Rates of depression are higher now than for our grandparents and great-grandparents.
Ironically, their daily lives, which were often characterized by trials for sheer survival, were filled with activities some psychologists believe lead to better mental health.
Today, you and I enjoy the pleasures of the internet, fast food and automated everything. These so–called conveniences mean we no longer use some areas of our brains responsible for higher level functions.
And our brains are hard-wired to do difficult tasks and then reap the mental rewards for completing them.
Action – This week stop using at least one of your little gadgets and gizmos. Hide the remote for your entertainment center, do long division instead of using the calculator or use a hammer instead of an electric nail gun.
Give those underused and forgotten parts of you brain a little entertainment.
(Photo thanks to Robert Scoble at Flickr)