Researchers from Harvard Medical School found that a “quiet brain” could extend your life. A quiet brain is described as using less neural activity, which uses less overall energy from the body.
The study, published in the medical journal Nature, was conducted by investigating brain tissue of people who died between the ages of 60 and 100. Researchers found that people who lived longer had signs of less neural activity based on the levels of a specific protein.
So, how does one keep their brain sharp while attempting to keep it quiet at the same time? Onondaga Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing would like to share four tips with you.
- Be More Mindful of Your Body
Try to meditate for at least five to 10 minutes each day and be mindful of parts of the body where you are holding tension. Training your body to sense the presence of tension will help you be able to manage and eliminate it even during times that you’re not actively meditating.
- Be Present in the Moment
Your mind might be moving too fast for the rest of your body. Are you interrupting people before they’re done speaking? Is your mind distracted at the dinner table by everything else you have to do? Put those thoughts aside and be actively present in any situation that you are in.
- Schedule Free Time
You fill your calendar with meetings, appointments, and other obligations, but do you schedule time for yourself? Make yourself take a break by working some down-time into your schedule or routine.
- Watch What You Eat
Your diet has more of an effect on your brain than you might realize. Avoid eating empty calories while doing sedentary activities like watching television.
