Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

This past fall, I had the pleasure of reading a book entitled: Do the Next New Thing: Embrace Uncertainty and Discover Purpose, Happiness, and Friendship written by Pamela Lamp. The book made an impression on me and prompted me to challenge interested women in my Life Balance After 50 community to do something new each day in the month of January.

The new thing did not need to be huge. It just needed to be new.

As I spoke with participants throughout the month and reflected on my own experiences with the challenge, I had a few takeaways that I wanted to share.

Doing New Things Is a Keystone Habit

A keystone habit is one which has a domino effect on other aspects of our day and our lives. An exercise routine is an example of a keystone habit. When we have a consistent exercise routine, we tend to feel better throughout the day, eat better, and get more done overall.

The habit of doing new things also has a domino effect. We feel good about ourselves. We are creating the habit of pushing through our anxiety and our negative core beliefs and trying something new or doing something differently. By doing this regularly, it becomes easier and less intimidating.

And by doing this regularly, everything becomes easier and less intimidating. Spread across all areas of our lives.

We Are Often Very Hard on Ourselves to Our Detriment

I heard from several participants along the way who became frustrated with themselves to the point of throwing in the towel when they missed a day or two or three along the way. This “all or nothing” thinking can be a mindset block for many of us. If we don’t do something one day, we just give it up entirely. This practice can affect our self-esteem and continue to increase our feelings of being a “failure.”

This is especially true for those of us who are perfectionists – a very common theme among women in our age bracket.

As is the case with many of our core beliefs, we’ve carried them around for so long that we can’t just wish them away. However, being aware of them and recognizing what is happening can help each of us to pick ourselves up and continue on with what we are trying to achieve because we know that it’s our thoughts that are holding us back and nothing more.

We can also learn to give ourselves grace and encouragement along the way – just as we would to our best friends.

Being Present in the New Thing Is a VERY Important Component

This is so important not just with the “new thing” challenge but with everything that we do in our lives and throughout our day. There were days during the challenge where I was trying to think of something new to do that day just to be able to write it in my tracker and check it off for the day. It was not necessarily something enjoyable nor was I present. I just wanted to get it done and cross it off my list.

We are at a point in our lives where doing something without being fully present for it is simply a waste of our precious time.

On one of the days, I decided I was going to bake cookies. This was not a brand new thing for me, but I have not spent a Sunday baking cookies in years, so it counted, as far as I was concerned.

I was FULLY present for this new thing. It was a cold wintry Sunday, and I had a fire going. I mixed up the batter and got the first batch into the oven. My husband came in and unwrapped the chocolate kisses that went onto the cookies and we had a fun moment. I loved the way the kitchen smelled, and I had a moment of gratitude when they came out of the oven and I realized I hadn’t lost my touch.

That Sunday, I felt accomplished. I had done my new thing and was fully engaged and present for it.

That’s what it’s all about. We need to challenge ourselves to continuously be trying new things – even if we’re scared to. It doesn’t need to be every day. Nor do the new things need to be huge. We just need to keep doing them.

And, we need to be present for them.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Are you open to trying new things? When was the last time you tried something new? What was it? What was the experience like? Have you done a month-long challenge of doing new things?

It girls don’t get cold.

It girls don’t get cold.

It girls don’t get cold.

Exercise is good for the heart, bones, and muscles. Did you know it’s also good for the brain? Recent studies present exercise as a key player in preserving brain function as we age. Fit body, sharp mind – what better combination!

There are different ways to aid and improve
cognitive ability.

One way is combining the powerful effects of various
exercises and movement to advance brain function on many levels. Modified
training processes are provided for those with physical disorders.

This is something I have been working on
extensively within my own coaching practice, especially when educating and
training those over 50 towards active ageing. Since joining my classes, many
participants have noticed overall improvements including learning, memory, and
attention span.

Among others, we have utilised the power of boxing drills to help with cognitive ability.

What Is Cognitive Function?

Cognitive function is a mental process allowing
us to carry out tasks as in, receiving, storing retrieving, and processing information
from the outside world.

Cognitive functions include memory, perception,
decision-making, problem-solving, attention span, and language. Each one works
to help you process information.

Why Is Cognitive Function Important?

As we age, our normal brain function may start
to decline. This can occur from as early as the mid-40s. Whoops! Parked the car
at a busy shopping outlet and forgotten where you parked? Or put the milk in
the pantry again?

Finding ways of keeping cognitive faculties in
tip top condition is vital at any age. And the best part of that is we can
begin to see improvements at any age with consistent work.

How Can Exercise and Movement Help Maintain Mental Fitness?

For
one, exercise and movement send oxygen-rich blood flow to the brain. They also stimulate
the brain’s ability to maintain old neural connections and make new ones.

Additionally,
they increase brain structure that is important to memory and learning. And
finally, they help integrate the left and right hemispheres to connect and
coordinate.

What Sort of Exercise Can Help?

There are so many different ways you can give
your brain and body a workout at the same time. Take a look at the short video showing
several ways you can easily add this form of training into your life.

Other ways to incorporate this form of
exercise:

Navigation

Trail walking, hiking, or exploring new
terrain all use navigational skills that boost brain plasticity and help in the
formation of functional brain pathways. These activities are classified as
technically difficult due to the different gradients and terrain under foot
which also uses brain power.

Coordination

Ball sports require different skills and
cognitive ability where you need to think and act quickly.

How Often Should You Perform These Exercises?

American health guidelines suggest 150 min minimum a week of moderate intensity exercise (slightly out of breath, can still hold a conversation) or 75 min a week of vigorous intensity exercise (cannot hold a conversation) or a combination of both.

Combining the form of brain and body exercise shown
in the video above would be considered as moderate and would count towards the
above 150 min total. It’s highly beneficial to add 20 minutes of this form of
exercise twice weekly after your morning walk.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How do you combine exercise and brain power to help with cognitive function? Do you need some support with fitness and health? What do you find most difficult in coordinating physical and mental activities? Please share in the comments below.