How to Build a Better Brain

Brains were born to change, grow, and evolve. In fact, your brain can serve you in more ways than you could ever imagine if you take it to the brain gym.

Photo Credit: ajeofj3

The phrase “use it or lose it” certainly applies to the world of neuroplasticity — a big word that simply means your brain can and does change. For many years brain researchers believed the brain was static, meaning that after a certain growth period the brain would simply stop developing or adapting in a significant way.

Turns out, that was far from the truth.

Your brain is constantly flexing its muscles, molding itself, and responding to new and challenging stimuli just like your biceps do during exercise.

Now, I’m not a scientist, so I’m not going to dive into too much research or the biomechanics of brain development. For now, I’ll focus on what you can do today to begin building a better brain, which can lead to dramatic improvements in your creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Your Smarter, Sharper, and Sexier Brain

A better brain may be your ticket to massive goal achievement, especially as you get older.

In Dr. John Ratey’s book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, he tells a story about Sister Bernadette, a nun from Notre Dame who spent many years late in life building her brain.

Sister Bernadette constantly challenged her mind. She completed puzzles, studied new vocabulary, debated complex issues, and, essentially, exercised her mind like a muscle.

Along with over 600 other nuns, Sister Bernadette joined ongoing research about aging and the brain. At the age of 85 she passed away from a heart attack and her brain was donated to the study. An autopsy revealed that her brain had been severely damaged by Alzheimer’s disease.

“She should have been lost to the ravages of dementia. Yet despite the damage in her brain, she remained mentally sharp.”

Sister Bernadette is a shining example of how you can literally defy your genetics, overcome disease, and remain mentally brilliant throughout your entire life.

Just like an old nun, you too can have a smarter, sharper, and (dare I say) sexier brain, despite your age, intelligence, or busy schedule.

How to Build a Better Brain

Just like going to the gym for physical exercise, building a better brain for mental strength and flexibility isn’t necessarily hard, you just have to do the work.

I began intentionally building my brain three years ago when I started a simply daily practice inspired by the late Earl Nightingale (one of the founders of the personal development industry).

Earl recommended that I start thinking on purpose. He challenged me to spend time every day flexing my mental muscles in an attempt to solve a pressing problem in my life.

Here’s how the practice plays out:

1. Set aside 30 minutes of uninterrupted time where you can be alone.
2. Bring a pen and a notebook, a marker and a dry erase board, or a laptop and your fingers. Use whatever tools are best for you to brainstorm.
3. At the top of the notepad, board, or digital document, write a question you want the answer to. The question should focus on a pressing problem in your life right now — the bigger, the better — with a focus on the phrases ‘how could I . . ?’ or ‘what could I do to . . ?’. For example, how could I make time to write a book? Or, what could I do to guarantee I exercise every morning before work? Or, how could I find the money to afford my dream home, vacation, or charity donation?.
4. Spend the next 30 minutes dreaming up every possible answer to the question you can imagine. Don’t restrict yourself in this process. The goal is creativity, originality, and a willingness to dig deep into your brain to find the best possible answers.
5. Repeat this process once a day for as many days as you can.

The goal here is simple: train your brain to think without limits. Challenge yourself to dream bigger, be as creative as possible, and overcome your life’s most daunting obstacles.

This exercise is one of many you can try, like the ones featured in Lumosity or BrainHQ. Just as Sister Bernadette solved puzzles and debated complex issues, you can certainly benefit from a variety of mental exercises.

On a practical level, I prefer Earl Nightingale’s approach over a generic brain gym like Lumosity because there is a real life component to it.

You are not simply working out for the sake of working out. You are literally solving a tangible problem in your own life, while simultaneously training your brain to solve future problems with more creativity, wit, and intelligence.

When Will You Build Your Brain?

It’s only takes a few minutes. Though Earl recommends 30, you could practice this same exercise for 3 minutes a day to get started. Over time you can increase you time and expand your results.

Every morning I combine Earl’s strategy with my reading. I call it my morning workshop and it simply involves reading with the intent of thinking.

I choose a book that relates to a major goal in my life and spend time each morning reading, studying, dissecting, and brainstorming ideas around the concepts in the book. Many days I pull out a problem and solve it just like Earl recommends.

It works every time. I literally always get a breakthrough by simply allowing myself the freedom to think without restrictions.

I end up making connections I otherwise never would and solve tough problems in minutes that could have taken days or weeks.

So, when will you schedule your brain exercise?

Next Week

Next week on the blog I will be unveiling my 2015 Reader Survey. This will be your chance to spill your guts and help me deliver my best content to further your grandest goals.