YOUR MINI RESOLUTION BRAIN BRAWN • WEEK 1

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Good morning and welcome to August!

CCP helps you stay on track!
 
Use our log to track your progress toward our mini resolution. This month, we’re looking to eliminate added sugars from our diets!
 
For questions or assistance, email your Motivated Mondays Coach Michele McCambridge: 
[email protected]

 
BRAIN BRAWN MICRO RESOLUTIONS

 
We are taking a slightly different approach to our monthly mini resolutions this month with five different Brain Brawn Micro Resolutions—a new one in each week!—instead of one, overarching resolution for the month.

 
OUR AUGUST MICRO RESOLUTIONS WILL BE…

1. Lifelong Learning
2. Music and Art Therapy
3. The 5 Senses
4. Social Engagement
5. Oral Health

 
And today, we’re kicking it off with Lifelong Learning!

 
LIFELONG LEARNING

 
When you tied your shoes this morning, did you give it any thought? When you cracked an egg, did you notice the motion? What about zipping your jacket, buttoning your shirt, or shifting the car into reverse before backing out of the driveway?
 
Most of the small actions that fill our days run on autopilot, guided by muscle memory.
 
But can you think back to how challenging it was to learn these day-to-day activities? Maybe you even recall your own child hitting these milestones or are now witnessing it all with a grandchild!
 
Every time we learn something new, the brain rewires itself—chemically, at the cellular level, and even in its physical structure. This process of remodeling happens not only when we’re learning, but also in response to injury, such as a stroke. We’ve talked about this before. It’s known as brain plasticity.
 
This week, your micro resolution is to challenge yourself to rewire your brain by learning something new!
 
When we are young and everything is new, plasticity is high! But brain plasticity diminishes with advancing age because of that “autopilot” nature in which we eventually tend to operate.
 
There was a time when it was believed that brain plasticity wasn’t possible after a certain age. But now, thanks to the work of Marian Diamond, we know that is not true. The brain can be rewired in adulthood. It just requires that stimulation of learning something new and sufficiently difficult.
 
Lifelong learning can contribute to “cognitive reserves,” protecting against age related cognitive decline. A large observational study released this year followed almost 2,000 participants for a period of 8 years with an average starting age of 80. The researchers found those who with the highest lifetime scores of enrichment (reading, learning new languages, visiting museums, etc.) experienced a 38% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s and even delayed the disease’s onset by 5 years.

 
WHAT ARE SOME SCIENCE-BACKED IDEAS TO TRY?

• Learn a new language. Today, this doesn’t even have to take place in a classroom setting. Online courses are available such as Rosetta Stone and some phone apps.

 

• Learn a musical instrument or learn to create art. Come back next week for those details!

 

• If it’s realistic for your circumstances, you might consider your own “Eat, Pray, Love”–style adventure. Imagine dedicating a year to immersing yourself in a country’s art, architecture, and history—learning the language first, then experiencing it all in person. Turn it into a project with a clear goal, and if you do it alongside friends, you’ll amplify the joy. Of course, this kind of journey isn’t practical for everyone, but the spirit of it—deep learning, exploration, and shared experiences—can be adapted to fit any budget or schedule.

 

• Learn a new type of exercise. Anything that requires you to think about the placement of the right and left sides of the body is advantageous. Not only will you gain the brain benefits of exercise, but learning a new type of exercise requires thinking about what you are doing, how you are doing it and spatial awareness—much like how lacing a sneaker once required thinking. A great example of a low impact, challenging, new exercise is strength training & cardio with a flow rope. You can purchase your own or use your local gym’s rope, if available, and the internet is full of videos to help you learn the basics and progress your flow.

 

• Brainstorm. Is there anything else you always wanted to learn but never did? Like how to change the oil in your car? Bake a soufflé? Build a train set? If it challenges you, it grows you!

 
BRAIN GAMES
 
No conversation about lifelong learning and brain health would be complete without touching on “brain games.” There’s no shortage of options—from classic crossword puzzles and mahjong to high-tech video games marketed to slow cognitive decline. But here’s the catch: scientists still debate whether these games actually work or are more hype than help. After combing through the research, we can’t make a definitive call either way, except to say that keeping your mind active is always a good thing.
 
So, if you love crossword puzzles or sudoku, keep at it. If a weekly card game with friends is your thing, fantastic! And if you’re curious (and have the budget) for computer-based brain games like Lumosity, give them a try. Just remember watching Jeopardy doesn’t count. In fact, spending more than 3.5 hours a day watching TV has been linked to cognitive decline.

We’ll see you next week for our next micro resolution!