Put your mind at ease with these no-brainer tips.
Emily McDonald, an Arizona-based neuroscientist and mindset coach, is sharing how she protects her brain by avoiding three things — gossip, negative self-talk and doomscrolling.
1. Gossip and drama
On the tippy top of McDonald’s list of actions that adversely affect our brain function are gossip and drama.
She explains, “Being involved in gossip and drama reduces our ability to focus and think logically by increasing activity in the amygdala…part of the emotional brain.”
“The amygdala and prefrontal cortex are highly connected, so being negative reduces activity in the logical brain,” McDonald continued in her minutelong TikTok, which was posted earlier this month.
From an evolutionary standpoint, gossipy, cliquey, exclusionary and generally cruel behavior helped our ancestors survive, but according to McDonald, at this stage in the game, those same games hinder our ability to process logically and connect meaningfully.
2. Negative self-talk and criticism
McDonald explains that repeating negative narratives wires the brain to look for what’s wrong rather than right. “It also increases stress and anxiety and reduces performance and our ability to achieve our goals,” she said.
As McDonald maintains, all that negative self-talk has an ugly ripple effect — “the more that you criticize yourself, the more that you criticize others.”
She argues that by practicing self-forgiveness, you will improve your functionality and reduce anxiety. You’ll also be less inclined to engage in the aforementioned brain-depleting pursuits of interpersonal drama and mindless gossip.
3. Doomscrolling in your downtime
In her list of recommendations, McDonald denounces the habit of checking social media at every opportunity — in line, at red lights, during a break at work.
She explains that doomscrolling in your downtime “decreases focus and productivity by overstimulating and tiring the brain. You’re also decreasing your ability to be creative because time and silence and boredom are essential for allowing the mind to wander.”
A recent survey found that at the end of their lives, almost one-third (31%) of Americans would rather leave their mark through creativity, even over traits like intelligence (20%), wealth (14%) or humanitarian efforts (10%).
In this sense, ceasing your scrolling could be the key to a creative legacy.
