Mind over matter… ever hear that expression? It holds true. The power of your mental state can help you overcome hardships. However, your brain’s ability to change and adapt is more powerful. The science goes beyond putting yourself in a better frame of mind that positions you to accomplish more, though. Dr. Partha Nandi would like to take a moment to explain the relationship between neuroplasticity and holistic health and how you can apply it to your own life.
What’s Neuroplasticity?
Before delving too far into how to change your mindset, let’s discuss what neuroplasticity is. Children’s brains form new pathways as they’re growing and developing. Each kid’s experiences mold the connections, and even the parents’ parenting style plays a role in the process, helping the child to reinforce certain behaviors and thoughts. They’re all developing new skills during this time that also have an impact. This is referred to as neuroplasticity — how the brain changes as it forms new neural connections. Though you tend to think of the brain forming connections and changing during childhood and adolescence, adults also experience neuroplasticity. They can develop new neural pathways and even reorganize current ones through their habits, hobbies, experiences, and what they learn. The brain officially stops developing at around age 25, but you’re not done fully maturing and growing, which is when neuroplasticity fits in.
How Neuroplasticity Affects Holistic Well-Being
Holistic health is a term that describes an approach to wellness that incorporates your whole person, including your mental, physical, social, and spiritual well-being. It focuses on how these aspects of your health affect your overall health.
Neuroplasticity influences holistic health in a number of ways, such as strengthening your mental resilience. For example, while life may throw you a curveball, you’ll be able to handle it. You’ll calm yourself down and problem-solve, reducing negative stress in your life while maintaining a healthy balance. Negative or positive habits impact your overall health. Prime example: smoking to relieve stress has both negative short- and long-term consequences. On the other hand, if you use exercise as a way to alleviate stress, you’re implementing healthy coping mechanisms. You can train
your brain to remove negative habits and include positive ones only. That’s all possible because of neuroplasticity.
Maybe your unconstructive thoughts are what’s hindering your holistic well-being. You may tell yourself you can’t do this or that. Or, perhaps you’re telling yourself you’re just not good enough.
Rather than keep yourself in that mindset, you can retrain your brain to center on your strengths and tell yourself that you are good enough and that it’s possible to accomplish whatever you
want. You’ll be able to get over this hurdle that may feel like an impasse.
You can improve your social interactions when you develop emotional intelligence and better place yourself in another person’s situation. Your brain development influences this.
Ways to Improve Neuroplasticity and Your Health
Several tips can help if you’re interested in improving neuroplasticity so you feel better.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Getting a refreshing night’s sleep that powers you throughout the day is part of the process. Adequate, quality sleep supports your brain in strengthening and rewiring neural connections. You can enhance your memory, which helps you to accomplish tasks throughout the day better and also assists you with remembering more of the events that happen throughout your life. Not to mention, when you don’t get enough sleep, it affects your emotions, and you may be more irritable than usual. By sleeping enough, this isn’t an issue.
Plus, your brain will function more optimally, so you’ll be sharper and more able to concentrate.
Consider Yoga or Meditation
You can encourage neuroplasticity with yoga or meditation. This is the time for you to relax, unwind, and give your brain time to rest from stress. In terms of neuroplasticity, you can reduce stress hormone levels and improve your memory and concentration. These practices even improve your heart rate variability, which affects your body’s parasympathetic system. It’s even possible to alter your pain perception through mindful practices.
Take Up a New Hobby or Learn a New Skill
Learning new things stimulates your brain to form new connections. You could learn to play an instrument or speak a new language. You might take up pottery, golfing, or gardening. The skills or hobby you take up don’t matter as much as you’re taking in new information.
When you have stronger neural connections and more of them, you can minimize mental decline as you age. As a result, you’ll improve your health in the long run as well as in the short term.
By putting yourself in a positive mindset and being prepared to learn and grow, you can improve your overall health. You’ll strengthen current neural connections and form new ones in the process. Ultimately, you’ll have a brighter today — and even tomorrow in the process.
Bio:
Dr. Partha Nandi is a gastroenterologist, Emmy-winning television host, and bestselling author, known for creating and hosting the medical lifestyle show “Ask Dr. Nandi,” which reaches over 95 million homes in 90 countries. He serves as the Chief Health Editor at ABC Detroit and holds the position of President and Chief Medical Officer at Pinnacle GI Partners, a leading gastroenterology practice near Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Nandi’s latest New York Times bestselling book, “Heal Your Gut, Save Your Brain,” was published by Mayo Clinic Press.
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