Why We Don’t Need to Remember Everything

AHA Publisher — Fri, 06 May 2022 07:00:30 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – In this podcast (episode #376) and blog, I talk about memory and how to improve it. We actually aren’t supposed to remember everything. The brain is designed to forget things that are not useful to us. In fact, trying to remember everything can cause neurochemical chaos in our neural circuitry because we are designed to selectively remember what interests us and what we need for particular tasks. However, we can also forget information because we did not build memory properly. This means that we build memories incorrectly and we cannot access information we need when we need it. Our memory is also affected when we stop learning. Our minds grow through deliberate and intentional deep thinking, which is necessary to keep the brain healthy. Chaotic thinking creates neurochemical chaos in the brain that can also affect memory. This is why it is so important to take the time to think about our thinking and control what we allow into our heads. Never let thoughts just wander through your mind unchecked, because thoughts are real things that have real effects in the brain and body. To practice doing this, focus on the “now” moment and observe your thoughts and feelings, perhaps writing down your thoughts in a journal to become aware of and organize them. As I have mentioned before, we merge with our environments because of the plasticity of our brains. Essentially, our brains respond to our minds (our thinking, feeling and choosing). How we react to the circumstances of life, and whatever we focus on the most, will be wired into our brains and influence our mental and physical health, which in turn impacts our ability to recall information. We need to pay attention to our external and internal (thought) environments, because if we keep focusing on our toxic thoughts, they grow and damage the brain. Memory issues are just some of the problems that can occur when we don’t pay attention to our thinking. So, take a few moments every day to write down what is happening in your life, what you feel, and how this is affecting your thinking. Analyze the relationship between your environment and your thoughts, and think of ways you can improve your external and internal environments to improve your mental health and ability to build memory. Additionally, toxic schedules can have a negative impact on our memory. Living under an unnecessary sense of urgency creates toxic stress that causes the blood vessels around the heart to constrict, restricting blood flow and oxygen to the brain and resulting in foggy thinking and memory problems. Rest is not just a “luxury”. The clock should not rule our lives. To incorporate more rest in your life, schedule in times to switch off. Give yourself time to breathe: get coffee with a friend, go on a date night or treat yourself to a spa day! This also means taking a break from technology! The average person spends up to eight hours a day using different technology. The fast pace of being “online” can create a toxic habit because itstimulates a temporary high, which can rob us of the ability to think deeply that is essential for good memory. The internal circuits of the brain tend to disconnect when we use technology for long periods of time, and this can lead to feelings of depression and memory loss. Thankfully, some of the worst effects of electronic devices, including their effects on our ability to think and learn, can be mitigated when devices are used less than two hours a day. When we find ways to limit our use of technology throughout the day, such as taking the time to go for a long walk in the park, playing with our children or pets, or reading a good book in the bath, we improve our mental and brain health. These “off” moments give the brain time to reboot, heal and build healthy memories. This includes social media! Instead of spending hours on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, limit your time on social media, spending an hour or so every day reading a newspaper or magazine article, or a chapter in a book, and thinking deeply about the information you have just read. Ask yourself what the author or authors are trying to say, answer your question by writing down several points, and discuss what you have read with a family member, friend or colleague. Thinking deeply about information fires up your mind, allowing you to build healthy memories and succeed in life! Some medications, particularly psychotropic drugs (such antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, antipsychotics and stimulants) can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the brain. This has been scientifically shown to contribute to memory issues, amongst a myriad of other issues that can affect the systems and organs of the body. Always weigh the risks and benefits of these medications with a medical professional, and if you decide to come off your medication, do so under medical supervision, as withdrawal can be a challenging process. At the end of the day, it is important to remember that the brain can heal, change and grow new brain cells, so never give up hope! Memory is not fixed and determined. The more we learn to use our brain in a healthy way by thinking good thoughts, eating healthy, doing exercise and living fulfilled and enjoyable lives, the more we can build healthy memories and increase our intelligence. Remind yourself of this every day! To read the original article click here.

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Why You Can’t Pay Attention + How to Think Deeply Again (with Johann Hari)

AHA Publisher — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 08:00:02 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – In this podcast (episode #353) and blog, I speak to journalist and best-selling author Johann Hari about his incredible new book Stolen Focus, why our inability to focus, think deeply and pay attention has dramatically increased, and what we can do about this as individuals and as a society. As Johann points out in Stolen Focus, “We think our inability to focus is a personal failing–a flaw in each one of us. It is not. This has been done to us–by powerful external forces. Our focus has been stolen.” Our culture has made it harder and harder to pay attention—this is something that affects us all. Indeed, research shows that the average college student now only focuses for 63 seconds on any one task, and the average office worker for only 3 minutes. But why is this happening? Johann discovered there are twelve major factors affecting our ability to focus and think deeply, including the business model behind modern technology and social media. This model relies on advertisements and collecting complex information about you to sell to advertisers. When you put down your phone or device, both these revenue streams go away—so they essentially need to keep you “logged on” for as long as possible. These companies have deliberately designed these platforms to “hack” your attention for as long as possible, which includes a system of rewards that you learn to crave (such as likes on your photo) and increasing your anger levels (so you think less clearly and more impulsively). These companies are financially dependent on distracting you. However, Johann also learned how, as individuals and collectively, we can get our focus back, if we are willing to fight for it. We can do things like: Demanding that the business model of these companies change, such as shifting to a subscription model or type of public ownership option. Companies shouldn’t be able to discover new ways to hack our attention and sell it to the highest bidder. Reading more, and not just on a screen! Reading is one of the most important forms of deep focus that most people experience in their lives. However, in the last 20 years there has been an extraordinary collapse in reading, which is both a symptom and cause of the current attention crisis. Reading actual books/articles/papers/magazines (not just on a screen!) can help us to learn how to think in a more linear way again, which, in turn, can help us maintain focus in a calmer way, while reading novels can help us also become more empathetic. So, instead of just letting our consciousness be shaped by angry social media feeds or short bursts on information on a screen, we should try to incorporate more reading, including novels, into our everyday lives. Letting children play, play, play! This is a great way to increase a child’s ability to focus, and teaches them how to manage their stress and anxiety, work with others, and discover what fascinates them and makes them interested in learning. letgrow.org is a great organization that is doing this right now! To read the original article click here.

The post Why You Can’t Pay Attention + How to Think Deeply Again (with Johann Hari) appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

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Why We Don’t Need to Remember Everything

Why You Can’t Pay Attention + How to Think Deeply Again (with Johann Hari)