “need to” or “should do”.) Excitement releases chemicals that help us to learn more efficiently. 5. Get Curious Children ask on average 200 questions per day; adults ask 2 per day. Learning new things keeps your brain wired and switched on. • Use phrases like “how can I?” rather than “I can’t!”. • Get out of your comfort zone and try something new like learning a language or taking a different route home. • Go barefoot - it improves your balance as well as giving you a heightened awareness of your environment. The soles of our feet provide sensory feedback about the surface we walk on that is completely lost when wearing shoes.
6. Focus your attention We can turn on the part of our brain that enables us to learn quickly by: • • • •
doing something totally new loving what we are doing focusing on one task focusing on what you want, not what you don’t (let go of mistakes).
7. Practice time out • Get enough sleep. (6 - 8 hours every night) • Have a break from mind chatter - try mindfulness or meditation. 8. Get Socialising • Spend time with friends and family. • Have at least one person in which you can confide. 9. Get Visualising Your brain at times finds it difficult to tell the difference between a real and imagined experience. Imaging what you want, engaging as many of your senses as you can, is a very powerful tool in making dreams a reality. 10. Practice • Now its time to put all these principles into practice.
For more information on mental health contact the Organisational Health Team on 3405 6809. Adapted from Boost Your Brain by Dr Helen Popovic http://www.helenapopovic.com/
