Two Hands To Reduce Your Stress
It's been two years since I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's hypothyroidism. My body has become highly sensitive to stress, and the higher my stress is, the more thyroid fatigue I experience. To keep my stress levels down, I have to pay attention to my food intake, work responsibilities, and social schedule.
Food intake is mainly controlling what I eat. I stick with a paleo diet, avoiding gluten, dairy, and soy. I need to make sure I have foods I can eat readily available. Managing my work responsibilities is a bit more problematic. I say "no" more often, and have let go of perfectionism. My social schedule means having to limit my contact with people, especially the known "energy predators," and spending more time with people I enjoy.
However, managing what I do and who I'm around is important, but one of the components I was missing in order to reduce my stress levels was to make time for things that bring me joy. One of the ways I've chosen to bring joy into my life happened by accident. One of my dear friends bought me a crochet kit for Christmas, The Woobles. My family all knew how to crochet, but I never quite got it. The Woobles broke it all down into small videos, and now I spend a little time each day doing something crafty. My favorite crochet projects are called "amigurumi," which means "crochet or knitted stuffed toy" in Japanese. The photo is my latest creation...a crocheted balloon animal dog.
To crochet, you have to use both hands, which is a great way to de-stress. Any activities that require both hands means that activity engages both hemispheres of your brain. It's like a full-body workout for your mental faculties. It's not just about improving one skill or another; it's about creating a harmonious balance that leads to a healthier, more resilient mind. Let's delve deeper into how stimulating both sides of your brain can be beneficial and explore some activities in greater detail.
Left Brain: The Analytical Powerhouse
The brain's left hemisphere is often considered the seat of logic and analytical thinking. It's where your language skills reside, mathematical abilities are processed, and logical reasoning takes shape. Here's how you can give your left brain a good workout:
Puzzles & Brain Teasers: Engaging with complex puzzles like Sudoku or crosswords requires attention to detail and logical thinking, which keeps the left brain active and sharp.
Mathematics: Whether balancing your budget, solving algebra problems, or playing number games, math exercises are a great way to stimulate this side of your brain.
Language Learning: Picking up a new language isn't just about memorizing words; it involves understanding grammar rules and sentence structures, which are left-brain tasks.
Right Brain: The Creative Muse
The right hemisphere is your creative center. It's where intuition lives, where you can see the big picture, and where your artistic talents flourish. To engage your right brain, consider these activities:
Arts & Crafts: Activities like painting, sculpting, or knitting allow you to express yourself creatively, which stimulates the right side of your brain.
Music: Listening to music can evoke emotions and memories, while playing an instrument combines creativity with complex motor skills, engaging both sides of the brain.
Imaginative Play: When you engage in creative play or storytelling, you're tapping into your right brain's ability to visualize and dream.
Combined Activities: The Best of Both Worlds
Some activities naturally incorporate both hemispheres, providing a balanced brain workout:
Learning to Play a Musical Instrument: This activity is a perfect symphony of left and right brain engagement. You need to understand music theory (left brain) and interpret the emotional components of music (right brain).
Yoga and Meditation: Yoga improves spatial awareness and body control (right brain), while meditation often involves focus, repetition, and structure (left brain).
Cooking New Recipes: Following a new recipe requires precision and timing (left brain), while tasting and adjusting flavors is a creative process (right brain).
Regularly participating in activities that stimulate both the logical and creative sides of your brain enhances cognitive functions and promotes neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to form new neural connections. This adaptability is crucial for brain health and can help prevent cognitive decline as we age. So, whether through learning a new language, strumming a guitar, or solving a challenging puzzle, working both sides of your brain is crucial to maintaining a vibrant and healthy mind and reducing stress!
