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New Habits Expand Our Minds—Literally
Posted by Adam Pash at 8:00 AM on May 8, 2008
Developing new habits can jumpstart our creativity and even help us grow new brain cells, reports the New York Times. Research by authors Dawna Markova and M. J. Ryan suggests that stretching—but not stressing—yourself can develop your mind and creative skills.
"Getting into the stretch zone is good for you," Ms. Ryan says [...] "It helps keep your brain healthy. It turns out that unless we continue to learn new things, which challenges our brains to create new pathways, they literally begin to atrophy, which may result in dementia, Alzheimer's and other brain diseases. Continuously stretching ourselves will even help us lose weight, according to one study. Researchers who asked folks to do something different every day—listen to a new radio station, for instance—found that they lost and kept off weight. No one is sure why, but scientists speculate that getting out of routines makes us more aware in general."
The article recommends making continuous but small improvements by practicing a Japanese technique called kaizen to stay in the sweet spot of stretching but not stressing yourself. See also how guest author Jason Thomas practices his personal kaizen. If you're a kaizen practitioner or just a believer in continuous improvement and habit-developing, let's hear how you stay sharp in the comments.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Nu Digi
Posted 9:08 AM 8/5/08
Wow. This sounds like a good excuse to learn new things. So, by replacing an old habit with a new habit, it will help your mind expand. That sounds like something I should get on right now.
I'll start by looking into this.
Nu Digi
rolltimer
Posted 9:41 AM 8/5/08
So, is that Jason in the pic?
rolltimer
Nu Digi
Posted 10:09 AM 8/5/08
@NathanK: Maybe you should try this along with it:
[www.daskeyboard.com]
Nu Digi
NathanK
Posted 9:59 AM 8/5/08
New habit: learn the colemak keyboard layout
www.colemak.com
NathanK
desafinado
Posted 11:11 AM 8/5/08
yeah, i already knew this.
desafinado
Git Em SteveDave
Posted 12:46 PM 8/5/08
@Nu Digi: I like mechanical key switches. Me want.
Git Em SteveDave
philosopher_dog
Posted 12:30 PM 8/5/08
If it helps lose weight I'm all for it! {spoken sarcastically}. It's such a project running this life. Man. Oiling this, tweaking that, hacking here there and everywhere! Phew!
philosopher_dog
Ssscorpion
Posted 2:44 PM 8/5/08
"Sew wha r youz goin 2 do? Arrest mez 4 smoking?"
Ssscorpion
Kinimat
Posted 4:28 PM 8/5/08
Work in a car factory for a couple years and you will grow to hate the word "kaizen".
Kinimat
skimmas
Posted 8:01 PM 8/5/08
very nice article
skimmas
Myles
Posted 9:37 PM 8/5/08
Seems to me this is a better idea than buying bread with "brain" enhancers in it. Stupid bread company...
Myles
Lazarus
Posted 1:49 AM 9/5/08
@Kinimat: Wasnt that the plot of the movie Gung Ho?
Lazarus
mkreed
Posted 12:14 PM 8/5/08
Very interesting article. I've always felt that avoiding stress is vital when trying something new. It makes perfect sense that stress is just one step beyond the constructive, the equivalent of spraining a muscle by pushing it beyond what is wise. Not a good idea, either for exercise or for learning.
mkreed
maltese
Posted 10:33 AM 8/5/08
I always knew my ADD would come in handy!
maltese
amasmiller
Posted 11:42 AM 8/5/08
The NYT article states:
"to decide is to kill off all possibilities but one. A good innovational thinker is always exploring the many other possibilities."
So, it's not good to decide, and always be looking for the answers elswhere?
I'm somewhat confused by what the article is trying to say. Seems like a lot of common sense mixed with a little bit of science the author threw in to add some spice.
amasmiller
minealone6
Posted 12:17 AM 9/5/08
Dang, I was hoping this was an article on how to get you cat to cut back on his "2 pack a day" habit. I blame Hollywood for making it look cool. Guess I'll just have to ask his vet about the patch.
minealone6