11 Ways To Expand Your Mind And Recover From Brain Rot

Leo Says:

February 4th, 2008, 21:52 pm

Thanks, Alex, for writing this guest post!

Randy Nichols Says:

February 4th, 2008, 22:00 pm

I found your site on google blog search and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. Just added your RSS feed to my feed reader. Look forward to reading more from you.

- Randy Nichols.

Fiscal Musings Says:

February 4th, 2008, 22:27 pm

I have always made it a priority to continue learning something new, and most of the time it’s learning by doing. I’ve also learned a new language and really enjoy all types of music.

I think all of the points you mention here are worthwhile and we’d all do well to give them all a shot.

eclecticaliah Says:

February 4th, 2008, 22:41 pm

Great ideas! Another mind-stretching benefit of learning a language is that you get to take in a whole different perspective on life by talking to people you couldn’t normally communicate with, reading literature in that language, or even reading the news from another country to get the “other side of the story”!
Also I would add this to the list (somewhat related to #1): Try having a conversation about a topic you only know a little bit about. Write down any questions you become curious about (like why is mercury a liquid?) and then research the answers. :-)

Putta Says:

February 4th, 2008, 22:54 pm

Love the post…

As a native speaker of other languages than English, I’d add #2 from learning a new language to include “reviewing and practicing a foreign language” as well so I can still communicate and make myself understood in English.

Hannah Says:

February 4th, 2008, 23:04 pm

Ooh! I have definitely been in this “brain rot” situation, and as awful and meaningless as it feels, it’s quite difficult to get out of when you don’t have much firm ground to stand on. For this reason, I want to add TRAVEL to the list! Just having a change of scenery really helps me to get out of a rut and start thinking about life in new ways, and I find it forces me to approach people more thoughtfully and openly. I’m trying to arrange a nice hostelling adventure, if only for a week or two, this summer for this very reason.

Courtney Moore Says:

February 4th, 2008, 23:11 pm

My favorite high school English teacher was always talking about “building dendrites”. You build dendrites by learning new things, and bigger dendrites lead to longer and more productive life. Every since his classes, I’m constantly trying to do little things like brush my teeth or open a bottle of wine with my left hand, pick up a new sport, jog backwards, etc. Anything that’s new and requires your brain/body to learn something it didn’t know before.

FekketCantenel Says:

February 4th, 2008, 23:57 pm

You wouldn’t think it, but watching The Daily Show and The Colbert Report every night for six months actually made me very depressed and cynical. In the short term, both shows are hilarious and great in moderation, but if watched regularly (say, as a news outlet replacement), they preach a bleak, hopeless worldview.

My brother also lost his taste for it, and now gets his news from the NPR and BBC broadcasts every evening on PBS. He tells me that they’re much more subtle about the bleakness, and they let you get depressed all on your own, rather than spoonfeeding it to you.

As for me, I now get my news from a daily NPR five-minute podcast and what I hear from my friends. It’s much easier to filter out the garbage that way, and if I’m interested in a particular story, I can research it on teh intarwebs, rather than endure a five-minute lambasting.

The moral of the story: Just because something makes you laugh now doesn’t mean it won’t make you feel awful later.

This was a good article, Mister Shalman. I’ll be sure to check out your site.

Jadielady Says:

February 5th, 2008, 0:01 am

I knit. Knitting actually combines quite a few of the listed ways to avoid brain rot. Following patterns can be quite like figuring out a puzzle. There’s charts to follow, or instructions to figure out. There is a lot of math involved. How many yards do I need? How many stitches fit in an inch, and how long is my project going to be?
Once you get into the project, its very meditative and relaxing.

Looby Says:

February 5th, 2008, 0:03 am

This is a great post, I noticed creeping brain rot a couple of years ago and have been trying to combat it since. I’ve taught myself to knit, quilt and embroider, I’m learning Bhangra and Salsa dancing and I do at least 2 puzzles a day. I like Putta’s idea of reviewing a language so I am going to get a novel in German from the library and see how I get on. A definite help for me was not bringing the TV when I moved 2 years ago, it stops the brain rot from setting in again! Thanks for a great post Alex!

