Creativity and innovation stand as pivotal drivers for success and expansion in the dynamic and competitive landscape of today. Whether one identifies as a writer, an artist, an entrepreneur, or a professional seeking novel concepts, tapping into creativity is imperative. Neurofeedback brain training presents an advanced method for unleashing creative potential and nurturing innovative thinking.

In this blog, we delve into the realm of neurofeedback brain training, exploring its role in amplifying creativity and innovation.

NeurOptimal, a neurofeedback system designed to optimize brain function by providing real-time feedback on brain activity, doesn't directly enhance creativity but indirectly aids it by fostering a more balanced and flexible brain state.

Here's how NeurOptimal contributes to cultivating creativity:

1. Stress Reduction: Excessive stress and anxiety can impede creative thinking. NeurOptimal helps users attain a relaxed state of mind, diminishing the negative impact of stress on cognitive processes. A stress-free mind is more open to creative ideas and problem-solving.

2. Improved Focus and Attention: NeurOptimal sessions enhance focus and attention by training the brain for optimal attentiveness. Heightened focus allows individuals to concentrate better on creative tasks, facilitating a deeper exploration of ideas.

3. Enhanced Brain Connectivity: NeurOptimal aims to improve communication between different brain regions, promoting better overall connectivity. This heightened connectivity fosters increased integration of ideas and information, potentially fueling more innovative and creative thinking.

4. Altered Cognitive Patterns: Creativity often involves breaking away from rigid cognitive patterns. NeurOptimal's sessions encourage the brain to be more flexible and adaptable in its thinking, potentially leading to more imaginative thoughts.

5. Enhanced Problem-Solving: By promoting mental clarity and reducing distractions, NeurOptimal improves problem-solving abilities. A more optimized brain state aids in generating innovative ideas, crucial for creative thinking.

Beyond fostering creativity, NeurOptimal contributes to enhancing innovation by promoting cognitive and emotional attributes conducive to the innovation process.

Here's how NeurOptimal aids innovation:

1. Enhanced Cognitive Flexibility: Innovation demands thinking outside conventional norms. NeurOptimal encourages cognitive flexibility, enabling individuals to approach problems from various angles and consider unconventional solutions.

2. Reduced Mental Blocks: NeurOptimal supports a more open and receptive mindset, reducing mental blocks that hinder exploring new ideas, a key aspect of innovation.

3. Increased Adaptability: Innovators need to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. NeurOptimal's focus on brain optimization enhances adaptability, making it easier to adjust strategies when faced with challenges.

4. Emotional Regulation: Emotions play a significant role in innovation. NeurOptimal aids in emotional regulation, helping individuals manage emotions effectively and maintain a positive outlook during the innovation process.

5. Improved Collaborative Abilities: NeurOptimal's stress reduction and communication improvement may lead to enhanced collaboration among individuals involved in the innovation process.

6. Increased Resilience: Innovation involves overcoming setbacks. NeurOptimal helps build resilience, enabling individuals to bounce back from challenges and pursue innovative ideas with determination.

7. Enhanced Learning and Adaptation: NeurOptimal improves learning capabilities, making it easier for individuals to acquire new knowledge and adapt to emerging trends and technologies, crucial for successful innovation.

Final Thoughts: Neurofeedback brain training through NeurOptimal provides a groundbreaking avenue for unlocking enhanced creativity and fostering innovation. It is crucial to recognize that its impact on creativity varies among individuals, given the complexity of this cognitive process influenced by personal traits, experiences, and environmental factors. While NeurOptimal can be a supportive tool in the creative process, it's not a guaranteed solution.

Moreover, NeurOptimal is not a magic bullet for innovation. Innovation involves a multifaceted process influenced by various factors, and NeurOptimal can serve as a valuable tool to optimize brain functioning. However, successful innovation requires a combination of creativity, problem-solving, strategic planning, and execution. Results may vary, and maintaining realistic expectations is essential. At Neurofeedback Perth, we offer the state-of-the-art neurofeedback technology NeurOptimal® to help you achieve your brain training goals. Contact us on 0402 041 561 to learn more about unlocking the full potential of your brain.

