These 3 habits are bad for your mind
Keeping your brain sharp is something so important, it can't be understated. We all know that taking care of our brains can improve memory, help delay the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer, and so much more. Poor care of your brain can cause it to reshape in a way that is detrimental to your well being, but you may be surprised just what sort of things are really bad for your brain. These are the 3 worst offenders, according to neurologists and therapists around theglobe.
Reading the news constantly
Who doesn't have a convenient little app telling them what's going on in the world? Staying up on today's news is important, but it only goes so far. There is nothing you can do about North Korea dropping a bomb on yourcity, immigration issues, or the recent tarrifs. Worrying about them incessantly won't cause them to go away, but it can cause you an unnecessary amount of anxiety, and all that extra worrying is unhealthy for your brain.To be fair, it's not just reading the news that is the problem. According to Time magazine, the way news has changed in the last couple of decades is also to blame. The headlines have changed to become more shocking, with video clips and audio so stressful, watching them can mimic the effects of PTSD in the brain.
Comparing yourself to others
A 2006 study linked social comparison with mental well being. If you look around and see that you are doing better than most other people, it feels good. When you look around and see that you are doing worse than others, it makes you feel bad.Upward comparison can be healthy in some respects, it encourages you to work harder to be more like others and do better for yourself, but it also has a down side. People who make more comparisons than others tended to develop other destructive habits. People who compare themselves with others more often tend to have lower self esteem, and experience more emotions such as guilt, envy, regret and blame.Social media can be a big factor in this because it makes it easier for you to make those comparisons.
Comfort eating
Comfort eating has some pretty obvious negative effects on the body, but it's not good for your brain either. When you eat comfort foods to regulate your mood rather than because you feel hungry, it can alter the function of your brain. Comfort eating can turn off your brains ability to detect satiety and fullness, altering the brain in a way that causes you to be prone to obesity.There are other surprising things that are unhealthy for the brain, such as multi-tasking or not getting enough sleep, but these are the three top offenders in terms of altering your brain for the worse. The next time you find yourself laying awake late at night stressing over the news, do yourself a favor and hit uninstall on that app. Your brain will thank you