Have you ever tried a detox? Maybe you gave up TV for a month or sugar. Why not challenge yourself to try a “brain detox.” Created by neurologist David Perlmutter, this 10-day plan will help you reset your brain and set you on the path to reclaiming your life.
Day 1: Digital detox
You don’t have to give up technology altogether, but take critical steps such as turning off non-essential notifications, putting your phone on airplane mode during important meetings and meals, deleting unrewarding social media apps, and consider making “do not disturb” your default mode.
Day 2: Practicing empathy through gratitude
Keep a notepad or journal near your bed or in your purse. Take note of moments of gratitude, no matter how big or small.
Day 3: Nature Therapy
Spend at least 30 minutes in nature. Seek out a forest, open space, or even just a local park to take in the smells, sights, and sounds of nature.
Day 4: Figuring out food
Take a good hard look at your kitchen and decide what items to toss or keep with your nutrition goals in mind. Consider tossing refined foods, processed sugars, alcohol, and chemically rich foods. Embrace whole sources of protein, healthy fats, probiotics, and delicious fruits and veggies.
Day 5: Successful shut-eye
8 hours of good sleep has many wonderful benefits. Make your bedroom a quiet, dark, sanctuary, cut out caffeine after 2 pm, and relax before sleep with a warm bath or a great book.
Day 6: Embracing exercise
Set an attainable starting point for fitness goals and make time to follow through with them. Consider a workout buddy or fun new class to motivate yourself.
Day 7: Medicate with Meditation
Meditation can be a challenge for many people. Start with a simple 12-minute mindfulness practice and up your time from there.
Day 8: Strong bonds
Humans are social creatures. Spending 10 minutes a day having a meaningful, unbroken conversation with a close friend, coworker, or family member will help you feel more connected to those around you and in touch with yourself.
Day 9: Taking stock
How is it going? Ask yourself what changes have been most meaningful for you and what aspects have been most challenging.
Day 10: Time to move forward
You made it! Positive life changes can be hard to implement all at once but making one small change per day makes the transition manageable. Create a framework plan for maintaining these changes beyond just 10 days, even if it means just adopting 2 or 3 to stick with long term.
This story was part of our Best of 2022 series highlighting our top solutions from the year. Today we’re featuring our staff favorites. This article was chosen by Maureen.
