Brain fitness and its role in resilience.

Resilient people not only take care of their physical condition. They also exercise and maintain their brain fitness.

The brain's ability to change and adapt, known as neuroplasticity, along with specific mental practices, plays a crucial role in strengthening resilience.

Neuroplasticity. The Moldable Brain

The concept that brain matter is "plastic" was a revolutionary idea dating back to the late 19th century.

More recent research on neuroplasticity has confirmed that the brain is not a fixed structure that stops changing after youth.

Rather, it is continuously modified until the day we die, in response to our actions and experiences.

Every encounter and every situation alters the brain, which keeps changing and creating new neural pathways.

This knowledge is powerful, as it implies that we can actively influence the structure and function of our brain through our behavior.

In fact, teaching children and young people about neuroplasticity - explaining to them that their actions can physically change their brains - has been shown to significantly improve their academic performance.

Deliberate Practice for Brain Development

Deliberate practice" is a key concept for developing skills and improving brain function.

Unlike simply repeating what one already knows how to do well, deliberate practice involves consciously focusing on those areas where one is not competent or even where one cannot perform the task at all, making a constant and focused effort to improve.

It is this type of practice that leads to mastery and, by extension, strengthens resilience by increasing the ability to face and overcome cognitive and emotional challenges.

Brain Fitness Exercises

There are several activities and exercises that can help maintain and improve brain fitness, preventing memory loss and increasing mental agility.

Some recommendations include:

• Performing tasks that are difficult or have never been done before, such as brushing teeth with the non-dominant hand for a sustained period, which may even increase willpower.

• Eating foods that have never been tried before, taking different paths than usual, or performing everyday activities in new ways (such as dressing with your eyes closed).

• Exposure to content (books, movies, programs) that challenges one's thinking and does not necessarily align with pre-existing beliefs.

• Practicing visualization techniques, a tool used by athletes to improve performance, which consists of imagining oneself reaching a goal or overcoming a challenge.

• Surround yourself with people who stimulate personal growth and maintain an attitude of continuous learning throughout your life.