Brain Boosters: 5 Habits for a Healthy Mind

The evidence is clear: brain health is crucial for mental health. Like the rest of our body, the brain requires care and maintenance. Luckily for us, there are hundreds of habits you can add to your routine to boost your brain health. For today, let's start by exploring five brain boosters proven to positively impact your mind.

1. Avoid harmful substances

Harmful substances, including alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine can have lasting negative effects on our brains, such as restricting blood flow, reducing cell growth, and disrupting neuronal communication. And it’s not only drugs and alcohol that we need to be mindful of. Some common household products contain dangerous chemicals that may damage the brain. Specifically, organophosphate flame retardants and quaternary ammonium compounds have been shown to damage oligodendrocytes, cells involved in the protection of nerve cells. When you can, opt for natural products or limit the use of chemical cleaners, disinfectants, and hair products in your home.

2. Mind what you eat and drink

Just like the rest of our body, our brain needs fuel. In fact, our brain is the most energy-demanding organ in our entire body, which is why it’s crucial that we provide it with proper fuel. To optimize brain health, avoid processed foods, sugary drinks, and excess caffeine. Work on eating a balanced diet full of leafy greens, whole grains, and other brain-boosting foods. In addition, make sure you are drinking 6 to 8 cups of water per day, as proper hydration has been linked to ideal cognitive function.

3. Work on self-care

Incorporating time for self-care into your daily schedule is an easy, yet effective habit for improving the health of your brain. Various forms of self-care, such as meditation, exercise, and journaling, can boost levels of your brain’s “feel-good” chemicals, like serotonin and dopamine. Regular self-care also combats the negative effects of stress on the mind by lowering levels of cortisol, the brain’s stress hormone. Furthermore, self-care can be linked to increased self-esteem, improved productivity, and reduced risk of burnout.

4. Build and prioritize positive relationships

Humans are inherently social creatures. As such, our minds benefit immensely from relationships and socialization. If you’re looking to build some new connections, join a club, try out a new sport, or find volunteer opportunities in your area. And it’s not only relationships with people that impact mental health, it’s animals too! Besides boosting our mood and reducing stress, research shows that pet ownership is linked to slower cognitive decline. 

5. Exercise your mind!

Our brains need exercise! When our brains aren’t regularly performing a particular task, the neural circuits involved in that task degrade and eventually disappear. When we stimulate our minds, by completing a challenging activity or learning something new, we can help prevent our minds from destroying these connections. In fact, each time you learn something new, your brain forms new connections, which helps your mind stay youthful.

Check out our brain health tips page for more brain boosters!