It is a shame to waste a good crisis! Let’s consider ways to boost your brain during quarantine.
Amidst the lifestyle changes brought on by the corona virus pandemic, your brain is more important than ever before. You need your cognitive control network for positive thinking and adaptive behavior in these challenging times.
Also, your brain plays an important role in protecting your immune system from the toxic inflammation created by negative emotions and stress hormones.
Quarantine gives us an excellent opportunity for re-energizing our brains. By the time quarantine is over, your brain could be performing better than ever on attention, focus, learning, and memory. You might even be happier!
So limit your exposure to the alarming news on TV and social media. Celebrate your found time by invigorating your brain with these five activities. I’ll send you five more next week. Enjoy!
1. Get a good night’s sleep. If you have been shortchanging your sleep, now is the time to catch up. Your brain creates a lot of waste, and the garbage gets taken out at night. If you are waking up at night with fears and worries, it’s time to boost your executive functions, which let you sleep like a baby no matter what’s going on. Whip your frontal lobe (the master of executive functions) into shape by playing chess with someone you are quarantined with. Learn together if need be!
2. Listen to music. Play music that delights you to enjoy your time at home more. Your favorite songs from your teens and 20s will be especially reassuring. If you can make your own music by playing an instrument or singing, that’s even better for your brain.
3. Renew relationships. Call and write letters to family and friends who you haven’t spoken to recently. Reconnect with others in your household, have fun little 
rituals and meals with them, and reminisce about good times with loved ones who are gone. Your domestic animal companions will be thrilled that you are around more to pay attention to them. All of this connecting activity will soothe key brain areas that panic during social isolation.
4. Play card and board games. Blow off some steam with games of chance, playing with household members or on the internet. The distraction will help rebalance the brain’s chemistry away from negative emotions.
5. Cook something new. Get out a cookbook or search the internet for a recipe that will intrigue your taste buds and perk up your brain. Foods that emphasize yellow and orange vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash are especially good for your immune system. Whip up a big pot of lentil soup or vegetarian chili to help reduce inflammatory meat consumption. Experiment with some new flavors and spices. Try making some homemade applesauce (leave skins on!) for a delicious, healthy dessert that has no added sugar.
To learn more about executive functions and brain rebalancing, see Chapter VI of Better with Age: The Ultimate Guide to Brain Training.
