Joy of a Healthy Brain - New Year's Resolution

                                                               2010 New Year’s Resolution

 You know the saying:  “You’re not getting older; you’re just getting better. ” Well, it can be true; it’s up to you.  As we begin a new year in our “mature lives,” we have a new opportunity to make an important resolution—one that we intend to keep.  This resolution is to commit to daily brain-enriching activities.  Remember, doctors and researchers tell us that it’s never too late to start doing things to S-T-R-E-T-C-H those “mental muscles.” 

One of the things that we can “get better at” is “Staying Positive.” Although 2010 may see some of us still facing some “financial challenges”, it is important to remember that things will get better.  Keeping that in mind is important, because positive thinking helps to maintain a healthy brain. On the other hand, high levels of anxiety, worry, and stress drain our brains.  One easy and convenient way to combat the “brain-drainers” is to do daily meditations or prayers; this activity can relax the “mental muscles” anywhere and at anytime.     

A few other things that we can do to stick to our 2010  New Year’s Resolution of performing brain-enriching activities are the following:

·        Do puzzles

·        Make a new list every day—of different things (e.g. names of family members, foods that you like, different cities that you’ve visited, movies that you’ve seen)

·        Learn new dance steps—don’t just do the ones that are so familiar that you can  do them automatically without thinking

·        Learn new computer-based games—increasing the levels of difficulty

·        Eat plenty of fish, nuts, fruits, and vegetables

So, as we add another new year to our lives, let’s stick to our 2010 New Year’s Resolution of doing daily brain-enriching activities.  The pay-off for this commitment can be great:  “ just like fine wine, we too can get better with time!”

Happy New Year !