Amir Ahmad | PassionBasedLearning.com Says:

February 5th, 2008, 0:20 am

“It’s certainly much easier to accept information that comes to us, instead of questioning it and being succeptable to having to think”

I think that’s the best part of the whole post. Questioning. Gotta question and my up our own opinions independently.

Robin Noelle Says:

February 5th, 2008, 0:44 am

Maybe this is a little weird - I put up a platonic-type personals ad and meet strangers for lunch. Not only does it give me great materials for my writing and help with networking, but it gives me a chance to meet people and hear stories, learn things and experience different points of view.

Ryan Says:

February 5th, 2008, 1:18 am

Excellent post. Fully agree with you. These things tend to dumb down society.

banji - LessonInLife.com Says:

February 5th, 2008, 1:19 am

Exactly, there are just too much information in the world. It is always tempting to learn about the wrong stuff, like memorizing bad jokes etc. That’s a waste of brain resource

In addition to all that, maybe we can have more specific conversation with our elders. Sure time moves on, and they may not be able to keep up with internet etc. But they sure had made a lot of mistake and success the entire life.

The best thing about interviewing old folks (the senile ones of course) is that it doesn’t matter whether he is a success story or a failure story. There’s always thing to learn

Nicely done Alex :)

Tabatha Says:

February 5th, 2008, 1:52 am

so does that open source blogging apply to guest posts as well?

Oliver Says:

February 5th, 2008, 2:17 am

Fantastic post. I couldn’t agree more. :)

David Says:

February 5th, 2008, 2:26 am

Dear Alex,

I like how you missed out on ganja or other psychedelics. Yes, we can all pretend that only burnouts and lowlifes would use such things, but the honest irrefutable fact of the matter is that people all around the world, throughout history, have turned to our friends in the plant kingdom for occasional relief from brain rot. It’s natural. It’s cheap. It’s real.

So I think your list needs to be 12 ways long.

Peace,
David

Jonathan Says:

February 5th, 2008, 3:06 am

Thanks for this. I’ve been wondering about ‘brain rot’ and how I’ve been thinking through tasks and goals lately.

This is excellent.

Martin Says:

February 5th, 2008, 3:19 am

#10 Writing is helping me recover from brain rot. It is a good way to focus thoughts and bring into light what is happening inside the mind. When you read it back to yourself, you’ll have a good idea whether anything interesting is happening. Work at making your writing interesting and your life will become more interesting.

Warren from Zen Problog Says:

February 5th, 2008, 3:28 am

All those ways to expand their mind really work well. I especially love to read, write, and enjoy music. Thanks to this blog I have also gotten into some meditation.

Charlotte Says:

February 5th, 2008, 3:40 am

Referring to David’s comment about drugs. I thought drugs damaged the brain and so I would argue do not help matters when it comes to brain rot.

Kathy Says:

February 5th, 2008, 3:41 am

I really liked this list when I read it earlier and it just hit me that I could use this for my kids. They definitely rot their brain on too much TV and electronic entertainment, which I’ve been trying to limit. This gives me a good list to have them choose from of things to do instead. I wrote it out for them, but I did change “questioning” to “physical activity” because believe me, they question enough :) and I know exercise, besides being good for the body, clears the mind and helps it expand. I also added “cleaning.” That’s got to expand your mind right? Or at least they could meditate while they clean as Leo recently suggested! I’ll definitely be referring to the list for myself too.

James Says:

February 5th, 2008, 5:28 am

Great points, though I think a lot of it is down to moderation. Anything will become bad for you if you over-do it. To use your example of cooking, the brain would develop certain parts but get neglected in other parts. I can definitely relate to over-doing music too. A bit of silence is just as beneficial. Though I can do many things on the computer to train my brain I always try and limit my time on it. Babies learn and grow more quickly by regularly getting new, interesting things. Why can’t the same be said of adults?

James, Organize IT

dc Says:

February 5th, 2008, 5:47 am

Not so interesting really, now is it.

tadeusz Says:

February 5th, 2008, 6:37 am

How about this one: arguing. You might have opinions about economy, or text editors for programmers. Defend your views, opinions and beliefs in a discussion.

Try to avoid pointless ,,Whoevers writes computer programs with Emacs is brain-damaged, as vim is a clearly superior text editor” (as in text editors for programmers debate), stick to facts.

