Anthony Fredericks, Contributor
Miguel Gabaldon Ferrer | Getty Images
At 78 years old, my brain is just as sharp and productive as ever.
I’ve written more than 175 books over the course of my career — on a wide range of topics, including marine biology, job interviews, ancient trees, creativity, baseball, dinosaurs, American history, resume writing, tsunamis, and Mother Goose. I also spent over three decades as a professor and worked with more than 100 schools across North America as a consultant.https://dbc9b00a64af74d6c9f1f7aa1768923d.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-45/html/container.html?n=0
Even though I’m retired now, I still write books, give presentations, and blog about psychology. My secret to staying sharp is simple: I am constantly curious.
Our brain’s chemistry changes when we become curious. Curiosity is what sharpens our intellectual powers, and keeps us mentally active well into our golden years. Here are my four hard rules for keeping my brain sharp and quick:
1. I embrace my ignorance
There’s a common belief that knowledge is the key to success. But growing research suggests that some of the most successful people embrace their own “innate ignorance.”
They understand that there is much more to learn about the world, but they don’t let that impede their progress. If anything, it galvanizes them to do more. Knowing what we don’t know can be a powerful mindset shift that sparks growth and creativity.
How to do this: Once or twice a week, select a topic you know little about, preferably one unrelated to your job or background. Maybe it’s WWII fighter pilots, prehistoric cave paintings, or square-trunked trees.
Spend five to 10 minutes learning all you can about that topic. Write down three interesting facts. This is a small but powerful way to exercise your brain.
2. I practice divergent thinking
Many of us get trapped in an endless cycle of convergent thinking, or always looking for the “right” answers.
But I’ve spent my entire career as an educator, and I can tell you that most schools trained us to focus on facts (“What is the capital of Pennsylvania?”), rather than creative answers (“Where do you think the capital Pennsylvania should be located?”).
Divergent questions, or open-ended questions that have multiple answers, encourage deeper thinking and help keep your mind flexible.
How to do this: A few times a week, ask yourself “What if…?” questions:
- What if you could relive any day of your life? What would you do?
- What if one historic event could be reversed? Which one would you select?
- What if you could be perfect in one athletic skill or talent? Which would it be?
Not only are these questions fun, they can also generate a number of responses and paths for exploration.
3. I harness the power of awe
According to researchers at the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, experiencing awe can stimulate wonder and curiosity.
Some examples can be holding a newborn baby, seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time, or watching a kaleidoscope of butterflies dance over an open field. That sense of awe can improve our well-being, contribute to a more positive attitude, and boost curiosity.
How to do this: Once or twice a month, go to a place you’ve never been before. It doesn’t have to be somewhere far — maybe a local park or new restaurant. Find something awesome, spend time observing, and record your thoughts.
4. I diversify my reading list
Reading outside our field of expertise may be one of the most significant things we can do to develop our natural curiosity. When we expose ourselves to different ways of thinking through literature, we open up new possibilities for learning.
Even after 50 years of teaching, my current reading list includes books not on education, but on marketing strategies, paleontology, growing tomatoes, British narrowboats, island ecology, long distance running, and redwood trees, among many others.
How to do this: Visit your local public library and pick at least three books on topics that interest you, but that you’ve never formally studied or worked in. Read at least one chapter a day. You might be surprised by where your research takes you.
Anthony D. Fredericks, Ed.D., is professor emeritus of education at York College of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Psychology Today’s Creative Insights blog, and has written over 100 nonfiction books including “From Fizzle to Sizzle: The Hidden Forces Crushing Your Creativity and How You Can Overcome Them, “Two-Minute Habits: Small Habits, Dynamic Creativity,” and his latest “In Search of the Old Ones: An Odyssey among Ancient Trees.″ Follow him on LinkedIn.
