GREAT ADAPTATIONS

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I’m writing about my experiences at Social Media Camp, and all the gazillions of connections it triggered, over at the Examiner.

Here’s the link for the first article, “Inside the brain of social media, my brain and Erica O’Grady”

And here’s the second one, “Making connections with the business-builders in social media.”

There’s much more to come, as I can’t seem to process the information quickly enough before it mushrooms into another world of its own, which I then have to navigate.

I think it’s time for a brain break myself!

cheers

Suzanna

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I’ve been looking for something to get my energy going, since the smoke in the air right now is really slowing me down. Referring to the book “Brain Longevity,” which I have used for years as a source of information about increasing brain power, I found this exercise which I once used often to restore my energy. It’s a good one.

The Breath of Fire increases mental and physical energy – try doing it for two or three minutes.

Here’s the science part: From a Western perspective, the Breath of Fire – which employs quick abdominal breaths – is believed to be effective because it stimulates the splanchnic nerves in the abdominal cavity. Stimulation of these nerves causes the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine.

To do this exercise, breathe through your nostrils rapidly – more than one inhalation per second. Do not pause between inhaling and exhaling.

You should inhale by bringing your diaphragm down rather than up. Breathe from your diaphragm, with your chest relaxed. Focus on your navel area.

You might experience a mild feeling of lightheadedness. However, this is likely due to increased alertness. Clinical studies have indicated that while the carbon dioxide level in the blood remains normal, the oxygen level actually increases during the Breath of Fire. Other studies indicate that the Breath of Fire produces alpha rhythms in the brain. This is probably why the exercise is able to simultaneously create increased calmness and increased alertness.

This breathing exercise may work by increasing oxygen delivery to the brain, improving neuronal metabolism. The neurons are thereby rejuvenated.

Some people use the Breath of Fire for quick energy in the afternoon—instead of a candy bar or cup of coffee. I’m using it today to relieve my brain fog.

If this breathing exercise does not give me the wakefulness I am looking for, I’ll turn to another tried-and-true brain refresher: an afternoon nap.

Suzannna

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Most of us have tried to change our behavior at some time or other. Some people attempt this almost every day, becoming inspired about the whole new life they are going to live, making huge promises to themselves and to others, only to return to the exact same behaviors the next day – or around the time of the next meal, to be more precise. Our brains respond to the deepest hardwiring, and that revolves around survival. Once you get hungry or tired, or respond to the stress of living today, you are once again deep in the ruts you have developed in your mind throughout your life.

The idea that thoughts create our reality is true for this one reason if no other. We think the same things over and over, and our entire physiology follows that thought pattern, running us through our hours and our days. Is there anything that can actually change these patterns?

Some scientists say no. Research has shown a very thick resistance to any real change in the life of an adult. To find a way around this reality which affects every human, one must create new patterns and find many ways to trigger the new, more desired behavior which one hopes will eventually result in a different outcome. Pay attention to the last part of that last sentence.

“Find many ways to trigger…” This is the essence of giving mental energy to desired behaviors in a way that can produce real change. Some examples of triggering the desired thought patterns are posting notes for yourself, having a friend participate by calling you or sending you a text message several times a day, attending groups regularly who are focused on the same kinds of changes. To change your life, you must change your life. It would be wonderful if we could just make a promise to ourselves in a moment of inspiration and have that be the force that moves us through a change, but it does not work that way. If you are a person who wants to make change in your life, you may have read many books and articles on how to create a new reality for yourself. You tell me. Have you accomplished your new goal? Reading about and thinking about change are part of the same mental habit which you are trying to escape.

People who have actually managed to make real change in their lives have employed a series of new patterns over time. The new habits can replace the old ones, draining the undesired brain area of its energy while it is being diverted to the new thought processes. The most productive way to get rid of a bad habit is to focus on a new one and put active, enthusiastic energy into accomplishing it.

Is there something you’ve been thinking you’d like to do for yourself? How about starting a new habit today? What might that be?