This will improve your willpower, social skills, vocabulary, logical thinking, imagination etc. Best practiced in controlled environment. Additional reading: Schopenhauer, obviously.

CatherineL Says:

February 5th, 2008, 7:42 am

Great post. I used to waste time watching that Jerry Springer show too, so I can sympathise.

Many years ago, I was watching that talk show and other similar ones, and it left me with a false impression of Americans in general.

mlewsk Says:

February 5th, 2008, 8:18 am

Excellent stuff. I truly digg what you said about the number one way to expand your mind. What if your colleagues cannot stand ‘questions’ or worse find them ‘condescending’?

Paul G. Says:

February 5th, 2008, 9:08 am

I’m very likely a bit older that your typical reader, Leo (I’m about to turn 55), but nonetheless find you blog useful and interesting. While I work in an office 8 hours per day, I have for years been a performing musician, singer/songwriter, an avid reader, and a photographer. The creative / artistic outlets have been critical components of my business success — giving me more to pull from when working in teams, making presentations, or developing programs. You are all going to catch up with me eventually, and I can promise you that following today’s advise will have long-term impact on your success and continued ability to relate to persons of all generations, And indeed, keep questioning all that you see…

Kristen Says:

February 5th, 2008, 9:16 am

Great sense of humor! And good ideas, too… Since I write a lit blog, numbers 11 and 10 were my favorites!

I find trying to do anything that I love a little bit better works for me, too. I ride my horse almost every day and love it and decided to take lessons, even though I’ve been riding forever. Great experience — a new perspective on something I know really well was just what I needed…

placeswegopeoplewesee Says:

February 5th, 2008, 9:26 am

I think travel, whether it’s a one-day getaway or a long trip, expands one’s mind in a million ways. First, you plan the trip and maybe you read up on the place. Then you discover how to get there (using a map, not a GPS!), then you get there and you see a whole array of sights you’ve often never seen before. If you open yourself to it, you talk with strangers that perhaps you wouldn’t be chatting with at home. The reason people say they need a vacation after their vacation is because they’re alive and alert to their surroundings. It’s a wonderful thing!

Nats Says:

February 5th, 2008, 9:35 am

I love all of these suggestions and work on all of them in different ways.

I had to wean myself off the Sudoku (addictive!), but also love knitting… I never thought about it in that way, Jadielady. I love creating something unique (er, following patterns is not my strong point) for friends and family.

Corey Says:

February 5th, 2008, 9:44 am

There are so many ways to rot your brain, and when you add to it the numerous ways you can rot your brain in relationships, no wonder so many people simply coast along in life not really interacting with others.

Each of your ideas can be applied to relationships, especially number one. Granted questioning a relationship only leads to more questions that may never be fully answered, but relationships all include risk. Acknowledge the risk and make you and your partner’s brain work. Heaven forbid that you have to think more in relationships.

Geek Riddles Says:

February 5th, 2008, 10:04 am

Hey, great post, I completely agree.

However I’d say, don’t feel sorry for the many hours you lost. You weren’t you then, you are you now. Things have a way of working out, and who’s to say that period of your life wasn’t necessary for you to become who you are now?

It’s like that old anecdote (making the long story very short): poor village; one man finds a horse, becomes rich, everybody tells him “you’re so lucky”, he says “well, I don’t know”.

The next day the horse runs away, everybody says “poor you”, he says “well, I don’t know”. Next day the horse comes back with another horse, now he’s even more rich. Next day his son breaks his leg trying to ride a horse and can’t work - poor again. Next day the king gathers an army for war - his son has broken leg, can’t fight - lucky again. So you can never be sure.

I for one haven’t had a TV in my home for 10 years and somehow I’m almost never ever bored :)

Good points Leo.

