I recently attended a Center for Brain Health presentation at UTD. Rather than a quest for higher learning, I was there for the free quarterly happy hour, my biggest fringe benefit for working as a guest professor in the Executive Coaching Program. So I wear a button, act informed and professional to current and potential students, then eat and drink my way through the well-stocked appetizer bar. Life is good.
Molly Keebler from the Center for Brain Health was our speaker and her topic “The Brain: An Owner’s Guide” had my rapt attention right out of the gate (an unusual circumstance given my usual food-and-beverage focus). I am fascinated by the brain, how we are all wired differently and how that wiring drives us, messes with us, and takes us to new heights. I know a lot about what makes people tick and deal with the human phenomenon in business every day. I am paid daily, and well, to manage the crowded and often dangerous intersection of business results and human behavior.
But my own brain has me at a loss. Where did it go? Will it come back some day? Is it visiting other planets while I struggle to remember my son’s cell phone # (thank God for speed dial)? I felt so alone in my challenges to remember key facts, like my husband’s name and did I already take my vitamins today. Surely it would be on the national news if this was common among previously intelligent professionals – our GDP would sink like a stone. I must have a brain tumor, early Alzheimer’s or RN Factor (too many romance novels at an early age). Was I destined to feverishly try and hang on to remaining brain cells with hours of Sudoku and Times crossword puzzles?
So when Molly took to the podium I was eager for enlightenment.
First, losing your mind in midlife is normal, particularly for women. Apparently we have compensating benefits, like increased creativity and higher awareness. I’m in hopeful anticipation.
Second, aerobic exercise has the biggest impact on brain health as we age. (There was something mentioned about avoiding alcohol too but I was revisiting the appetizer bar at that point)
Third, there are things we can do to keep our brain active and growing – and it doesn’t involve (thank God once again) Sud0ku or crossword puzzles. Apparently these activities only improve your ability to fill in little boxes with numbers or letters. Here are the Center for Brain Health Healthy Brain Tips:
- Avoid multitasking to increase brain efficiency
- Laser focus on important tasks
- Construct bottom-line messages, not a litany of facts
- Sleep (yeah!) to advance high-powered ideas
- Catapult curiosity; ask provocative questions
- Raise the bar on your expertise
- Apply specialization in novel contexts
- Ignite insights through brain downtime (more sleep!)
- Practice strengthens brain efficiency
- Innovate by identifying and solving future goals and problems
Given that I exercise and have nine out of ten (damn that iPhone) tips nailed down, I’m feeling pretty good at that point. My biggest take-away from the session: I’m NORMAL! Thank you Molly. I’ll be sure to attend your next lecture…if I don’t forget.
