Posts tagged Workout
Nurturing Nature – Are Your Brain Cells Hungering for a Workout?
Dec 20th
Scientist believe there are over one-hundred billion neurons inside our head. Some scientists believe that neurons are not limited to the brain but are found in the heart as well. Where they are located is not so important as what they do. Bottom line, they transmit information within the brain. Information of all kinds and they can be enlarged and changed, that process is called neuroplasticity.
So what your say? Well, for those who are interested in doing better at whatever they do, here is a way to do just that. Grow your brain in the places you would like. Just as an example; London scientist have discovered that those London cab drivers that have such a wonderful memory of locations and directions have an unusually large Hippocampus, the portion of the brain that stores long-term memories. Why would the size be different?
The brain, like your muscles, responds to exercise. Just like your biceps, which get larger when you curl 40 lb. weights everyday, your Hippocampus, the organ responsible for long-term memory, will enlarge when it is asked to remember more and more locations everyday. The London cab drivers were not born with this ability to remember they developed it by daily workout.
Hundreds of thousands of neurons atrophy and die everyday for lack of use. They also die from alcohol consumption, blows to the head or just plain getting old. We now know that learning new things creates new neurons and revitalizes old and dying ones. So you are in control.
You own your brain and it is available for use, by you, 24/7, at no charge. Whether you are casually interested in “brain health’” or a “brain health” nut, here are 5 things you can do to promote a healthy, growing brain.
- Stay away from alcohol
- Read more
- Do daily thinking exercises, like the Crossword puzzle or Sod0ku
- Eat brain foods like broccoli and all those other veggies you never liked
- Learn new skills that require concentration.
These are, of course, a limited list of activities you can do to build powerful, healthy brain. For more information on Brain Health contact us.
Quick Self Esteem Boosters
Oct 13th
Improving self confidence and self esteem is an ongoing process, and takes courage to look at the deepest parts of your character and understand where self esteem comes from and how to have more of it.
The causes of low self confidence or self esteem need to be identified and addressed. But this takes time and work, so what happens when you are in a rush?!
The self esteem boosters below will give you that instant boost you need at the time you need it, and practised regularly, they will begin to change your underlying beliefs.
1. Do something for someone else. There is nothing like the feeling you get from having an impact on someone. If they smile and say thank-you, so much the better, if they don’t, you can still feel good about yourself. Leave a big tip for a waiter, pick your friends kids up from school so she can have a break, pop in to see your elderly aunt who gets few visitors, cook a favourite meal for your partner. It doesn’t have to be something ground breaking, but as a self esteem booster, this is second to none.
2. Do something for you. Especially if you are run ragged looking after everyone else, are too busy to look after yourself properly or are simply down on yourself and feel you aren’t worth it. Laze in a bubble bath with a good book, take half an hour to get a coffee, relax and watch the world go by, treat yourself to a gourmet lunch. Whatever you always promise yourself you will do but don’t get around to. Do it today!
3. Compliment yourself. Look in the mirror and pick out your best feature (Yes, you do have lots of them), smile and say out loud, ‘Kate, you really do have great skin/eyes/smile/feet/legs/whatever you like about yourself. (Obviously use your own name!!) Then move onto to your skills and actions. ‘Kate, you worked so hard at your workout this morning, did a great job with that report, cooked a delicious dinner, dealt really well with that awkward client etc etc’
Simply smiling at yourself is a great self esteem booster.
4. Talk to someone else. Yes self confidence and self esteem should come from within, but sometimes it gives us a bit boost to hear something nice from someone else. Call your mum, partner, best friend, children, and get a little reassurance from them. When you aren’t feeling great about yourself, it can take the viewpoint of someone you care about to put things in perspective and make you realise you really are rather great!
The road to great self confidence and self esteem is hilly, even when we get to the top of the hill and feel great, there will be the odd day when we don’t feel so great about ourselves.
This is completely normal and we should should get on with things, knowing it is just a blip and we soon be back to our normal selves. However it is good to have some tools to deal with those down days – the self esteem boosters can provide a quick pick me up when you need it.
What do you do when you need a quick self esteem boost? Share your tips with others below