The Grub Hound Says:

February 5th, 2008, 10:20 am

Hey Alex don’t feel bad at all about the wasted time. It is human nature. With out that time “rotting your brain” with all probability you would not be the same person you are today.
A brief list of my brain rot years:
rock n roll and drugs
punk
soaps while in the Military(General Hospital and Guiding Light were all we had in Germany)
The list can go on and on…

Mary Says:

February 5th, 2008, 10:47 am

Good post. I used to watch soaps in college. Haven’t watched them in twenty years. I had a long wait at the doctor’s office yesterday and what was on? My old soap. Could you believe I could follow the story line? Many of the same characters/actors! I was a little sad that I had wasted time on them, but so glad I had stopped. I could really appreciate how much I have grown since then. Oh yeah,
homeschooling my kids too - their questions never end and it really keeps me learning all the time.

rainer Says:

February 5th, 2008, 10:51 am

Well I understand why you watched the Springer show. It is entertaining, but you consume instead of doing or producing something that makes you proud.
I read an meditate and from time to time look Springer shows, because it won’t harm me if I consume it in a modest way.

bronxr Says:

February 5th, 2008, 10:54 am

good thing to exercise your brain is also paying more attention to details, sounds, touch, again discovering everything, exploring textures and so. Not doing things unconsciously but with attention when walking moving, tasting, seeing………………………………………………
I think that small kids do this too.

sorry for bad english

Vize Says:

February 5th, 2008, 11:15 am

Completely relaxing and letting go has helped me expand my mind and conciousness

Josh P Says:

February 5th, 2008, 11:24 am

I like the bit clarifying how you can grow your mind.

I read a study once that consisted of two groups of kids with some sort of learning disability. Group A was taught some skill then tested on it. Group B was shown a video on nueral networks and how the grow, they were shown how the brain learns essentially. Then Group B got the same skill lesson and test. As you can probably guess, Group B did better on the test.

It’s interesting to think that simply knowing your brain can grow will reverse the rot!
Great post as always Leo
-Josh

Rups Says:

February 5th, 2008, 11:32 am

Excellent topic! Very interesting as I have been very active in reading personal development books recently. I feel if there is abundance of information out there that no school can teach or has taught you, I should take advantage of it. This type of information is best read and understood in a quiet atmosphere where you can think about it. This gives you your personal space to churn over the information.

Josephine Says:

February 5th, 2008, 11:36 am

First, I turn off the TV. And I knit. I love knitting. It’s quite meditative and creative. Long ago I learned that knitting is about the process, not the end product. And something as simple as ripping back my errors to correct them, has taught me that the same is not always true in life. This is a great lesson in teaching us (me) to consider the consequences of our actions—look before you leap!

Never the Same River Twice Says:

February 5th, 2008, 11:54 am

These are all great ways to get your brain moving again, but sometimes I find I have to take a weekend to detox my body and mind from all the garbage I let into my system. Of course, the optimum solution would be to only intake quality information, but I haven’t gotten to that point yet!

Cassidy S.W. Says:

February 5th, 2008, 12:03 pm

Drugs and TV are all about the moderation. Specifically, smoking week and sitting around rot your brain, but if you’re out (or on the web) you can become curious and excited about things you never were before. This provides you with a whole new portal of experiences and growth you’d have lacked. For me, I usually become more interested in things friends or little brothers talk about, which leads to new activities together and closer relationships.

TV shows like Battlestar Galactica (in moderation, so no watching Season 1 in a sitting) are very layered and intelligent. It would definatly make you smarter.

Alex Shalman Says:

February 5th, 2008, 12:46 pm

Leo: Thank you very much for having me.

Tabatha: As far as I’m concerned, I gave Leo the post to put on his site, which I knew to be open source… so if it’s fine with Leo, it’s fine with me.

David: You’re right, this list should have been 12 items long, but I would add exercise instead of psychedelic drugs.

Mlewsk: I think asking questions requires some tact. I relate that when asking too many questions people tend to think you are interviewing or interrogating them. By letting them no that you’re just genuinely interested in their opinions/views/side, and just want to know let’s them be at ease and open up.

To everyone else: Thank you very much for your overwhelming response. Leo truly has an amazing group of readers. I would be happy to write more for you guys in the future.

deepali Says:

February 5th, 2008, 14:22 pm

Great post. But I’d like to point out - clutter is still clutter, whether it’s good or bad. There’s such a thing as too much, even if it’s too much good stuff. So I’d add a #12 - Nothing. Sometimes, you should just do nothing and let your brain rest. It can be a type of meditation, though not the one you mentioned above.

