What’s Your New Year’s Brain Resolution?
2009 is officially behind us, and as we move into a brand new year, it’s time to make those New Year’s resolutions. I started last year with the goal of a better brain.
After 19 days of dual n back training, I felt sharper and more focused. My productivity increased to the point where I consistently finished my daily “to-do” lists, and my short term memory received a hefty boost.
I tested and reviewed quite a few brain training tools throughout the year and have come to realize that brain training is worth the time and effort and will continue to be a part of my brain-body maintenance.
Growth
This website saw incredible growth last year as almost 200,000 people visited! Just under 30,000 enjoyed a visit in December alone.
Brain Training is clearly becoming a widespread practice, and I am so grateful that you have chosen to be a part of the Brain Training 101 community.
Busy, Busy, Busy
December is one of those months that can grab you by the horns and just not let go. I spent the first week in an intense training to learn how to take this site to a much higher level. (More on that soon!)
I flew home and promptly fell ill for almost 10 days. (Good times!)
I squeezed a birthday in – just barely. (I’m now 36.)
And then came the Christmas rush.
If you’re like me, you’re ready for some normalcy.
My New Year’s Resolution For 2010
On the home front:
I will return to a healthy, brain happy diet. Continue with physical and mental exercise 4-5 times a week. Have increased patience with Zoey as she moves through her teenage dog years. (If you’ve been through this, you know what I’m going through…) And finally achieve a work-life balance. No more 7 day work weeks! :-)
Here at the website:
Bring you a much more in depth look at the tools, food, and methods I use to train and maintain my brain — via videos. I have been tinkering with web video tools, and I think I have the kinks worked out.
Complete the reorganization of the site to offer you more resources and education in one easy to find place.
Install a ratings and review system so that you can see what others think about the tools, professionals and services currently on the market.
What’s Your New Year’s Brain Resolution?
So, let’s hear it! What do you plan to do for your brain in 2010? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Posted: January 1, 2010
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This year, I’d like to be more focused with the things I do so I can finish all the personal projects I set out for myself while juggling several jobs at the same time. This means less TV time, less partying, less of all things unproductive. Instead, I want to devote more time doing my meditations, workout, eating proper diet, traveling and pursuing stuff I’ve never done before like windsurfing, scuba diving, driving during weekends. Oh and I’d like to continue learning French too. :-)
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I want to finish reading my collection of books this year… from self-help to classics and a little bit of suspense and romantic fictions in between. I try to do this by reading a few pages after my meditation every morning, when I’m at the toilet, when I need to de-stress for a few minutes from work, before going to bed, when I’m riding with someone during road trips/trips to the grocery store. I hope this would be enough.
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SuzyTino – You definitely have the reading glasses issue taken care of! :-)
As for resolutions, brain exercise is a fantastic one. We’re finding out that it’s just as important as physical exercise, and building a regular routine is a great way to start 2010.
Stress reduction is a big one too. Prolonged stress has been shown to negatively affect the hippocampus which plays a major role in how our memories are sorted and stored. I wish you well in your journey, and I hope you’ll share your progress with us.
Debbie – Congratulations on your current and future recovery! You sound determined, and you definitely have your plan in place. Have you decided which language you are going to learn?
I am continuing to recover from a global brain injury sustained over 2 and a half years ago. I resolve to fully take advantage of the brain’s neuroplasticity and even further my recovery by doing many things. My speech is still effected. I have resolved to read out loud every day to make some improvement there. I am thinking about doing a computer foreign language course to really get my brain making some new connections. I sure will sound funny, but may get some good results.
Speaking of reading glasses – finding them, or not knowing where they are – has been an ongoing problem for me. My daughter finally made me a necklace so I can hang them around my neck – there they are all day long. It works.
The other thing I did is to go to the dollar store and purchase more pairs for just $1 each. That way I don’t have to worry about them breaking, or loosing them. I leave a pair in the bathroom, as one reader suggested, another one in my purse, one in the camera bag etc.
I used to wear my keys around my neck to, but now I’m using the basket too.
My New Year’s Resolution – start regular brain improvement exercises – and also work on meditation and fitness to reduce stress.
Best of luck to all of you – 2010 is going to be a great year for all of us!
suzytino
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At age 87 this month, I’d like to complete my memoirs and the history of 100 years of a family camp.
Memoirs are a such a special gift. You not only get to reminisce over 8+ decades, but you also have the chance to provide a record of your family history. Good luck to you, and I would love to hear how the writing unfolds.
I’d like to stop forgetting where I put my keys and reading glasses.
Hi Jack,
One way I remember where I set my keys is to have a small basket in my entry way. I always put them in there, so I always know where they are. (The days of me running all over the house looking for them while trying not to be late are thankfully long gone.)
With reading glasses, you can pick a place where you most often use them and return them there each time. You could even set up a valet, box or basket in a central place like the kitchen where your glasses and keys are kept when you’re not using them.
If you tend to do reading in the bedroom, you might think about purchasing a second pair so one always stays in the bedroom.