The Five Microhabits That Rewire Your Brain for Longevity

This morning the headline “5 Microhabits That Wire Your Brain for Longevity” grabbed my attention. I’m happy to report we practice four of them each time we do Qigong! You may also appreciate the article’s focus on how little time is necessary to strengthen your brain’s neuroplasticity, or ability to adapt to change. Thus, the term “microhabits”:  this change can happen in as few as two minutes.

Along with how quickly brain conditioning for longevity can occur, the article makes another cogent point: the importance of regularly repeated practice. “The trick is consistency…Small, daily actions…create what behavioral scientists call habit loops-cues, behaviors, and rewards that, when repeated over time, rewire the brain’s baseline. These shifts aren’t just cognitive-they’re structural. Even two minutes of the right activity can nudge your brain toward a more resilient, long-lived trajectory.” (click here for article)

If you practice Qigong, much of this will be familiar. For instance, we begin each class with about two minutes of slow, mindful breathing (#1). We learn novel concepts and challengingly unfamiliar movements and forms like the Shibashi 18 (#2). Of course, we always nudge our brains toward flexible adaptability by doing everything to both the left, and the right sides. (#3) And finally, Qigong reminds us of how beautifully and powerfully nature nourishes and strengthens our mind, body, and spirit (#4).

One last note: The fifth microhabit mentioned in the article, “imagery rescripting” reminds me of what we do when we practice the healing sounds, and use vocalized vibrations to transform negative emotions into their positive counterparts. Interestingly, I was taught that it’s especially powerful to do this practice right before sleep, to encourage deep rest and rejuvenation. Apparently, it can also rewire our minds and create “psychological resilience.” (ibid) Once again, those early Taoists really knew what they were doing!