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Wise Up!
By Dr. Dale Anderson
For years, people have believed that we are born with a
certain number of brain cells, and that those brain cells die off as we age, with
no hope of ever getting them back. Today,
scientists are proving that, not only can we generate new brain cells, but we
can also branch them out and make new pathways in our thought and
learning processes.What does this mean to the average person? That
anyone at any age can continue to build brain strength, and that being
mentally “sharp” isn’t something reserved for the young anymore.
The act of building brain power is called “neurobics.” And just like the name
implies, it’s all about doing aerobics for your brain. Fortunately, these types of
aerobic workouts don’t involve 6 a.m. gym sessions or buying workout gear.
Neurobics is something anyone can do anywhere in just minutes a day.
Consider making the following neurobics principles a part of your daily routine
to help your brain branch out.
Act happy
Method acting is an acting technique in which actors try to replicate real life
emotional conditions under which the character operates, in an effort to
create a lifelike, realistic performance. Whether you are an actor or not,
everyone’s life is a stage play. So bring a bit of the theatre onto the stage of
your daily life and purposefully act happy … get your brain’s ACT together.
Method actors who play happy roles have a chemistry that keeps them more
active and more involved in life. Scientifically, acting happy has a chemistry
that is measurable with such things as T-cells, gamma globulins, serotonins,
endorphins, melatonin, and cortisol, just to name a few. We can even do a
PET scan of the brain and see what the emotional map of the brain looks like,
because there is a physiology that goes with the emotions. That means we
can actually see what anger, sadness and even happiness looks like. Even
more important, acting happy, whether through deep belly laughter or a
simple smile, activates positive chemicals in the brain that keep us alert and
physically healthy. So act happy in order to keep your brain more alive and
functional.
Sharpen your senses
In our modern society with our technological breakthroughs we have lost so
much of our senses. For example, when you go to the grocery store, you don’
t feel your food anymore. You don’t smell the meat. You don’t feel the grains.
Everything is boxed and wrapped and covered. Such modern conveniences
dull our senses, which shrinks and ages our brains. Therefore, doing simple
exercises can help refresh your senses and keep your memory strong. Here
are few suggestions:
Brush your teeth with the opposite hand
Sit at a new place at the dinner table
Eat a new food differentiate and identify the spices
Get dressed with your eyes closed or in the dark
Wear earplugs around the house for an hour
Sit outside with your eyes closed and identify sounds and smells
Balance on one foot, and then on the other foot, while doing a task
Play a card game with friends
Read out loud and listen to some
one else read
Look and stand up while saying the word ìdownî and visa versa
Take a new route to work or some other usual location
Try to guess the denomination of coins by simply feeling them
Welcome new, novel and challenging encounters
While these activities may seem simple or even silly, they actually help your
brain make new pathways. When you use both the left and right spheres of
your brain, you put little twigs onto the branches of the brain cells, which are
called dendrites. The more of these little twigs you get on the dendritic
branches, the more they start connecting with neighboring cells. The more
“growth” of the underbrush, the more chances you have to make new brain
connections.
Keeping the brain alive is all about making new connections and branching
out. If you’re right handed, you use your left brain a lot. If you can bring some
of that brain activity over to the right side by using your left hand for the same
task, you’re exercising your brain and developing new pathways. Later in life,
should one of your brain’s pathways get destroyed, you’ll now have another
small pathway already formed and ready to be built up that can take over the
lost function.
Make physical connections
One of the worst things for the brain is for the person to become a loner.
When you’re alone, you’ll always do things the same old way. That means you’
ll rarely exercise your brain and make new neural connections.
You can connect with others through a club, association, church, or any other
type of group activity. Simply being in a crowd, such as a sporting event,
enables you to connect. Growing plants is a way to connect, as it brings you
closer to nature and brings something living into your life. Pets, especially
dogs, are another wonderful way to connect. People talk to their dog. They
pet their dog. They walk their dog. As they walk their dog, they associate with
others who are walking dogs. In fact, studies have shown that people who are
over age 65 who have a dog and live alone visit the doctor 16 percent less
often than their counterparts who don’t have a dog.
As you become skilled at something, consider teaching as a way to connect.
The act or ritual of teaching and mentoring is a powerful one that fosters long-
lasting connections and enables you to impact many generations. Remember,
any celebration or ritual can bring connection into your life.
Exercising your brain doesn’t have to be a strenuous activity that causes you
to sweat. In fact, practicing neurobics can be a fun and enjoyable experience
that adds brain power every day. So commit to making these neurobic
activities a part of your daily routine. As the old saying goes, “You’re only as
old as you feel.” Give your brain the tools to feel young and vital – it’ll pay off
for years to come.
Dr. Dale Anderson is a notable author and speaker who practiced medicine
for nearly 50 years as a family doctor, board-certified surgeon and board-
certified emergency physician. As a speaker, he travels the country
prescribing METHOD acting techniques and happiness as good medicine.
Contact him at (651)484-5162 or visit www.acthappy.com.
