How Do Different Activities Affect Our Brain? We made a list.
The brain is a complex and powerful organ. It controls every function within our body; it gives orders to our lungs to breathe, hearts to beat, and everything else from our wounds healing to our hair growing!
Do you know how the everyday things we do affects our brain? Our lifestyle plays a massive role in how our brain functions, and how we feel.
Our curiosity led us to create a list of what happens to your brain chemistry while partaking in different activities.
You can use this list to help hack your brain and control your mood!
When You Exercise
Exercising boosts your mood and helps to reduce stress levels. This is because during exercise, the body releases feel-good hormones, which makes us happy. This explains what people refer to as "Runner's High" or that feeling of an immense sense of accomplishment after a good run. More than making us smile after a challenging workout, exercising also helps rid the body of waste materials and toxins that causes us to feel stressed.
On Sugar
Sugar gives your brain an artificial high, or rush of feel-good hormones. Your body likes this rush so much that it can be habit-forming, leading to excessive eating, fat buildup, and other health problems associated with too much sugar consumption.
When We Read
Reading has been cited to activate parts of the brain that stimulate imagination and memory. Reading helps keep the brain active and stimulated by itself instead of external stimuli like television, social media, or sweets. This can lead to strong, long-term memory benefits.
When We Get Sunlight Exposure
The best way to wake up is to get yourself a decent dose of sunlight. That's because hormones are released upon contact with sunlight, and these hormones travel to the brain and act as an internal alarm clock. This lets the brain prepare the body for various activities while also releasing serotonin, a mood-boosting hormone. This explains why "morning people" seem to start the day with a smile on their face, especially if they wake up early and exercise.
On Caffeine
It's no secret that caffeine is a powerful stimulant. When it reaches our brain, it makes us feel alert, opens our eyes, and activates our other senses. Therefore when we're high on caffeine, we begin to react to external stimuli faster.
Caffeine also boosts our focus, allowing us to concentrate easier on one task.
If We Drink Enough Water
Water is indeed critical not just for function but also for survival. Without water, our body will simply not work. In fact, water is so crucial that 80% of our brain is water! When we hydrate correctly, the brain can improve concentration, balance our mood, help us sleep better, boost memory function, and prevent the adverse effects of dehydration.
When We Browse Social Media
The effects of social media aren't that bad, but just like sugar and other sweets, it can be habit-forming. More than giving our brain a false sense of stimulation, it can also diminish our attention span, make us more impulsive when it comes to unnecessary spending, and alter our natural appetite.
Browsing social media too much can also negatively affect our self-esteem and feed into our insecurities. And, of course, it may make the brain "lazy" when it comes to discerning facts from fiction, especially when it comes to political and health topics.
Takeaway…
Knowing how your brain responds to different stimuli can be an essential tool for you. Limiting sugar, utilizing caffeine properly, and understanding the natural rewards associated with exercise, spending time in the sun, and reading can help you live a higher quality of life.
