9 Habits of Modern Life That Destroy, Gradually but Irreparably, Our Brain

Our lives have become more and more hectic, with more and more demands, and stress and overwork are part of our daily lives.

For our mind built to focus on one thing at a time, the avalanche of information and multitasking requests are a real problem, leading, little by little, to excessive mental consumption and burnout.

More and more people are complaining that they are tired, that they can't concentrate, that they are forgetting things. Headaches and exhaustion occur almost daily in our lives, as well as the feeling that we are overwhelmed and no longer cope with work or family challenges.

To the external pressures that determine such states are added a series of habits of modern life, which we have mastered and which attack us from within our physical and mental integrity. Although we feel that we benefit from them, in the long run, these habits prove to be destructive to our brains.

Lack of sleep

The brain needs rest, so it is essential to have a regular sleep schedule, in a calm environment, without stressors. Noise and light during sleep can cause premature aging of the brain and the death of neuronal cells. Try to sleep at the same time, in a quiet, darkroom. A messy, late-night sleep without enough rest severely damages the brain.

Skipping breakfast

More and more people are skipping breakfast or eating something on the run. This habit needs to change if we are to keep our brains healthy. If you skip breakfast, your glucose supply to the brain is insufficient, and in the long run, this can lead to brain degeneration.

Eating too many sweets

It is known that excess sweets damage the figure, but the more serious problem is that it also affects the brain. Chocolate, processed products, carbonated drinks, all contain large amounts of sugar, even some diet products on store shelves. Increased consumption of sweets over time affects the attention, memory, and ability to learn.

Exaggerated reactions

Are you the type who "explodes" when faced with a problem or stressful situation? Be careful: tension can affect your arteries, but also your brain matter. In situations where you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath and detach yourself a little, if you want to keep your cognitive functions intact.

Smoking

It is known that smoking is a real scourge, which affects the whole body. But less is known to severely damage the brain, which is connected to the lungs through the arteries that carry oxygen to the brain. As a result, the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke reach the brain in about 10 seconds after the smoke has entered the lungs, remaining active at this level for 20–40 minutes.

Over time, they will cause severe brain dysfunction, from addictions to severe illnesses such as Alzheimer's.

The state in polluting environments

Like cigarette smoke, pollutants affect the brain, inhibiting neural connections and causing serious long-term problems. It is true that in large urban areas and industrialized areas it is difficult to avoid pollution, but the formation of healthy habits, to go more often in nature, or to avoid overcrowded places could be helpful.

Lack of brain stimulation

An active brain is a healthy brain. Challenges and new experiences are the best way to stimulate the brain and prevent brain damage. Whether it's studying, reading, traveling, or playing games, we need to constantly stimulate our brain to keep it from degenerating.

Sleeping with your head covered

This habit is harmful because it decreases the level of oxygen that reaches the brain and increases, in turn, the level of carbon dioxide, which can cause long-term brain damage.

Lack of communication with other people

It is necessary to talk to those around us, because speech has a stimulating function on the brain, activating communication skills, learning, memory, and attention, as well as motor skills. Even if you are a quiet person in general, make it a habit to talk to your family or workplace every day, if you want to maintain your mental health.