Nurturing the Upstairs Brain

Happy New Year!! 

Whether this is your first time visiting the blog or you’ve been part of the BraveBrains community for a while now, I’m glad you are here! 

We need each other.

As I write this, we are heading into 2022. I want to invite you into a season of nurturing your upstairs brain. Not sure what that means? Check out this short video or this webinar to learn more. 

We have been living through a highly stressful time!! I doubt I’m the only one who feels like this a lot:

Our nervous systems all need a little extra love.

Want fewer porcupine and turtle moments? 

Those downstairs brain powers will keep taking over – trying to protect us – unless we get intentional about turning our calm, curious, connection-seeking upstairs brain back on!

Listed above are a number of ways you can nourish your tired brain. You might notice this could also be a self care list! It goes back to the oxygen mask principle: Put on your own oxygen mask first before you assist others. 

It’s a BRAIN thing! 

If there’s no oxygen flowing, you’re not going to be much help to others! 

You’ll also notice there are blanks for you to keep adding your own ideas. This is just to get you started! Click the picture to download a PDF for your personal use. 

​A note of caution to the recovering perfectionists among us…

This is NOT a to-do list, it’s an invitation! Please do not download and try to check off each item every day! In fact, you might never do some of these, and that’s just fine!! If you catch some negative self-talk about how much you’re failing at building your upstairs brain, be gentle with yourself. 

No one can do all the things all the time. 

You’re showing up, and that matters. Pat yourself on the back. And then maybe take a nap.

A few ideas for use:

• Tuck it in your journal and make a note each day of one or two healthy brain-empowering actions you plan to do that day.
• Discuss with a close friend or partner ways you can incorporate some of these activities in your routine.
• Share with your family or staff and discuss ways that you are already nurturing your upstairs brains…perhaps brainstorm opportunities for growth.
• Share with your personal learning community so you can encourage each other in these areas.
• Hang it on your mirror or beside your bed and make a little dot next to each one that you did that day.

Want some company on the journey?

Join me on Instagram as we encourage and empower each other throughout the month of January!

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Are you new here? I’d love to connect and share more brain science goodness with you!

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