Suzanna

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Today I’m sending you over to my blog on the Examiner site, where I posted today about the desire for challenge and meaning in the Boomer demographic. My Examiner blog is called Web 55.0 Examiner.

Here, I’m posting an inspiring piece by John Gomperts, who wrote the foreword to the study called “Great Expectations.” His perspective on Boomers reaching for meaning and purpose is right along the lines of what I’m up to on this blog. We are seeing a convergence now between the accessibility of online communication and the health and healing of our cultures as well as our tremendous need for innovation in these times. We are reinventing how to take care of ourselves and each other, and the Internet is playing a huge role.

Here’s the foreword:

“The aging of America is likely to be the biggest demographic story of our times. Though the statistics about the changes in the make-up of the American population have become familiar, they are nonetheless breathtaking. The largest generation ever to pass through its 40s and 50s is now moving into its 60s. In five years, 20 percent of the population will be over 60. This will bring profound changes to schools and universities, to health care and housing, to the workplace and civil society, to virtually every institution in our lives.

In 2005, the MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures “New Face of Work” Survey found that boomers have a strong desire to launch a new chapter in their working lives that involves significant social contribution. People over 50, especially adults between 50 and 55, showed a surprisingly high level of interest in making shifts from their intense midlife careers to new pursuits that improve lives in their communities.

The boomer generation is known for wanting choice. And every study to date has found that boomers are not looking for busy work. They are looking for meaning and purpose. They are looking for interesting and challenging opportunities to make an impact on big societal problems, from education to the environment, hunger to homelessness to health care. As the President of Civic Ventures, the CEO of Experience Corps, and a VolunteerMatch Board Member, I am particularly encouraged by the findings in “Great Expectations: Boomers and the Future of Volunteering.” This study underscores the opportunity for nonprofits to engage the time and talent of this exceptional generation and the promise of the Internet as a tool to recruit them.

With knowledge and investment we can transform the aging of the baby boom generation from a potential crisis into an historic opportunity. There are millions of talented, experienced Americans ready to roll up their sleeves. All they need now is a great opportunity.”

See you soon,

Suzanna Stinnett

How could we quantify the collective experience, skills and knowledge of the baby boomer demographic? This is one massive convergence of time and place, this twinkling, decades-reaching, ever-longer-lived group of - um, shall we say, “seniors?”

The brains of Boomers must be mined. Contained therein are solutions, innovations, social histories, and the wisdom of time, to say nothing of some pretty good grammar.

With the current models coming into play where the average person can put together a website and start downloading their knowledge to a community they proscribe, there’s no excuse for losing all that accumulated savvy and smarts.

Give it up, Boomers! You know stuff, and we want to learn it! We need you! Besides, putting yourself through the brain challenge required to learn a little bit about the Internet will make you smarter too. So skip the crosswords this week and do some research about teaching online.

I’m doing my part with some of these posts. Check out this post about the Blogosphere (click on the blue word), or subscribe to my e-mail list for some special articles about the emerging models for teaching online. And if you have questions about this groovy world I’m peddling, go ahead and post ‘em in the comments section. That’s what I’m here for.

See you later,

Suzanna

“You must sleep sometime between lunch and dinner, and no halfway measures. Take off your clothes and get into bed. That’s what I always do. Don’t think you will be doing less work because you sleep during the day. That’s a foolish notion held by people who have no imaginations. You will be able to accomplish more. You get two days in one – well, at least one and a half.” – Winston Churchill

Naps are still taking a long slow turn out of the realm of perceived laziness. What Churchill had discovered, however, is that napping gives a person far more high-energy alertness than the time the nap takes out of the day. And it can do much more than that.

Sleep experts propose that napping should have the status of daily exercise. Studies show that most people are chronically sleep-deprived. These sleepy workers make more mistakes, cause more accidents, and are more susceptible to heart attacks and digestive troubles. NASA’s studies show that 24-minute naps significantly improve the alertness and performance of their pilots.