By Dr. Dale Anderson
For years, people have believed that we are born with a
certain number of brain cells, and that those brain cells die off as we age, with
no hope of ever getting them back. Today,
scientists are proving that, not only can we generate new brain cells, but we
can also branch them out and make new pathways in our thought and
learning processes.What does this mean to the average person? That
anyone at any age can continue to build brain strength, and that being
mentally “sharp” isn’t something reserved for the young anymore.
The act of building brain power is called “neurobics.” And just like the name
implies, it’s all about doing aerobics for your brain. Fortunately, these types of
aerobic workouts don’t involve 6 a.m. gym sessions or buying workout gear.
Neurobics is something anyone can do anywhere in just minutes a day.
Consider making the following neurobics principles a part of your daily routine
to help your brain branch out.
Act happy
Method acting is an acting technique in which actors try to replicate real life
emotional conditions under which the character operates, in an effort to
create a lifelike, realistic performance. Whether you are an actor or not,
everyone’s life is a stage play. So bring a bit of the theatre onto the stage of
your daily life and purposefully act happy … get your brain’s ACT together.
Method actors who play happy roles have a chemistry that keeps them more
active and more involved in life. Scientifically, acting happy has a chemistry
that is measurable with such things as T-cells, gamma globulins, serotonins,
endorphins, melatonin, and cortisol, just to name a few. We can even do a
PET scan of the brain and see what the emotional map of the brain looks like,
because there is a physiology that goes with the emotions. That means we
can actually see what anger, sadness and even happiness looks like. Even
more important, acting happy, whether through deep belly laughter or a
simple smile, activates positive chemicals in the brain that keep us alert and
physically healthy. So act happy in order to keep your brain more alive and
functional.
Sharpen your senses
In our modern society with our technological breakthroughs we have lost so
much of our senses. For example, when you go to the grocery store, you don’
t feel your food anymore. You don’t smell the meat. You don’t feel the grains.
Everything is boxed and wrapped and covered. Such modern conveniences
dull our senses, which shrinks and ages our brains. Therefore, doing simple
exercises can help refresh your senses and keep your memory strong. Here
are few suggestions:
Brush your teeth with the opposite hand
Sit at a new place at the dinner table
Eat a new food differentiate and identify the spices
Get dressed with your eyes closed or in the dark
Wear earplugs around the house for an hour
Sit outside with your eyes closed and identify sounds and smells
Balance on one foot, and then on the other foot, while doing a task
Play a card game with friends
Read out loud and listen to some
one else read
Look and stand up while saying the word ìdownî and visa versa
Take a new route to work or some other usual location
Try to guess the denomination of coins by simply feeling them
Welcome new, novel and challenging encounters
While these activities may seem simple or even silly, they actually help your
brain make new pathways. When you use both the left and right spheres of
your brain, you put little twigs onto the branches of the brain cells, which are
called dendrites. The more of these little twigs you get on the dendritic
branches, the more they start connecting with neighboring cells. The more
“growth” of the underbrush, the more chances you have to make new brain
connections.
Keeping the brain alive is all about making new connections and branching
out. If you’re right handed, you use your left brain a lot. If you can bring some
of that brain activity over to the right side by using your left hand for the same
task, you’re exercising your brain and developing new pathways. Later in life,
should one of your brain’s pathways get destroyed, you’ll now have another
small pathway already formed and ready to be built up that can take over the
lost function.
Make physical connections
One of the worst things for the brain is for the person to become a loner.
When you’re alone, you’ll always do things the same old way. That means you’
ll rarely exercise your brain and make new neural connections.
You can connect with others through a club, association, church, or any other
type of group activity. Simply being in a crowd, such as a sporting event,
enables you to connect. Growing plants is a way to connect, as it brings you
closer to nature and brings something living into your life. Pets, especially
dogs, are another wonderful way to connect. People talk to their dog. They
pet their dog. They walk their dog. As they walk their dog, they associate with
others who are walking dogs. In fact, studies have shown that people who are
over age 65 who have a dog and live alone visit the doctor 16 percent less
often than their counterparts who don’t have a dog.
As you become skilled at something, consider teaching as a way to connect.
The act or ritual of teaching and mentoring is a powerful one that fosters long-
lasting connections and enables you to impact many generations. Remember,
any celebration or ritual can bring connection into your life.
Exercising your brain doesn’t have to be a strenuous activity that causes you
to sweat. In fact, practicing neurobics can be a fun and enjoyable experience
that adds brain power every day. So commit to making these neurobic
activities a part of your daily routine. As the old saying goes, “You’re only as
old as you feel.” Give your brain the tools to feel young and vital – it’ll pay off
for years to come.
Dr. Dale Anderson is a notable author and speaker who practiced medicine
for nearly 50 years as a family doctor, board-certified surgeon and board-
certified emergency physician. As a speaker, he travels the country
prescribing METHOD acting techniques and happiness as good medicine.
Contact him at (651)484-5162 or visit www.acthappy.com.