Issue #378 – Monday, June 26th, 2023
Have you ever been pampered at a spa?
From deep tissue massages and facials to steam saunas and mani-pedis, spas provide a ton of ways we can relax and detoxify our bodies.
But what about our brains?
Don’t our brains deserve a “spa day” to unwind and refresh themselves, too?
Yes - in fact, taking the time to pamper our brains is super important.
So… how do you do it? Is there a “brain spa” out there somewhere for a cerebellum massage?
Not quite.
To explain everything, I’m sharing a wonderful essay with you today from Centerpointe Director of Client Services Marc Gilson.
Marc will walk you through five ways you can give your brain its own “spa day” every day that’ll leave you feeling energized and happy.
I know you’re going to love this!
Cheers,
Centerpointe CEO
P.S. Our next Safe-Connection Group Coaching Call is this Wednesday, June 28 at Noon PT (3PM ET). This time the topic will be:
The Power (& Problem) of Story
Why Your Trauma Story May Be Holding You Back
This live group coaching call is for Centerflow Healing Trauma Solution customers only, but there’s still time to sign up!
Visit the Check it Out section below to learn more.
Five Essential Brain Hygiene Routines
(How to Give Your Brain Its Own Spa Day, Everyday!)
By Marc Gilson
Picture this: your brain, all wrapped up in a plush bathrobe, cucumber slices resting on its neurons, someone gently massaging its cerebral cortex, kneading out all the stress and tension, a serene smile spreading through its neural pathways.
“Ahhhh,” says the brain, taking a sip of lemony mineral water. “This is the life!”
We know how relaxing and rejuvenating a day at the spa can be for our bodies. But how do we treat the brain with the same kind of pampering and care? In the whirlwind of modern life, where our brains are overloaded with information, saturated with stimuli, and bombarded with stressors coming from every direction, it’s easy to overlook the needs of our brains and focus only on how our bodies are feeling.
The brain works nonstop, never a day off, always doing whatever it takes to keep us going. When does it ever get a break? When does the brain have a chance to take a deep breath and really relax? When do we show our brains a little tender loving care?
Let’s look at five essential brain hygiene routines that can show your brain you care, and help it feel relaxed, refreshed, and ready to perform optimally!
1. Let Your Cerebrum Slumber - Get Good Sleep!
It’s no surprise that one of the best ways to care for your brain and help soothe away its tension is to get a good night’s sleep. There’s just no substitute for the benefits of quality sleep, and yet most of us don’t get nearly enough. Poor sleep leaves our brains running on fumes, foggy, and exhausted.
Beyond making sure you get to bed at a reasonable hour, you can also make some easy changes to your sleep routine that’ll help you sleep better.
First, make sure you’re sleeping in a dark room without too much ambient light. Try a sleep mask or dark curtains in the window to help keep out light pollution.
The same goes for noise - keep it quiet, or try using some soft white noise to help mask distracting sounds from the environment (like, say, a snoring bed partner, or that annoying neighbor who stays up all night with the TV blaring).
Oh, and tempting as it can be, put that smartphone down a good hour before it’s time to sleep. The blue light emitted from phone and TV screens forces the brain to stay alert and vigilant. Screens and sleep just don’t mix.
Remember: Good sleep hygiene means good brain health!
2. What Are You Talking About? - Watch Your Self Talk!
It’s easy to forget that every thought we think sets off a chain of events in the brain, mostly related to hormones and neurotransmitters that literally create our mood and how we feel.
Researchers like Dr. Daniel Amen have demonstrated that the thoughts we think - most specifically our inner self talk - aren’t just ephemeral, inconsequential things. They determine our experience of life.
If your inner dialogue is constantly complaining and harshly criticizing yourself or others, if it’s focused only on negativity and gloom, if it’s preoccupied with fears and worries, it’s like soaking your brain in a toxic soup of corrosive thoughts and feelings. Don’t let your brain bathe in that disgusting hot tub of upset and anger!
Pay more attention to how you talk to yourself and when you notice negative thoughts intruding on your peace of mind, shift your thoughts to something positive, hopeful, and peaceful.
Simply put, say nice things to your brain! This will literally create chemical changes in your brain that can have an immediate effect on your mood. And your brain will thank you!
3. Let the Inner Artist Out - Get Creative!
Even if you don’t think of yourself as creative, we all have an inner artist. But often we stifle or ignore creative aspects of ourselves because we think creativity is just for kids, or that it’s a waste of precious time.