A reviving-type nap should last no more than 30 minutes. After that amount of time, the body will lapse into a deeper sleep which is difficult to wake from, and may change the body’s clock. A 20 minute nap taken about eight hours after waking from the night’s sleep is shown to be far more helpful than adding that 20 minutes to the long sleep.

The ideal time for a nap is after lunch – if lunch occurs midday. Naps taken later in the afternoon will tend to disturb the sleep cycle. If you are going through a particularly stressful time, recovering from illness or injury, or are under treatment for cancer, naps can be highly beneficial even when you get adequate sleep at night.

Brain Booster: A short afternoon nap, with a cup of black or green tea to ease into wakefulness. Enjoy a productive, fulfilling evening with your brain cells firing, smooth and ready.

I’m curious about people who have an alternative lifestyle, particularly bloggers and online communicators who can work any time of the night or day. If you’re one of these, let me know how you’ve altered your sleep patterns - if at all. Have you found you work best in the middle of the night? Do you nap? Do you forego sleep? Do you blog in your sleep?

Just curious,

Suzanna

Scientists have only begun to discover the health benefits of green tea. A recent study at the University of Purdue concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. And the Chinese have used green tea as medicine for over 4,000 years, treating everything from headaches to depression. There is also evidence that drinking green tea reduces total cholesterol and improves the balance of good-bad cholesterol in the bloodstream.

Studies vary in the recommended amounts of green tea, but to receive real benefit for the immune system, protection from cancer, relief of rheumatoid arthritis, and lowering of cholesterol, you would need to drink four to five cups per day.

Black tea has on average about 80% more antioxidant capacity than green tea. In one test by Italian researchers, drinking a single cup of strong black or green tea revved antioxidant activity in the blood by 41 to 48%.

You can benefit from just a couple of teaspoons of milk in your tea, as it releases the antioxidants. Any more than that will neutralize the value. Some sources claim that any milk neutralizes the antioxidants.

Studies indicate that eating antioxidants even late in life can help reverse mental decline that has already occurred. That’s really good news. So don’t hesitate to discover and begin your best brain routine.

Suzanna

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These habits are the premium ways to keep your brain from growing – and guarantee that you’ll start forgetting everything you want to remember by the time you’re 40. The antidotes, of course, reverse the whole process – so don’t read them unless you really want the euphoric experience of constant brain growth for the rest of your life! CAUTION: Reading this article WILL trigger some new neural connections. Sorry about that. It’s just how it works.

Number Five: SKIP BREAKFAST.

The brain operates on glucose. It can only store about 10 minutes’ worth of usable sugar, so by morning it is seriously deprived. If you skip breakfast, you can keep it in that state all day! Skipping breakfast lends itself to several brain maladies, most notably depression and anxiety.

ANTIDOTE: Eat something. Almost anything. That raspberry croissant with your coffee will give you a huge boost of sugar, and screw up your insulin response at the same time, but it’s still way better than nothing. Most people do well with a little bit of protein first and some carbs after that. P.S.: Chocolate is, as you may have heard, a powerful antioxidant and brain booster. However, look for the purest form of chocolate available, as it loses most of its magical powers when heated. The best I know of is coming from Sunfood: Organic cacao nibs. (Crumble the bitter nuggets onto something slightly sweet and it’s fantastic.)

Number Four: DEHYDRATE YOURSELF.

Avoid water. Drink only the things that further dehydrate you, like triple frappucinos, Mickey Big-Mouths and Hornitos. Side benefits of dehydration include headaches and irritability. Cool!

ANTIDOTE: Drink a glass of water when you get up and more between meals. It works better if you also get some electrolytes in there, which you can do by adding a few grains of unprocessed salt (most sea salts have the essential minerals intact). The milk of green coconuts has great electrolytes too. You can even count that green tea (if it’s brewed, not commercially processed), and get major antioxidants at the same time. This is big league stuff, only for those interested in innovation and power over their own lives.

Number Three: BE STILL.