Also, diversification is no small thing - taking in different types of activities and information is good for building those dendrites too (considering diminishing returns and all).

nikto Says:

February 5th, 2008, 14:32 pm

This post disturbs me slightly. I have trouble understanding what it means to “pollute your mind with the wrong information” and how to find sources with “purity and integrity.” I do scientific research. Every observation, book, article, and scientific talk contains misinformation; almost all our conclusions are, to some degree, wrong.

What matters is how we approach our material instead of what material we choose to focus on. I don’t see a problem watching daytime talk shows, as long as you’re doing so analytically. Pay attention to whose arguments are valid and sound, who moves you emotionally and why. “Question everything” is your last and most important point–I think you can drop most of the rest.

My approach to combat brain rot is to focus on whatever’s hardest. Some months that’s art, other months it’s fantasy, and most months it’s my research.

Marelisa Fabrega Says:

February 5th, 2008, 17:14 pm

The brain is like a muscle: the more you work it out the better it serves you. I love sudokus and jigsaw puzzles, and as you get better at them you can do higher level sudokus and get jigsaw puzzles with more and more pieces; I keep a journal which I try to take everywhere with me so I can jot down anything that catches my attention or simply write down ideas that come to mind (I read Leonardo da Vinci did this); I try to listen to different types of music–from classical, to country, to salsa, to jazz, and so on. Every time you try anything new you stretch your mind and, once stretched, it never goes back to its previous size.

KCCC Says:

February 5th, 2008, 17:49 pm

I love this, and I love the additions of knitting, travel, and exercise.

One of my strategies is to “be a beginner” at something. You don’t have to be good at it - just interested. Allow yourself to fail (beginners do that) and trust the process of incremental practice.

Taking up something that you’re willing to “begin” at is healthy on so many levels - it stretches you. Two years ago, I began yoga (still a beginner in many ways - but I can do things I would not have envisioned at the outset) and last year I began knitting, which is SO meditative.

Find a new beginning. Your list is a great starting-point.

Working Girl Says:

February 5th, 2008, 18:03 pm

A coincidence—I just posted today on “tips for unblocking creativity.” Some of your tips could definitely be added to my list.

Great post!

Cathy Says:

February 5th, 2008, 19:40 pm

This is one of my favorite blogs since I discovered it a couple months ago…I have a blog about curiosities and wonderings…. I totally agree with your number one way to prevent brain rot! I am curious about everything. Life wouldn’t be the same without the ability to ask questions….what do you want to know today?

Leslie Young Says:

February 5th, 2008, 20:03 pm

I was so happy to see this post! “Brain rot” is exactly the name for what I’ve been feeling lately. It even includes the watching of terrible tv shows just to kill time. All of these suggestions are great. I started writing a short story. And even picked up my guitar to finish writing a song I started a year ago. I’m glad I’m not the only who is experiencing this “brain rot” thing. Good luck to everyone else!

meandering Says:

February 5th, 2008, 20:57 pm

This post is of utmost importance nowadays and a neglected topic, too.

There are so many things leading to brain rot: mind-numbing jobs, silly TV programmes, hanging out with stupid people, spending too much time with babies babbling nonsense, staring at the computer for too long, reading trash novels or newspapers etc.

Antidotes is what we need. Please write more about this vital topic, guys!

Elise Says:

February 5th, 2008, 21:00 pm

Stimulating a rotting brain…seems to have struck a chord with many. My favorite stimuli is travel, travel, and more travel. That exploration of other cultures promotes questioning:
Why such disparity in the distribution of wealth?
Why does our culture have certain values?
Why do we do things a certain way?
Is there more than one way to arrive at the same destination?
Which is more important, the journey or the destination?

lluis80x Says:

February 5th, 2008, 21:19 pm

I think the most active and creative that you are while engaging on an activity, the greatest the benefit will be for your brain. For example, reading or thinking about puzzles will not help much, actually doing the puzzles is good, but designing your own puzzles is the truly greatest of all. Once you have mastered the basics, escalate to more complex levels, so your mind is forced to expand.

Deb Says:

February 5th, 2008, 21:40 pm

Great Post! Much needed….too much facebooking… and mundane TV. Thank you!

Lexi Says:

February 5th, 2008, 21:52 pm

yeah, i always tell my kids they can only watch x amount of tv because it turns their brains into mush!

btw other activities that are also mind-expanding are yoga and meditation.

