Peak Health Wellness Insights Issue 8

Mental Resilience

This study reveals how spending time in nature as opposed to urban spaces can boost cognition.
Why? Being in nature provides intriguing but modestly attention-grabbing stimuli, which allows cognitive function to restore and replenish. However, the same is not found in urban environments because stimuli is dramatic and requires full attention.

Sleep

This recent study (and here) shows that insufficient sleep, disrupted sleep, or high sleep variability (not sleeping the same number of hours each night) can significantly impede weight loss. This suggests sleep hygiene should be a crucial element of any weight loss programme or lifestyle intervention.

Nutrition

According to these recent findings, consuming the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables (preferentially vegetables) and beyond was associated with an increase in psychological well-being.

Fitness

This new study formalises a direct link between exercise and brain function. It shows that a burst of exercise activates a gene (called Mtss1L). This gene promotes the growth of neuron extensions that increase neuron-to-neuron connections specifically in the hippocampus (the brain region associated with learning and memory). What it suggests is that exercise can prime the brain for learning and by extension may make you smarter.

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Productivity Tip

Use the two minute rule to help prevent you from dragging out your to-do list and making it hard to complete.

The Two Minute Rule: If the task can be completed in 2 minutes or less, do not add it to your to-do list, or delegate it.. Just do it immediately!

Habit Hack of the week

In setting goals for new healthy habits, take time to identify your 'why'. By determining your intrinsic motivators, you will better be able to stay on track and attain your goal in the long run.