Move as little as possible. Sit on your couch with your laptop and move only the index finger and middle finger of your right hand for hours at a time. This will reduce circulation to the point where no brain growth whatsoever is possible. Zilch. Also, it will make your neck freeze up, which helps restrict blood flow to the brain.

ANTIDOTE: Stand up and stretch your arms over your head, then reach down to the floor. Now that you’ve got a head rush, step out around the coffee table and walk across the room to the front door. Don’t tell anyone you’re leaving. Walk outside and down the street, swinging your arms. Go all the way to the stop sign before you turn around. When you go back in the house, find the yoga schedule in the stack of papers on your kitchen table. Attend the very next possible class. Other options include bike rides, tree climbing, and special marathons involving mangoes and a partner.

Number Two: DEEPEN YOUR DEBT.

Stress yourself out by consistently living outside your means. Buy something every day or so that you don’t need and didn’t know about before the infomercial. Use credit, and pay only the minimum on your cards. As your debt load eclipses your income, the resulting stress will produce a constant stream of the stress hormone cortisol, effectively eliminating your ability to use short term memory, which will spiral into more stress as you ponder the life of a relative who has Alzheimer’s disease.

ANTIDOTE: Start collecting stuff you already have and placing it into a pile to be sold. Really look at the things you have and see if you love them enough to pay their rent (storage!). That’s what I thought. Pretend you are getting ready for an extended period of travel, which could result in actually doing that. Give away anything you can’t easily sell. Realize that anything you will ever need will be readily available, since practically everyone has a glut of stuff in their garage and is now auctioning it online for pennies. Learn the difference between distress and eustress. Learn stress relief techniques.

Number One: BE REPETITIVE.

Do the same thing over and over and over. Caution! Your brain will totally wake up and grow if you change something automatic, like how you brush your teeth. Just noticing how you do something will create new neural growth, so I may be doing you a disservice by telling you this. The older the habit, the more brain growth you’ll get by changing it. The tiniest shift will result in unseen benefits down the line. Let me repeat. Change nothing or risk brain growth. Oh, and NEVER evaluate your own thinking, because if you do that, they will instantly change! Be adamant that your thought patterns have nothing to do with your life experience. Like a parolee returning to the cell, same thoughts equals same actions equals same outcomes.

ANTIDOTE: Upon awakening, throw pillows straight at the ceiling. Get out of bed on your palms. Doesn’t the world already look different? Face away from the mirror while combing your hair. Break routines in little ways. The brain gets very interested when you do this. New chemical cascades result. Moods improve. Coping skills expand. Giggling may occur. Find ways to remind yourself throughout the day to make little changes. The nervous system will send signals to the brain that things have changed, and it will grow in response. Especially effective: Interact with people in new ways. Give just a little bit more love. Discover and go outside your dominant mode. Imagine that you are vastly more creative than you’ve ever believed. Notice the color red today, yellow tomorrow. Look at the edges where things come together. Observe how you go across thresholds. And breathe.

Yours,

Suzanna

Dr. Frank Lawlis has done a great job of describing the steps to enhance creativity in his book, “The IQ Answer.” Other authors have described similar steps. Let’s go over these basic concepts which can be creatively applied to your blog writing with great results.

Immerse Yourself in Your Topic

The first step is immersion. This is when you start gathering information about the creative challenge you have in front of you. If you are blogging as a way to make a living, you are paying close attention to your readership. Few things are as productive for your long-term goals as learning everything you can about your readers. Who are they? Where do they live? What do they do for recreation? While you immerse yourself in the material, keep asking yourself questions. Ask yourself what you know about the topic, what you want to know. Make a list of what you don’t know. This is an exercise which involves many brain areas.

Incubation

Next, you will start to incubate. You have to go away from the information onslaught and let your own thoughts and ideas percolate up. Now the creative process is gearing up. If you can do this without being frightened, you are ahead of most people. For a lot of ambitious types, it is very hard to move away from the work at hand. The sensation of gearing up your brain is like traveling to a new planet. Your habitual brain normally fears this change and will let you know with anxiety and strange little fear-stories. You can keep your brain in a more creative mode by using music, movement, retreating from noise, turning off the TV and the radio, and doing breathing exercises.