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

February 6th, 2008, 1:34 am

Strengthening the mind is SO important! I wrote about it recently:

“We all need to start seeing the world from a different perspective. That comes from going out everyday and keeping our eyes open to all the possibilities. It comes from learning new and exciting things that force us to stretch our minds and move outside our comfort zones.

“Put practically, there are a lot of ways to do that. Turning off the TV would be a good start. Pick up a book, a newspaper, or a magazine that doesn’t have yet another celebrity’s drinking problem on the cover. Go to a museum, a gallery, an exhibit, a film festival, a theatrical production, a classical concert, or a jazz concert. Take a dance class, a cooking class, or even an investment class. Do a crossword puzzle. Do a jigsaw puzzle. Learn a language, learn an instrument, or plan an exotic holiday just for fun. Phew! I’m sure you get the idea.”

(Extract from Work in Progress)

Robin Turner Says:

February 6th, 2008, 6:48 am

A good post, though I agree with Nikto that how you watch is more important than what you watch. My wife sometimes watches trashy Turkish magazine programmes that would reduce me to a gibbering wreck; when I asked her why she subjected herself to them, she answered “sociology”.

Csíkszentmihályi’s Flow book is full of good advice on this subject. Like Alex, he has a downer on TV (with good reasons), but he points out that almost any activity can become a “flow” activity if you approach it in the right way.

Michael Wong Says:

February 6th, 2008, 10:17 am

When I saw the title I didn’t think I’d get anything out of this article, but I should have known better.

QUESTION EVERYTHING. My new MSN blurb. Thanks again Leo.

elias Says:

February 6th, 2008, 10:41 am

interesting!

ElixirofLife Says:

February 6th, 2008, 12:02 pm

It is really ZEN indeed. Thank you very much.

Dave Dragon Says:

February 6th, 2008, 12:21 pm

Very good information!

Thanks for posting this list.

“The Number One Way To Expand Your Mind Is Through Questioning Everything.”

I have been doing this non-stop for the last year and it’s made a great difference in my mood, demeanor and virtually all areas of my life.

To add another to your list: Cross Train your Brian by taking the opposite position on anything near & dear to your heart.

Example: If your a theist; read and form positive opinions on atheism. This is just an example of what I’m doing now.

This forces me to think & rethink long held opinions and bias that were formed in early life and were just accepted as the norm.

Again, Thanks for posting the list!

Ride it like you stole it!
http://davedragon.rilysi.com

Pepper Says:

February 6th, 2008, 13:00 pm

How right you are! I say that as my kids set here and watch Scooby Doo. Brain rot is such a problem in our country. I wish everyone could read and “really” get your point given here. Thanks for confirming what I needed to remember.

fgf Says:

February 6th, 2008, 14:58 pm

I decided to learn how to shoot a gun. It’s very relaxing and mind-expanding, kind of like yoga with a loud boom.

Shooting is much like anapana mediation, concentrating on your breath is very important. And shooting is also very mindful and purposeful, as well as being conducive to emptying your mind.

I still do meditation traditionally, but I also like doing it by shooting with my Beretta 9mm pistol.

anon Says:

February 6th, 2008, 15:25 pm

“Just to be clear on the Alex Shalman definition of brain rot: It’s when you forcefully stuff too much of the wrong information into your brain, to the point where both your thinking and behavioral patterns become highly disturbed.”

Wow, i think i should stop browsing 4chan

Michael Says:

February 6th, 2008, 15:53 pm

Hello Alex, i really appreciate your post, and i think that if we practice some sport it could be very good to our mind too :)

Wilma Fingerdew Says:

February 6th, 2008, 18:11 pm

Another useless list adorning the Internet. Thank you, Zen Habits!!!

Ricky Barnes Says:

February 6th, 2008, 23:31 pm

Thanks for such a terrific reminder of all of the great ways to use the mind to its best advantages and to keep it sharp. What you’ve created here isn’t simply a helpful guide to keeping a sharp mind but, more importantly, a good guide to building and living a rich life. Philosophy need not be complicated to be useful. Indeed, complicated guides to living a rich life are most commonly useless because they’re wrong.

