Care to zap your brain into shape for a new mental adventure today? It’s the difference between feeling trapped in routines or ruts … and challenging your brain for higher productivity.
Brain fitness often involves doing daily routines in different ways. To the brain, status quo is handled by the basal ganglia … while mental fitness tends to take place in the working memory. 
Can you see how these two brain basics compete daily for your attention? How so?
If your basal ganglia routines win, you’ll likely linger in ruts. In contrast, with a few changed activities, you’ll grow more working memory for adventures. Use more working memory and you also keep your brain alive and well.
Recent research shows how working memory can expand with use. Drawing from your multiple intelligences, why not change one routine each day this week. Each suggestion below draws on a different one of your multiple intelligences.
Basil Ganglia Routine Working Memory Adventure
1 | Play familiar music or none at all | 1 | Select new music to enhance work |
2 | Sit more than move | 2 | Park away from doors – climb stairs |
3 | Discuss work related problems | 3 | Propose change to solve a problem |
4 | Read daily paper | 4 | Read an unfamiliar trade magazine |
5 | Dress in conventional ways | 5 | Wear new colors and styles |
6 | Take advantage of nature after work | 6 | Retrofit workspace as nature friendly |
7 | Enjoy lunch with friends | 7 | Invite person of other culture to lunch |
8 | Go with your strengths | 8 | Develop a weaker intelligence |
How are you doing today when it comes to stretching your brain’s plasticity for mental fitness? Here’s a survey to chart your wins. Growing any new neuron pathways in the direction of success?
