Students across the nation are heading back into the classrooms, sitting at their desks and, if they're anything like me, zoning out. I know I have company out there in the slacker realm. When I was in school I never truly appreciated how good I had it. All that was expected of me was to go to class and learn, and that seemed like such a hardship. I distinctly remember not going to classes when it rained, or they were too early or just about anything outside of my perfect condition. Now that I am out of school, I look back and just think "you ass". Now I miss the knowledge being pumped into my brain despite my best efforts. I find myself thirty for knowledge and the learning of new skills. Turns out that our brains need these stimuli that I had so flippantly taken for granted. Whether you are in school, going back to school, or simply looking to give your brain the workout that it deserves, these simple activities can keep your brain in peak condition.



1. Learn what the "It" is in "Use It or Lose It". A basic understanding will serve you well to appreciate your brain's beauty as a living and constantly-developing dense forest with billions of neurons and synapses.

2. Take care of your nutrition. Did you know that the brain only weighs 2% of body mass but consumes over 20% of the oxygen and nutrients we intake? As a general rule, you don't need expensive ultra-sophisticated nutritional supplements; just make sure you don't stuff yourself with the "bad stuff".

3. Remember that the brain is part of the body. Things that exercise your body can also help sharpen your brain: physical exercise enhances neurogenesis.

4. Practice positive, future-oriented thoughts until they become your default mindset and you look forward to every new day in a constructive way. Stress and anxiety, no matter whether induced by external events or by your own thoughts, actually kills neurons and prevent the creation of new ones. You can think of chronic stress as the opposite of exercise: it prevents the creation of new neurons.

5. Thrive on Learning and Mental Challenges. The point of having a brain is precisely to learn and to adapt to challenging new environments. Once new neurons appear in your brain, where they stay in your brain and how long they survive depends on how you use them. "Use It or Lose It" does not mean "do crossword puzzle number 1,234,567". It means, "challenge your brain often with fundamentally new activities".

6. We are (as far as we know) the only self-directed organisms in this planet. Aim high. Once you graduate from college, keep learning. The brain keeps developing, no matter your age, and it reflects what you do with it.

7. Explore, travel. Adapting to new locations forces you to pay more attention to your environment. Make new decisions, use your brain.

8. Don't Outsource Your Brain. Not to media personalities, not to politicians, not to your smart neighbors... Make your own decisions, and mistakes. And learn from them. That way, you are training your brain, not your neighbor's.

9. Develop and maintain stimulating friendships. We are "social animals", and need social interaction.

10. Laugh. Often. Especially to cognitively complex humor, full of twists and surprises.

I know that a lot of these seem rather self explanatory but re-emphasizing them never hurts. Your brain is the most valuable gift that you have and it needs the same attention and care that you show to your heart and lungs. Happy learning!

Copyright (c) 2007 Luke Burgis