Thanks again.

khephera Says:

February 7th, 2008, 18:35 pm

I also believe that knitting is a great way to engage the mind, especially lace knitting, with its intricate patterns and stitch combinations. Handspinning the yarn that you knit can become a wonderful meditation as well…

iciskaye Says:

February 7th, 2008, 18:54 pm

Some good books to read are written by philosophers which makes you reflect and ask questions. One good essay is “Solitude” by Henry David Thoreau.

dani Says:

February 7th, 2008, 23:49 pm

I’ll second the second comment about drugs, if only because I frequently hear people advocate one or another kind of drug use because people in other places or other cultures have historically used it for “mind expansion”, without any acknowledgment of how incredibly carefully and seldomly and ritually it was used or how the drugs they are using compare to what was used then or what effects the drugs we have NOW have. Like, yesterday I learned from a drug and alcohol abuse counselor that he routinely sees people using ecstasy go very rapidly into clinical depression; or like, a friend of mine who still uses pot and did so a lot in the sixties often tells me how very much stronger what we have now is and how people don’t get that and use the same amount that people did back then, with very different results.

Also: “When the guy on the show says he is 100% sure he is not the father, he isn’t, and when he says he is 110% sure he is not the father, he is.”
HA! That is HILARIOUS. Come on: you were obviously using your brain then, it just it wasn’t in a way that benefited you.

Leo Says:

February 8th, 2008, 2:14 am

@Paul G: Thanks for your insightful comment! I appreciate you sharing that with us — very inspiring!

@Hannah: Great idea! Excellent addition to the list.

HellBane Says:

February 10th, 2008, 5:59 am

Someone has to ask: Is that an actual, or made up percentage?

Shirley Says:

February 12th, 2008, 18:36 pm

Love this post! We all suffer from brain rot from time to time. Sometimes from boredom, or maybe from overwork.

Although all your tips are fantastic, tip #1 is the best! I’ve had some of the best ideas and insights of my life while questioning everyday things.

“Why do the colors of sunset change from day to day?” “Why are rabbits so cute and cuddly?” “How can someone feel happiness bursting from their heart and spreading into the air today and feel sad, angry and depressed the next day?”

Questions and curiosity make the world go round. Life is fuller and more interesting when you question its mysteries. And it sure keeps those brain cells burning!

DNA LeveL C Says:

April 4th, 2008, 15:20 pm

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We`ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We`ve added years to life not life to years.

We`ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We`ve done larger things, but not better things. We`ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We`ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We`ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this information to you, and a time when you can choose either to apply this insight, or to just move on to the next page.

DNA LeveL C Says:

April 4th, 2008, 15:25 pm

Sometimes you win…
Sometimes you learn…
But…
You never lose!

Daniiel Says:

April 22nd, 2008, 0:18 am

It may be more insightful to question everything, but sometimes questioning goes to a point where it is hard to function in everyday life. It seems that as my mind has developed and I have realized that I do have the ability to question, i have come to a point where I question thigs I don’t even want to, things like my ability to speak, my importance to the world, and the impact I will leave when I’m gone. I question so much that I break down almost everything that I do and say so that I am self-conscious of every word I speak or every movement i make. It is good to question everything, but now I realize that some things we must just accept for what they are. Questioning leads to doubt and doubt is often the opposite of peace.

stephen Says:

November 28th, 2008, 19:06 pm

As a guy nearing 40yo, I can testify that all of these recommendations are absolutely true.
The only one I would change slightly is ‘#2 Learn a Language’. I’ve found that learning a programming language is as fun, interesting and intense as learning a foreign language. It not only expands the mind, it also opens the mind to new ideas, invites you to learn other programs and integrate them together to build something that others can enjoy.
Great list. I’ll be returning to your site for further reading.

Tyler Says:

February 22nd, 2009, 18:37 pm

I want to expand because I enjoy thinking. I want to think in new ways, solve new problems, and hopefully contribute to man kind’s survival in this Universe. :)

carly carter Says:

June 15th, 2009, 2:54 am

I want you to scientifically prove that television can rot ones brain. The things you mentioned are good for you but how can television ruin your intellect. I watch at least 3 hours of television each day and I am still an independant, intellectual person and refuses to believe that television can ruin eveything for me.