Does your teen struggle with homework? Is he frustrated or acting out? These are signs that your child is feeling overwhelmed. 

Life with a teenager can be difficult at times. It’s important to acknowledge the difference between daily ups and downs, and more serious signs that you don’t want to ignore. How can you tell the difference between normal teen problems and stress, and when a parent needs to step up and intervene?

1. Avoiding homework and study

Avoiding homework and studying is a good sign that school is becoming too overwhelming. Some people can tolerate stress and even help motivate them, but when stress gets too high for others, it can be easier to avoid it by running away from responsibilities. If you are noticing a shift in your teen’s study habits or an avoidance of a big project, it’s important to discuss what fears or stressors they may be feeling.  

2. Fidgety and frustrated 

If you notice your teen is having a hard time accomplishing school-related tasks, or that they are less organised or more easily frustrated, this could be a sign that they are stressed out. When stress rises to intolerable levels, functioning often becomes compromised. It is critical to notice these sign of stress and offer support. Helping your teen acknowledge that they might be feeling excessive stress, normalising the experience, and then offering tips to help can be valuable.

3. Isolating more than usual 

Every teen and person is different, some people are naturally introverted and prefer to spend time alone. Others like to be more social. So it's important to look for any changes in your teen’s behaviour. Has your teen been spending more time alone at night and on the weekend? Are they willing to talk about this or are they avoiding the topic altogether?  It's important to give someone space but it's also important to communicate that you care and support your teen, even if they aren’t willing to hear or acknowledge it.

4. Struggling in class

If the school if contacting you with any concerns about your teen, it’s a clear sign that they need some assistance. When stress starts showing up in the classroom or in their relationships with others, then it’s necessary to help find some healthy coping strategies.  It's important to remember that most acting out at school reflect pain or overwhelming feelings that the teen is struggling with, not a desire to be self-destructive.

Start by communicating concern rather than anger, and openness rather than telling them that they are doing something wrong. Ensure you are empathetic and remember how tough it was when you yourself was a teenager.

Once you have identified that your teen is more stressed out than usual, then you need to think about what you can do. Doing what you usually do to destress as a family is always a good place to start. Asking for help at your child's school or from your trusted friends and family can also be of assistance.

Other strategies you could try are:  

1.  Neurofeedback for stress is an effective brain training method that teaches self-regulation and helps build resilience and flexibility.  When we self-regulate, we are reducing stress.  I recommend it for teens because unlike other stress management tools it does not require them to exert themselves other than to sit still listening to music for just half an hour.

NeurOptimal Neurofeedback system is a completely non-invasive technology that works by tracking the brain's electrical activity. The software then provides auditory feedback that triggers what is called the orienting response. This response regulates the brain’s ability to sense a change in the environment and take in new information about what is different.  One of the common immediate results of neurofeedback is a feeling of calm during and after the session.

2. Mindfulness Meditation for teens is another great way to support a stressed mind and body. It is a tool that helps teenagers be able to identify and work with their thoughts and feelings. Meditation is beneficial during the teen years when they are developmentally trying to understand who they are as individuals.  It creates a speed bump so they can become more familiar with themselves and understand and accept the ever-changing thoughts, emotions, and moods they experience. 

Today, there are many meditation tools to help with managing stress.  Your teen could watch a Youtube video or download an app like Buddhify or Headspace.  

3.  Exercise can be a very helpful tool for stress. Some kids get enough sport at school, but many don't. A walk through the neighbourhood or on the beach can be a great starting point. It’s a good idea to find out what activities they enjoy, so they are motivated to be regular at it. You know your child best and should think creatively about ways to engage him or her around exercise.  

Teaching your teens through modelling stress management by your own actions is also a powerful way to communicate the importance of a healthy lifestyle.  Don't be shy about finding creative approaches with your teen if he or she is resistant to more conventional supports. Remember that you can help your teen feel calm and centred and help them create healthy habits that can last their lifetime.  

NeurOptimal® brain training works as a ‘detection and monitoring’ system of the changes in cortical patterns within the brain.  It mimics the communication of your  Central Nervous System (CNS) by ‘mirroring’ the brain activity that can be undermining optimal brain function.

