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Part III of III:
Engage in activities that make you feel good every day. This can be different for each of us and for every day, but generally speaking, our brains feel good with novelty, gratitude, humor, love, kindness, and connection.
- Novelty Triggers. We can trigger novelty with something simple, like driving a new way to work, preparing a new dish at home, or eating at a new restaurant, and our brains will feel more engaged and alive. Museums are a great way to trigger the novelty centers in our brain. Wander around and look at art and see how you feel. Theater, concerts, and opera all offer our brains new experiences. On occasion, choose something more complicated, like traveling to a new city. Moving to a new location is an extreme way to trigger novelty centers and can be very therapeutic.
- Be Grateful. Feeling grateful releases happy chemicals in our brain. Close your eyes right now and think of something specific that you were most grateful for yesterday. Just stay with that thought; see how you feel. It can be a wonderful habit to create. Some like to share thoughts about gratitude with family members at mealtime, others like to journal during the day. nd I like to think about what I was most grateful for each day when I am falling asleep. Do whatever works for you and try to do it as often as possible. Remember patterns are easiest to repeat so make gratitude one of your brain’s go-to habits.
- Get Your Hug On. Try to release a powerful neurochemical called oxytocin nicknamed our “love-cuddle hormone” or “nature’s marijuana.” You can release oxytocin by hugging someone, a pet, or even snuggling yourself in a blanket. A warm shower or bath is another good way to release oxytocin and feel calmer. If you do this near bedtime, you may find your sleep quality improves.
Humor also releases oxytocin and makes us feel closer and increases trust. Late-night comedians help us release oxytocin while still giving us the bad news. It is so much easier to tolerate the cortisol bump when it occurs with a mix of oxytocin. Tell someone a joke and see how you both feel. Remember our mirror neurons? It is the part of the brain that fires in response to what we see. As the saying goes “smile and the whole world smiles with you.” As Norman Cousins wisely suggested, “Laugh your way to good health.”
- Connect. Humans are designed for connection to others: Humankind. Focus on who is important to you and make sure to nurture these relationships. Technology has exploded the ways we can connect but remember that our brains are designed for real-life connection so make sure you get plenty of it. Technology should be a supplement, not a substitute even though a lot of major corporations are pushing us in that direction. Avoid that pothole.
Connect with strangers. Helping others has been shown to improve mood and even lengthen the life span. “Giver’s Gain” and “Helper’s High” are experienced when we do something good for others. Reflect back on the last time you helped someone and how you felt after. You can go online to Volunteers of America and find many options that may suit you. Once again, the brain loves patterns. If you can find a volunteer experience you like, make sure to repeat it regularly.
- Find Your Why. The last tip for being kind to your mind is to cultivate a sense of purpose. Having a sense of purpose has been shown to provide comfort in times of stress and contributes to resilience. What is your purpose? What gets you out of bed in the morning? What are you most passionate about? How do you want others to think of or remember you? How can you make sure you are honoring it in your busy world?
Being kind to your mind takes patience, practice, and repetition. But if you make it a priority, you will find that you will be feeling better and enjoying life more, which should be a goal for all of us. These have been challenging years for everyone, and self-care should be at the top of every list.
Wishing you health and happiness moving forward as you practice being kind to your mind.
