Make Summer 2020 Count for Brain Wellness!
by Ailsa Sirois
The Summer Brain Wellness Challenge is here, so it’s time to make the summer of 2020 count for brain wellness! You can sign up for the challenge by clicking HERE.
At the World Brain Day Virtual Celebration hosted by the BC Brain Wellness Program, Dr. Silke Cresswell gave a talk about current research on the impacts of wellness activities on brain health. She discussed the foundations of brain health, which include exercise and movement, sleep, nutrition, nature, creativity and arts, learning, community, and mindfulness. These foundations make up the six categories of the Summer Wellness Challenge:
1. Keep moving - go for a walk, exercise, do yoga, dance, swim, garden
2. Eat healthy - try a new recipe, eat a meal that only uses ingredients in the Mediterranean diet
3. Always be learning - do a puzzle, visit a virtual museum, read a book, learn a new hobby
4. Get Creative - make a craft, create art, draw a picture, sing a song
5. Be Mindful - try mindfulness, be in nature, listen to music, journal
6. Stay connected - connect with a friend or loved one
Our brains are plastic, which means they are constantly changing and being shaped by our experiences. Being in nature has many health benefits at all ages and contributes to brain wellness. It can reduce stress, cortisol levels, heart rate and anxiety levels, while supporting better mood and immune function. Why not try to practice mindfulness in nature, or go for a brisk walk in a nearby park or trail?
Participate in an activity from each category every week until September 6 to complete the challenge! Sign up here.
Also, try out this Wellness BINGO as a fun way to reach your weekly goal. Don’t forget to record your wellness activities in your activity tracker and submit to brain.wellness@ubc.ca at the end of the challenge for a chance to win a prize! If you’d like, tell your friends and family that you’re participating and see if they’d like to support you. Money raised will go towards the BC Brain Wellness Program so that classes can continue to be offered free of charge.
We would love to hear from you! Send in a photo of you completing a challenge activity, a healthy recipe you’ve tried or a wellness resource that you’d like to share with fellow challenge participants, to brain.wellness@ubc.ca. These photos may be featured on social media or at Wellness Wednesday in September.
Still looking for more ideas? Check out this blog post the Brain Wellness Program team put together that is full of ideas for summer reading, watching and listening.