Both of these habits are ways to support cognition, both to power your day and to support long-term brain health. But there’s another habit you may want to consider adding to your morning routine. It’s one that you may not immediately associate with brain health, but it’s a favorite of a neuroscientist we talked to and she says it absolutely helps sharpen the mind while also supporting mental health.
Friederike Fabritius, MS, is a neuroscientist and the author of The Brain-Friendly Workplace. She’s fluent in six different languages and has made a career of applying the latest research on brain health to the workplace. It’s safe to say she knows quite a bit about how to stay mentally sharp. One habit Fabritius likes to start the day with is powerlifting, a competitive strength sport that consists of lifting a heavily loaded barbell for three lifts: a squat, bench press and deadlift. The goal of powerlifting is to lift as heavy as you can. “I'm the current national champion in Germany for bench pressing and record holder. So I train several mornings a week,” she says.
Powerlifting is certainly a way to get stronger muscles, but how does it benefit the brain? “Exercise turns on your brain. It activates your brain because cognition, thinking and motion in the brain are connected,” Fabritius explains. This makes sense when you think about it. Powerlifting requires active thinking about how to maintain proper form, breathe and move through each lift. It requires the brain to send messages to different parts of the body to complete each movement.
Besides helping to support learning and memory, Fabritius says that BDNF also plays a role in mood regulation. Additionally, she points out that dopamine (a neurotransmitter and hormone that plays a key role in the body’s reward system) and serotonin (a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, anxiety and happiness) are both released during exercise. With all of this in mind, it’s easy to see how exercise can be such a powerful mood-booster!
How To Integrate a Brain-Boosting Habit Into Your Morning Routine
Though powerlifting can be a great habit for brain health, if you aren’t used to lifting heavy weights, it may not be the best habit for you. Here’s the good news: Fabritius says that you don’t have to power lift to reap the brain benefits pointed out above; all forms of exercise lead to them. That means if you would rather start your day with a brisk walk, yoga or just dancing around in your room to your favorite song, you’ll still be boosting your cognition.
Related: Thousands of Experts Agree That This Is the #1 Best Way To Keep Your Mind Sharp
With all of this in mind, it’s hard to think of a morning habit that can more profoundly impact the brain than exercise. For Fabritius, that means powerlifting. For you, it might be a different form of exercise. The key is to find some way to move your body in the morning. Not only will you be supporting your brain, you’ll be starting the day with an instant mood booster!
Related: This Everyday Kitchen Staple Can Seriously Boost Brain Health
Sources
Friederike Fabritius, MS,a neuroscientist and the author of The Brain-Friendly WorkplaceBrain-Derived Neurotrophic Growth Factor: A Key Molecule for Memory in the Healthy and the Pathological Brain.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 2019 BDNF Unveiled: Exploring Its Role in Major Depressive Disorder Serotonergic Imbalance and Associated Stress Conditions.Pharmaceuticals. 2023Dopamine. Cleveland ClinicSerotonin: The natural mood booster. Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical SchoolExercise for cognitive brain health in aging.Neurology Clinical Practice. 2018Physical Activity and Brain Health.Genes. 2019 Read More Details
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