GREAT ADAPTATIONS

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This page describes the method I use in all my products and services. I’m a firm believer in the power of recognizing how our brains work. With the Brain-Friendly Blogging Method, I help my readers access that power in all aspects of life. Being brain-friendly is really quite simple: It involves being aware of the demands you place on your brain, and how to keep your brain engaged and functioning at its highest level.

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The Brain-Friendly Blogging Method

Hold it right there: stop the overwhelm!

We all have lots of new things to learn these days. It’s all brain-building, from how to use basic tools, to social media etiquette and learning the rules at Party Poker. (http://www.partypoker.com/) But too much information is a recipe for overwhelm and anxiety. Many people feel confused and even frustrated when trying to learn new technology.

Learning technology in a brain-friendly way reduces the overwhelm, while teaching us how to approach communication so that it is also brain-friendly to our readers. Win-Win!

How do we become brain-friendly?

There are five basic elements to a brain-friendly approach. We use all of them in the Brain-Friendly Blogging Method. Each of these elements has been used in studies and all are proven to be very effective learning tools. Resource lists are included on my website.

Five Elements to the Brain-Friendly Blogging Method

1. Become aware of how the brain creates new areas

In my courses, we look at images of our brain neurons as a way to become aware of what’s happening when we learn. We see how neurons connect and how the brain is growing new clusters of information – which amounts to an expanded brain capacity for many different tasks, not just technological learning.

2. Increase playfulness

Engage a memory of play. Think about what you “play at” in your life now. What could bring more playfulness into your life in general? Any babies or toddlers in your life? Kittens, puppies? Find things that draw out your playfulness and engage them more often.

3. Grow curiosity

Approach learning by first asking what you already know about a subject. If you don’t know anything about it, become aware of the questions you have. Allow your question areas to be your first brain awakening for these learning curves.

4. Stimulate specific brain areas

Be aware that tech learning uses up a lot of brain energy. Help your brain stay “up” for it with specific exercises. For example, simply stand at your desk, breathe deep, and raise your arms up so palms touch. Then, lower them gently to your sides. Holding the right arm straight, raise it and cross it over your body so it points to the floor past your left foot. Then do the other arm across the other way, making an “X” with your arms. Uncross back to your sides, and cross them again, several times. Be playful with arm crossing and find a comfortable, fun rhythm to continue this exercise – gently. Cross arms and touch knees, feet. Pull on opposite ear lobes. Crossing stimulates the brain and neural connections. We use many simple exercises in brain-friendly learning.

5. Use good care & feeding practices for brain health

Keep brain-healthy foods and snacks around. Almonds are good brain food, along with fish, spinach, blueberries and strawberries. Drink a little water every hour. Get up, walk, and stretch often. Find music that you enjoy, and listen while you work or take breaks to listen. Remember that learning tech is great for your brain – it’s a language and a culture – and feel good about your efforts to grow in this way.

To continue learning about blogging and online communication in the brain-friendly way, please become part of my community. Subscribe by entering your name and email in the right column on this site, and you will receive the information I send my web community on a regular basis.

To see information about my products and consults, go to How to create online content.

Cheers and happy learning,

Suzanna Stinnett

p.s. Why the silly dog in the picture? I’m glad you asked! Dogs make me happy – and that’s good for my brain. You’ll see lots of dogs showing up in my posts. If you have a great dog photo you’d like to share, be sure to send it to me at: suzanna@greatadaptations.org. Woof!