Why are we so ON one about brain health rn
By Meghan Olson, MSW, LCSW
You keep hearing us talk about brain health and you may be wondering what the deal is here. Why do we care? Why does it matter? Why is this something that we are integrating into our practice? Let’s start from square one.
Our brains are involved in everything that we do and everything that we are.
And, given that our passion at unPERFECTED is helping people heal, shed shoulds, remember who they really are, and therefore claim space for their wellbeing, we believe that brain health is a crucial starting point on your wellness journey.
The condition of our brain not only dictates how we feel, but also how we relate to others, how we respond, how we perceive the things around us — really how we move through LIFE.
The fact of the matter is, if our brain isn’t working well, we won’t be either.
“brain health” simplified
So now you may be thinking “yea okay I get it, the brain controls lots of shit”. But what do we mean when we say brain health?
When we are talkin “brain health” we are referring to how well our brain is working at the physiological level. Is it getting all of the things that it needs in order to be functioning the BEST that it can - blood flow, water, anti-inflammatory fuel, etc.? Due to the nature of life, oftentimes the answer to that question is no.
Think of it this way: if you find yourself struggling with anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability, brain fog, memory loss, difficulty connecting with others, confusion, a busy mind, etc., this may be an indicator that your brain needs a little bit more lovin.
how we can turn this shit around
When we shift our attention to start caring about our brains and how we treat them, there are 4 BIG lifestyle components that we need to look at (and really ADJUSTTT honey).
Nutrition
You guessed it — what we eat plays a freakin big role in how our brain functions! Most of us are able to identify what is good vs. bad for our brain (nutrient-dense foods, healthy fats, water, etc. versus processed foods, high sugar, alcohol, etc.). When you go to eat your meal start asking yourself that exact question — how much of this will benefit my brain, and where can I make this meal better? There are also preferred foods per your brain type… more on that in our freebie course which you can access here!
Movement
The brain is fueled by our blood, which means that we want as much blood flow up in our brains as possible. In addition to alla the well-known health benefits to exercise, it’s important to remember that any sort of movement also sends more blood flow up to the brain! TIP: Move your body in any way that feels good for 20 minutes a day.
Sleep
Sleep and recovery are freakin crucial, people! Just like our bodies need rest, our brain does too, and proper sleep hygiene can improve your brain’s overall health & functioning. TIP: Start going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on the weekend.
Thought Management
While managing our thoughts doesn’t seem like it would impact our brain physiologically, we want to inform you that it sure DOES. Negative thought patterns can make changes in brain chemistry & jack up our hormones (adrenaline and cortisol, specifically), which can then worsen our mental health! Mindfulness is KEY.
where brain health meets unperfected living
We constantly preach about the importance of unPERFECTING our lives so that we can make room for what matters. We talk about shedding our “shoulds”, aligning our day-to-day with what really lights us up, normalizing the real & the messy shit that comes with life, dropping perfectionistic standards, and living life for US instead of for everyone around us.
When we make the space for what really matters and what really makes us THRIVE, we are given the opportunity to look inward and notice what areas really needs our attention.
We need to treat our mental health like we do heart health, and we need to recognize that taking physical care of our brain is instrumental in feeling good. When we FEEL good, we can DO good, and we can create the life we want and deserve.
