The Brain Pump List

As I mentioned in previous posts, the African Safari I just came back from had many, many novel things that hit me and pumped up my brain. But before I get into any of that, I first want to give you a few simple and easy things you can do to pump up your brain that really don’t cost much if anything.

Below is a list of these things. I would suggest that, at first, you pick just the ‘brain pumps’ that seem to fit you best and don’t worry about the rest of them.  Then next week or tomorrow or whenever you might feel ready for it, choose a few different ones that seem to fit at the time.

I have recently taken my own advice on number 6 and does that one ever pay off!  Every trip we take and at almost all of our big family and friends get-togethers and events, we fill up a chip on our digital camera and put it in a digital frame. We have about 15 of them around the house so every day as I walk past I’ll see a picture or two that reminds of some very good times and hence I get to relive those past moments and get another brain pump. Plus, at my age those photos certainly help my memory.

Our African Safari pics are up and working already and I just saw and relived the 2 giant bull elephants clashing their huge tusks as they fought each other. Our guide did tell us later that they were only play fighting but it was immensely exciting to us.

So if you want to have some very simple daily auto reminders of the good times that will give your brain some pumps without you hardly even thinking about it I strongly recommend the good ol’ digital frame.  Plus, it’s a great way to share your experiences and what you see in the world with your friends and relatives without much effort on your part.

What here fits you right now?

 

The Brain Pump List

1. Take a walk, run, or hike outside. Just get and get moving. The great outdoors seems to have magic to it.
2. Make contact with an old friend or even a high school or college buddy.
3. Learn something brand new for yourself.
4. Write in a journal a goals, dreams, and gratitude list.
5. Laugh out loud and smile even if you don’t feel like it.
6. Look through old picture albums or, better still, take lots of pictures of trips and events and load the images into a digital frame that changes the photo every few seconds. You’ll see it every day as you pass by and that way you can relive those fun and amazing moments and that will pump up the brain again.
7. Do a good deed for someone else, send them a gift, or send just a note of thanks or gratitude for them being who they are.
8. Sing in the shower, even if you are not particularly good, like me.
9. Go easy on yourself–forgive yourself. Remember, nobody is perfect.
10. Get a massage from a spouse, friend, or a professional.
11. Put on your favorite music and pump it up.
12. Do some meditation, even just for 10 minutes. I simply count my breathes.
13. Text an old friend to set up a coffee date or lunch.
14. Set some short and long term goals and just take baby steps toward achievement.
15. Go lift some weights and stretch and work out.
16. Start a new hobby.
17. Drive a different way to work or home.
18. Eat at a new and different cafe.
19. Sit in a hot tub and let those strong jets massage your sore back.
20. Get out a map and plan a fun trip even you can’t go on it for a long time.

There are many more relatively simple ways to pump your brain and get you more excited and happy about life and living. Think up some on your own or ask a friend what novel ways they have to pump their brains and lift and excite their lives.