Encouraging Your Brain’s Pathways

The next stage is when you use symbols to encourage communication pathways in your brain. As Dr. Lawlis states, “Every brain is hardwired with preset images, visual representations of spirals, lattices, webs and geometric figures.” If you like to doodle, this is a good time to make use of that habit. Allow your hardwiring to present itself on the page. When you do this, you are allowing your body to send you signals. Your mind responds to this emerging information and your creativity is deepening as you allow yourself to express these primitive mental pathways. Another amazing step in this stage is to create a mind map, drawing out circles and connecting lines that mirror how your brain is organizing information. Look at the photo of a mind map I’ve included with this post. Don’t imitate it, draw from your own brain’s patterns. Be loose.

Evaluate and Filter Out

Now comes the evaluation part. Look back on what you have done and filter out everything that seems mundane or just doesn’t interest you. Find some part of your recent creative journey and focus on it, elaborating and enhancing that pathway. Through this exercise, you may find a whole new avenue you have never considered. You may very well discover that you are quite good at something creative which you have never consciously known! For your blogging topics, you may see a vein of gold you haven’t noticed before.

What areas of your blog writing seem to need a shot of creative juice?

Suzanna

Can you remember what a normal morning was like fifteen years ago? Well, some of you weren’t actually adults then, you cute little things. The rest of you out there who were in the work world in 1993, or the college world, or some equivalent, think back.

Attack of the Killer Web

We were already in information overload. But in ’93, we could still afford to ignore a lot of the distractions. Attention deficit disorder was something that a few unfortunate children seemed to have. We had pagers (”pay-jerz”), they actually made some things more convenient. And we were sanguine in our ignorance, oh, if only we knew. Technology was deepening its grip.

Zoom forward to today. The Internet is a freak of nature, a pulsing million-tentacled relentlessly self-improving spider-bot and every thin little leg of it carries potential we can scarcely afford to ignore. What you need to know is that processing information, especially visual information, takes a huge toll on our energy and our brain’s reserves.

How do our brains deal with this? Well, there’s overload, overwhelm, overcommitment, over-the-top, martinis and restless nights. And that does not bode well for the big gray ball in your skull. Not at all.

Feed the Processor

The human brain keeps surprising us, and I bet it always will. From the 80s, with Peter Russell’s depiction of a “Global Brain,” right through today and beyond, we keep expanding our ability to think as individuals and as a collective. If we can keep our individual brains healthy, there really is no limit to the brilliance we can attain – the problems we can solve – the fun we can have – the innovations we can achieve - and indeed, the money we can make. All this information processing we do upstairs is making demands that we can supply if we just pay a little attention to what’s needed.

So here’s the “little shift” du jour:

Make a note and post it next to your screen. It should say this:

BREATHE IT – DRINK IT – MOVE IT

BREATHE. (Those 70’s middle management types had it right.) And do it right now. Breathe deep, slow, hold it for a count of four, breathe out, slow, all the way, more than that, until you trigger your diaphragm to pull in the next breath. HEY! You just reset your breathing, and your brain is much happier. Do that two more times.

DRINK WATER. (Tap water is highly likely to be just fine, by the way.) Put lemon in it. Add a little juice or something, but mostly, drink water. There’s plenty of evidence that we are chronically dehydrated, so for heaven’s sake, have a glass of water.

GET UP AND MOVE. Circulate, stretch, shake your arms, do a little jig, go walk your dog, sweep the porch, walk, run, jump. This should be at the top of the list, but all three of these are super important.

Say Thanks.

Shift your brain chemicals into the green zone, the go zone, the keep-it-brilliant zone, by loving life, paying attention to what you love, and embracing the day with gusto.

How do you balance the brain drain? Know any good tricks?

Suzanna