You can think of NeurOptimal® training as holding up a mirror to your brain. Imagine you had not seen yourself in a mirror in a long time. Once you see your reflection you naturally start adjusting yourself, maybe standing a little taller, straightening up your hair and so on. The mirror provides the information you need to correct and adjust yourself. And so it is with the brain.

The brain has an inherent ability to self-correct when given the right information and NeurOptimal® is designed to provide the brain with the information it needs to make its own adjustments. Inconsistency, or abrupt changes in electrical activity in the brain, undermines optimal functioning of the brain. NeurOptimal® detects these abrupt changes and informs the brain of these sudden shifts through interruptions in the sound you are listening to. These almost imperceptible pauses invite your central nervous system to pull away from this less-than-ideal path it was on. This happens over and over until the natural self-correction becomes your new normal and your brain functions more efficiently, effectively and comfortably. When this happens, you sleep better, are less stressed, can focus more easily and feel the joy of an easier life, despite the challenges you may face from the outside.

This approach to training is unique to NeurOptimal®. Training with NeurOptimal® allows your brain — and you — to become more flexible, more resilient.

And a better brain means a better life!

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. It’s more than just feeling stressed or worried. While stress and anxious feelings are a common response to difficult circumstances, they usually pass once the situation has passed, or the ‘stressor’ has been removed.

When the anxious feelings don’t go away and they're ongoing and happen without any particular reason, it’s called anxiety. Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Beyond Blue states that on average, one in four people – one in three women and one in five men – will experience anxiety at some stage in their life. In a 12-month period, over two million Australians experience anxiety.

Anxiety disorders can affect relationships, work, sleep, and the ability to relax and enjoy yourself. Symptoms can include feelings of fear, dread, nausea, fatigue, trembling, poor concentration, and in severe cases a “panic attack, whereby the central nervous system is overloaded.

When someone feels anxious or afraid, their body goes into an alert ‘fight or flight’ state. The sympathetic nervous system and brain is cued, as norepinephrine and cortisol hormones flood the body. This boosts speed, reflexes, perception, while speeding up respiration and the heart rate and slowing down digestion. When the situation is over, the parasympathetic nervous system works to calm the body down for recovery.

People suffering with anxiety find it difficult to calm down. Their thoughts overflow, their stress levels are sky-high, panic sets in. When unmanageable it affects their life socially, physically and mentally, often avoiding specific situations and friends.

Severe anxiety can be very unhealthy for the mind and the body. Brain research has showed that it can be toxic to brain cells and can alter brain physiology. Brain scans show that the amygdala area of the brain, which processes fear, grows in size, while the hippo-campus area of the brain shrinks, harming long-term memory. Hypertension, insomnia, depression, diabetes and digestive disorders are a few of the possible physical effects of chronic stress and severe anxiety.

On the positive side, brains are neuroplastic, resilient and are continuously able to make new connections. They are able to learn new ways of responding and have the ability to break out of negative patterns. Neurofeedback training is an all-natural approach that can create long-term changes in brain function. These changes go to the source of the anxiety — imbalanced brainwaves in the brain itself.

Essentially, when the Central Nervous System (CNS) becomes dysregulated, a variety of symptoms such as anxiety can appear. With Neurofeedback you learn to self-regulate, which calms the nervous system, thereby reducing or eliminating anxious symptoms.

 There is an extensive body of research that demonstrates the effectiveness of Neurofeedback for those experiencing anxiety and numerous other concerns, which you can view here: https://www.isnr.org/isnr-comprehensive-bibliography.

If you suffer stress and anxiety, try Neurofeedback - it’s very effective, safe, non-invasive, medication-free and very relaxing and enjoyable.

We all know the benefits of keeping fit. It’s very common knowledge that exercising every day or at least a few times a week is highly recommended and has many, many benefits for your physical and mental well-being.

But what about your mental fitness? Did you know your brain, just like your body, is responsive to “exercise”? Just like have a fitness regime, you can also create a training schedule that functions like a gym for your brain. Neurofeedback is especially effective. This is a non-invasive, drug-free, highly safe and naturopathic means of training your brain for better performance and improved overall wellness. Thirty-three minutes is all it takes, as you sit back in a recliner chair listening to music. It’s the opposite of a workout in this respect – it’s more like a relaxing meditation – which you may like after going to the gym!

