By: Rocio Ramos
Next time someone tells you you’re too busy…
Anytime I talk to my mom on the phone, she recaps her day, or perhaps last few days, and I’m shocked at how busy she stays. Work, took the grandkids to basketball practice, bible study, took her mom to the doctor, helped her friends prepare food for Sunday’s mass service, and ironed a basket full of clothes; that’s really just an average day for her. I always tell her she needs to relax a bit more and maybe take a break, which I know she won’t do. Then I look at my average day and realize I am my mother’s daughter. I often consider why I pay rent for an apartment I use mostly just for sleep. My mother and I are not alone in this busy lifestyle. Many of us spend our days running errands, going to meetings and trying to keep up with every event in our calendar. While being busy has typically carried a negative connotation, a new study suggests otherwise.
A new study, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience and conducted by researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas, found that older adults, who reported having busier days, also had overall better cognitive function. The study took 330 healthy adults between the ages 50-89 and obtained busyness ratings using the Martin and Park Environment Demands Questionnaire and mental health by measuring 5 cognitive constructs: processing speed, working memory, episodic memory, reasoning and crystallized knowledge. Regardless of age and education, the busier the individual the more improved their brain processing, speed, working memory, and reasoning and vocabulary was. Furthermore, there was an especially strong association with busyness and episodic memory; ability to remember specific places, events and emotions.
The researchers did share that this doesn’t necessarily mean that being busy would improve cognitive function. Rather, that engaging in a healthy, busy lifestyle could perhaps allow your brain a better opportunity to grow and form new neural connections. Plus, reversely, it’s also possible that individuals with improved mental health could pursue a busier lifestyle. Either way, the link between keeping a busy and active life and mental health is undeniable; this includes staying physically active. Physical activity has been shown to increase availability of neurotransmitters, in addition to helping to keep your brain busy.
Keep in mind that in addition to staying active, you must also stay healthy. Being busy is ok as long as you’re still getting adequate sleep, proper nutrition and your busyness is more gratifying than stressful.
Stay busy, stay active and stay healthy! Prevention is the key!
