As someone who treats pain for a living, Coach Jeff shares with us a few ways he likes to train his brain, since one of the most ground-breaking areas of research in the last 20+ years is the importance of training the brain in people with pain. How we think and act regarding pain is a far better predictor of outcome than range of motion, strength or endurance. There’s research to support that training the brain can help with various psychological issues (stress, anxiety, depression, etc.) and possibly prevent or slow the decline of cognitive disorders (Alzheimer’s, dementia, etc).
Meditate: Personally, I’m not into the whole super-granola, ultra-spiritual “be one with the universe” type of meditation. I view meditation as giving our mind a break from the stressors of everyday life. Our bodies need rest and so do our minds. I try to meditate for just 8-10 minutes once or twice a day. Read “8 minute meditation” by Victor Davich.
♂️ Never stop learning: It is thought that continually challenging our minds may prevent cognitive decline. So keep learning. Read about new things (like pain science, maybe?). Learn new hobbies (maybe learn to ride a motorcycle?). Anything new.
Practice healthy habits: Physical exercise is a great challenge for the brain. Eat plenty of healthy fats. Get QUALITY sleep time. I ditch the TV and phone an hour before bed and use that time to meditate/read. As always, have fun and smile!