Neurofeedback sessions is like yoga for your brain. And just like physical exercise, a consistent neurofeedback regimen has all kinds of benefits including more restful sleep, reduced stress and anxiety, improved memory and concentration, more focus and awareness,  and many more as listed on the Neurofeedback Perth website.

In a way, neurofeedback training (otherwise known as biofeedback) builds “muscle” and “burns fat”. It trains your central nervous system to work more efficiently, and that results in many significant life improvements including:

1. Resilience: just like exercise builds endurance, neurofeedback can help your mind “bounce back” from day-to-day challenges and stressors. When you are emotional overwhelmed, the brain can become consumed with thoughts and not function at its best. Neurofeedback can help your brain cope better with these daily life occurrences, so you can function better.

2. Flexibility: Stress, inactivity and natural ageing can make you physically stiff and inflexible. If you don’t consistently exercise, your body is forced to work harder to accomplish even basic daily physical tasks. Similarly, neurofeedback works your brain’s “muscles” and makes it so that daily tasks consume less mental effort. Instead of staying stuck on a problem, brain training helps your brain find better solutions.

3. Stress Reduction: One of the primary benefits of physical exercise is that it triggers the release of endorphins, hormones and chemicals that help de-stress our bodies. Neurofeedback, in a very different way, is very relaxing, often being likened to meditation and is excellent for stress reduction.

4. Focus: Yoga is probably the best exercise that encourages mental discipline through sustained concentration. Similarly, neurofeedback helps to improve consistent focus and concentration. Essentially, neurofeedback teaches your brain to pay attention without all the sweat of a yoga class!

5. Core strength: Some types of exercise can isolate certain muscle groups for improved strength, but not strengthen other areas of the body. The problem resulting in your body is out of balance – for example you may have strong arms and have weak legs. NeurOptimal Neurofeedback training doesn’t spotlight any particular area of the brain. Instead, it is a “whole brain” approach, much like how rowing and yoga benefits your whole body, this type of neurofeedback builds “core strength” within your brain.

So after your gym training session, why don’t you come in for a brain training session?

I’m Perth born and bred love living near the water - being a Cancerian water sign I’ve found this is important to me. One of my favourite things therefore is going for long beach walks. Perth arguably have some of the very best beaches in the world. My favourite walk is Mosman Park up to Leighton and Port beach. For a short walk I take my pooch (Mosman Park is a dog beach) but at Leighton and Port beaches no dogs are allowed.

I also love going to dog-friendly cafes. My local cafes in Mosman Park are Gill St Cafe, Good Things, and in Cottesloe Cimbalino and Vans. All these places make fabulous coffee and have a place to place the pooch.

My 12 year old son and I love to have a weekly Sunday adventure. This is something different every week and includes:

• Mini golf at Wembley Golf Complex (neurofeedback is excellent to improve your golf game!)

• Cockburn ARC water slides

• A walk through Kings Park with the dog

• Going for a SUP (we both have boards but there are places to hire them if you don’t)

• Going to the movies - Fremantle or Innaloo are our go-to’s

• Having for brunch or lunch out (my son’s fave place is Grill’d, mine are Bib N Tucker in North Fremantle and Odyssey in City Beach)

• Going to the Fremantle Markets

• Catching the train to Elizabeth Quay

• Going to Rottnest Island for the day or weekend

• Visiting up to Hillary’s Boat Harbour

• Going snorkelling at Mettam’s Pool

• Going for a drive to the Swan Valley - the Chocolate Factory for my son and wine tasting for me

• Having a swim at Scarborough’s beach pool

• Having fish and chips in Cottesloe watching the sun go down on a hot summer’s day.

This list regularly grows, so will come back to this again.

Do you have any suggestions we can do this Sunday?

Prior to your first session we will discuss what you would like to get out of Neuroptimal and have you fill out a brief questionnaire to determine any complaints and/or challenges that have brought you into our clinic. This is of course optional.

