There is an oft-quoted statistic that as human beings, we only use 10% of our brains. It’s not true, not even a little bit – it seems to have started as an assertion from a psychologist in the early 20th century and been picked up by self-help authors more recently. In reality, we are pretty much always using as much of our brains as is practically possible. So we shouldn’t be looking to use more of our brains, and there’s no “hack” that unlocks the mythical 90%, but we can and should be looking for ways to make the brain work better overall. The results will be clear in an improved quality of life and many other ways.
What is “brain health”?
The health of our brains is divided into a few categories. The most important, at least from a specifically brain-focused point of view, are cognitive function, motor function, and emotional health. These categories deal with different aspects of our brain health, and a short precis of their responsibilities is as follows:
- Cognitive: How well you think, learn and remember things.
- Motor: How you move, balance and handle things.
- Emotional: How we respond to things, both positive and negative.
How can we boost our brain health?
As well as being the most powerful organ in the body, the brain is one of the sturdiest, dealing with an incredible amount of work at a pace that we can barely conceive of. As we’ve said above, it’s working all the time. You can’t really make it work harder, but you can make it work better.
Word puzzles and learning tasks will boost cognitive function, so learning a language or making use of a Blossom solver will always be useful. Crafting, cooking and dancing – even if you’re not very good at any of these – are good for motor function. Practicing good sleep habits, mindfulness and self-compassion are considered among the most important elements of boosting emotional health.
What do you need to be careful of?
The fact that our brains are as powerful and as hard-working as they are doesn’t mean that they aren’t vulnerable. This doesn’t just mean that you should wear a helmet when cycling or avoid bumping your head, although those are definitely important. It also means you need to be vigilant for signs that things aren’t working as well up there. If you’re struggling with any aspect of brain health, it is important to consider whether you’re getting enough sleep and also evaluate your diet. Omega 3 fatty acids, B Vitamins and antioxidants are all valuable nutrients. Overwork, too, can take a lot out of you both physically and mentally.
If you’re struggling in a way which even sleep and diet aren’t assisting, then it is important to consider an appointment with your doctor. A number of conditions can negatively affect brain performance, and you’re never too young to have a cognitive condition. Although people hear alarm bells when they hear those words – fear of dementia is understandable and widespread – you may in fact be looking at undiagnosed ADHD, depression or anxiety, all of which take a toll on your mental performance.
You use a lot more than 10% of your brain at all times, and that’s as good a reason as any to look after it and work to boost its performance. You’re sure to see the benefits.