The fact is that many of the happiest and most successful people in history were highly creative individuals, even if they weren’t artistic in a conventional sense. Every great idea started out with some kind of creative thought, often far “out of the box” from conventional linear thinking. Einstein himself even said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge,” and he was no slouch in the brain department!
So try this:
Get some modeling clay, or a pad of paper and crayons, or some toothpicks and glue - whatever you have on hand. Set aside an hour or so and just let that inner artist go to town. Create whatever you want. It can be silly, weird, or even ugly! Give that logical, rational part of the brain a rest. Don’t think, just create.
This activates the neocortex and thalamus, parts of the brain responsible for imagination and creative problem-solving, and gives the brain a nice break from figuring out how to balance your budget, pay your taxes, and read all those work emails.
Make time to play and create and your brain will be happier (and a lot more creative in all areas of your life)!
4. Move! - A Little Exercise Goes a Long Way!
We all know that exercise isn’t just good for your body. It absolutely supports brain health in tons of ways. Consider this:
Exercise feeds the brain! It increases blood flow and carries more nutrients and oxygen to all brain areas.
Exercise strengthens your memory and makes you smarter! It improves brain plasticity, producing new neural connections in the hippocampus, the part of your brain responsible for learning and memory.
Exercise balances your hormones! It affects neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, keeping them (and you) in emotional balance and feeling good.
Exercise keeps your brain young! That’s right, even a little exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Altzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Exercise promotes neuroprotective effects in the brain, improving immune response and making it more resilient against many kinds of illness and disease.
Exercise keeps you happy! A little exercise each day can decrease feelings of depression and anxiety. It helps reduce high levels of adrenaline and cortisol by helping you blow off some tension and increases healthy serotonin levels.
Bonus benefit: it helps you sleep better, too!
5. The Spa of Stillness - Meditate!
Perhaps the best way to soothe and relax your brain is to simply sit quietly for a few minutes. That’s right, meditate. The brain has a pretty heavy workload, after all. So giving it time to cool down, sit back, and take a break from all the hustle and bustle is the ultimate in brain care.
Does meditation really help the brain? Well, after 40 years of research, the verdict is in and it proves that meditation is one of the best (and easiest) ways to improve brain health and protect it from the adverse effects of stress.
Meditation benefits almost every part of the brain. It calms the amygdala and the limbic system, helping us feel less edgy and reactive. It soothes the hypothalamus, rebalancing adrenal output to decrease anxiety and sleeplessness. It strengthens both the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, improving our memories and decision making.
Sitting down in meditation might not feel like you’re doing much. But to your brain, a few minutes of meditation in stillness is like a nice soak in a hot tub or a full body massage. It melts away tension, worry, and stress like nothing else!
Happy Brain, Happy Life!
Remember that your brain health matters as much as your physical health. It’s all connected, after all! Our brains get tired and worn out too! So make time to integrate some brain-healthy habits into your daily routine. Take care of your brain, and your brain will take care of you!
Check It Out!
Centerflow Healing Trauma Solution
Comprehensive Trauma-Healing Program
Sign up today & join this month’s Safe-Connection Group Coaching Call
Wednesday, June 28 at 12PM PT (3PM ET)
Trauma causes a ripple effect that disrupts your life - until you can finally release and heal.
That’s why we created the ultimate at-home solution that makes it easy to free yourself from the trauma in your life!
Centerflow Healing Trauma Solution combines our most advanced neuro-audio technology, 1-on-1 coaching, and group coaching to provide you with the ultimate at-home trauma healing solution.
- SIX powerful trauma-healing solutions that use a mix of our Holosync, Autofonix, and Lateral Carrier Boost technologies to target specific symptoms of trauma.
- FOUR extraordinary bonuses including a listening guide, healing journal, 1-on-1 coaching and monthly Safe-Connection group coaching
It’s our most powerful trauma-healing collection ever!
Wise Words
This Really Happened
After Day 4 I feel more connected to myself and my family members. I feel happy, very relaxed and nothing upsets me. I'm easily able to go with the flow of life instead of feeling overwhelmed or angry so this program is really working well for me. Once again, I feel grateful for the opportunity to do this challenge. I'm looking forward to doing Day 5 now. Thank you.
~Michelle M
5-Day Challenge Participant
In Case You Missed It - Listen to It!
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May Be the Next Health Crisis
By Marc Gilson
June 5, 2023
We Want to Hear From You!
When was the last time you pampered your brain?
Post your story on our Facebook Page.
Not on Facebook? Tell me about the impact that meditation with Holosync has had on your daily life. Stress? Sleep? Weight Loss? Focus? Spiritual Connection? Other? Email your story here.
