Your Complete Guide to Optimizing Brain Health: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science
Your Brain Health Action Plan
Foundation #1: Master Your Light Environment
Morning: Get sunshine directly on your face first thing in the morning. This cues your circadian rhythm and supports healthy serotonin production - crucial for brain health.
Evening: Scale down all unnecessary lights. I even tell patients to use the bathroom in the dark (boys, please sit down!) to avoid interrupting melatonin production and the repair cycle essential for brain health.
Three immediate steps:
Enable night shift on your iPhone or blue light filter on Android - set it to activate in the afternoon
Choose low blue light nightlights for children (check out lowbluelight.com)
Consider blue light blocking glasses - your brain health will thank you
Foundation #2: Challenge Your Brain Daily
Remember when we used to print driving directions or write them by hand? That memory exercise was fantastic for brain health! We learned peoples phone numbers and we mapped our environment. Nowadays as things get “easier” we are getting dumber, uh oh.
Memory-enhancing activities:
Classic crosswords and chess
Knitting, puzzles, and learning new skills
Making games out of mundane tasks
Testing your memory instead of relying on GPS
The key is "use it or lose it" - your brain health thrives on novel challenges and learning.
Foundation #3: Move for Your Mind
Exercise doesn't just benefit your body - it's absolutely essential for brain health. Physical activity challenges and oxygenates the brain while promoting new neural connections. Exercise promotes brain derived neurotrophic factor, how cool is that? Yes please.
Walking, dancing, learning new sports - especially with family and friends - all contribute to robust brain health. The social connection amplifies the benefits even further.