Project Fix-My-Brain, Redux!

I’m not a big believer in New Years Resolutions: it’s too much pressure for my allergic-to-goals orientation. Still, after-the-holidays is often a time when I start or restart new rituals, regimes and projects, mostly because the holidays derail any of my attempts to do, well… anything.

This year, I have several projects I’ll be picking up and blathering about here, but the first order of business is fixing-my-brain.

Yes, I broke it again.

Several months ago I fell off of the Healthy Brain Bandwagon and the routines I’d started, and then I OD’d on sweets over the past two weeks.

You see, half of my Christmas Day guests just didn’t show up — the half that has kids and usually snubs the turkey and ham in favor of pies and fudge. That meant left overs, sweet left overs, left overs that I was, of course, obligated to eat. It’s not my fault, at all… it couldn’t be helped.

So as I track my progress on Joe’s Goals, again, we’ll start with:

Task One: No. More. Sugar!

Yes, I know there are those delicious mini cream puffs left in the fridge. I know there is a bit of liquor-drenched pound cake left, a selection of cookies, and some mini sweet rolls, but at least those deadly brownies my Grandmother brought over are gone.

Enough sugar can wreck havoc on anyone’s system. Eating sweets raises blood glucose levels, which triggers rapid releases of insulin, which causes your blood sugar to drop again. Have enough sugar, and your blood sugar may suddenly drop lower than when you started, triggering a complex chemical reaction including adrenaline, cortisol and other goodies that can leave you shakey, unfocused and drained.

I tend to be especially sensitive to blood sugar roller coasters, so I’m feeling pretty lousy in response to my sugarplum Christmas escapades. So no more sugar, for at least two weeks. I mean it. None, zippo, nada. Eliminate Sugar is Task #1.

Task Two: Water

The Brain needs water. I don’t like water. And while Diet Coke will serve to keep the brain and body hydrated, the purer the liquid, the better for the brain. No, I don’t have research to back that up, I just know that I feel better when I add pure water into the mix. I won’t set a firm long term goal here, but I will commit to at least two bottles of pure water a day (in addition to the other stuff I drink).

Task Three: Brain Training

That’s right, its back to Lumosity on a daily basis. In case you’ve never heard me mention it before, Lumosity is one of the Big Three brain training programs out there, based on legitimate research on improving cognitive ability through mental exercise. I’ve had really good results with it before, and I’m not really sure why I stopped, so.. back it goes!

Task Four: Supplements and Other Stuff

I hate swallowing pills, but … I do need to take my antihistimines. My allergies often affect my mental processing. I also do well on St. John’s Wort and I’m jumping on the Omega-3 boat. So… argh. I’ll swallow things.

Task Five: Physical Training

Exercise is good for the brain. Really. In a gazillion ways. It increases general health, blood flow, oxygen intake, and works various parts of the brain as you move and balance. With physical activity, I like to set low, very obtainable goals to start with, then let the endorphines kick in and drive the intensity levels up naturally. So…10 minutes a day on the treadmill. (Not much, I know, but trust me, it’ll kick up quickly)

Task Six: Brainwave Entrainment

This is simpler than it sounds - Brainwave Entrainment just means playing particular audio/video files that cause your brain to “match” certain states. It can be really helpful when you’re having trouble relaxing, staying alert, and so on. In my case, I know I need more time in a deep trance state, and I’m seeing some serious ADD type thought patterns lately, so I’ll be working testing out daily sessions on those two issues.

So. There you have it.

Project-Fix-My-Brain, Redux. I’ll keep track of the whole thing via Joe’s Goals, and either post the widget in the sidebar, or post screen shots regularly. Either way, if I know you’re watching, it helps… those of you in counseling/nudging/cheerleader roles should feel free to comment should I start to slack off again.

After all, a working brain is pretty much a requirement for the author of a brain-based blog, don’t you think?

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MindTWEAK: “A girl with brains ought to do something with them besides think.” -Anita Loos
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