2.
Meditate
Further reading:
Mind-up
Curriculum – available at some schools.
Mindset
– Carol Dweck
Brain
Rules – John Medina - also
Brainrules.net on the web is excellent.
Good YouTube videos – Anderson Cooper Mindfulness
-
Anything with Jon Kabat-Zinn
Point #1. – Exercise! No surprise that
exercise is good for you. What is surprising is that how good it is for your
brain. John Medina video: about BDNF a chemical that is like fertilizer for
your brain. It is only produced with exercise. Also, exercise changes the brain’s
physical structure. Blood vessels penetrate deeper into the brain and carry
oxygen more efficiently in the brain. Lastly, many recent studies show how
cognition improves with regular exercise.
Point #2. – Meditation! Not what you think…..
(ha ha). Neuroplasticity is the effect that your brain can change. Studies have
shown many benefits to meditation. Notable benefits include: reduced stress,
reduced anxiety, improved memory, ability to concentrate on tasks longer.
Mindful meditation involves being aware and living in the moment. Too often we
worry about the past or the future. Mindful meditation lets you ‘take a break’
and ‘slow down’.
What I’ve learned. When I first heard about a book called
Mindset by Carol Dweck it was the first time I encountered the idea that I
could change my brain. Neuroplasticity was a new term to me and I was excited
by it. I went right to the library and checked the book out. It changed my life
and I recommend this book to everyone I see. When I taught Health and Career
last year to all the five’s and six’s I came across the idea again in the
MindUp curriculum. In this curriculum students learn about the brain and its structure
and they learn about a Core practice. Which is concentrating on the breath.
After working with this and starting to learn more about the benefits I started
practicing myself at home. I noticed changes. I was surprised. I didn’t think I
would ever be someone who meditated. This year my class exercises and meditates
to start every day. I’ve noticed attendance is up. I’ve noticed the quality of
work and attention I get for the hour after we exercise and meditate is better
that what I get for all of the 90 minutes after recess and after lunch.