The certified trainer will attach tiny sensors on your scalp and three clips on your ears to pick up the delicate electrical activity of your brain. Much like an EKG or ECG, the NeurOptimal system is simply reading this signal. Nothing invasive is involved with the training process.

NeurOptimal neurofeedback is naturopathic and does not “push” the brain in any particular direction. The system merely cues your central nervous system to do what is naturally best for your brain.

NOTE: We advise you arrive at your session without any hair products or earrings where possible as these may interfere with the signal required to run the session.

During the session you will either sit or lie back in a comfortable recliner chair (whichever you prefer) and put in headphones.  Once you are happy and comfortable we simply start running the NeurOptimal software. A training session is relaxing, enjoyable and typically lasts about 35 minutes. As the session starts, you will hear music play through the headphones and you can watch relaxing geometric images gently morph across a computer screen, or close your eyes. You will hear occasional “skips” or interruptions in the music – this is the signal that prompts your brain to “reset” and optimise itself. You don’t have to do anything while all this is happening. It’s all right to close your eyes , zone out, meditate or even fall asleep and your unconscious brain will do it's job. You will likely feel incredibly calm and some users often reach a meditative state. 

At the end of a session, you will typically feel less stressed and more mentally clear.  Users report that as they walk out feeling “lighter and brighter” – an effect that can last as long as a week after your visit. This feeling is a natural by-product of the session itself. The real changes occur hours or even days after the session has finished. As your training progresses session by session, you may notice changes and improvements in every corner of your life. You may feel more stable, more resilient, more mentally focused and flexible, and you may even find that you’re excelling at physical activities as well as mental enterprises.

How many sessions will I need?

“How long will it take?” is a question many clients ask (second only to “What results can I expect”?).  There is no standard answer to this question because everyone’s central nervous system is unique. While we cannot predict what your brain will do with the information it receives from our neurofeedback training, we can offer a few guidelines.

The Six Session “Rule”

We often tell clients that they will likely notice SOMETHING shift within six sessions. Early on, clients commonly report shifts in their sleep patterns, feeling well rested, having an improved outlook and engaging more effectively with colleagues or loved ones. Changes you experience may or may not be related to the goals you came in with, but generally speaking, any kind of shift is a positive indication that the NeurOptimal® brain training is working as designed.

Specifically, clients describe feeling clearer, calmer, lighter or brighter for a few hours after the session – a feeling that typically will last through the week, from one neurofeedback training session to the next (weekly sessions being the most common). Eventually, this new centered way of being becomes their “new normal”. Only if they get thrown off by a negative event  -a bad day at work, chemicals, a knock on the head - might they drop into the way they felt before. But generally, they will not dip as deeply into emotional discomfort and will more than likely bounce back from challenging situations much more quickly and easily.

The “New Normal” Threshold

How much neurofeedback training does it take to get to your “new normal”? As NeurOptimal® has improved and evolved, reaching a new, improved baseline for users has become quicker and quicker. We used to say at least 20 sessions were necessary to help with issues bothering you in the "here and now"; 30 plus sessions for "deeper" problems that originated earlier in life. Now we are now finding significant results occur in much less time. Today, it is possible you could be feeling much better in fewer than 10 neurofeedback training sessions.

In the end, the more brain training you do, the more the positive effects will stay with you. Much like learning a language or a physical skill like rollerblading,  “practice makes perfect”. The more sessions you undergo, the better your brain fitness.

You can stop whenever you feel ready and return for booster sessions to tune up and strengthen what your brain has already learned. You will never lose what you have, even if your brain’s optimal operation becomes a little rusty. In fact, many clients continue brain training on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to maintain their brain fitness for a lifetime. NeurOptimal® is non-invasive and naturopathic, so it may be used as long as you like. Similar to the benefits of exercise for the body, neurofeedback can be an important tool for brain health, as it keeps the central nervous system in tip-top shape. You can make NeurOptimal® neurofeedback training central to your personal brain fitness program as you age.

The brain is a wondrous and complex organ. It regulates every aspect of the body and cognitive performance including movement, impulse control, reasoning, memory and breathing - just to name a few!

In order to obtain optimal wellness and a high quality of life, we must nurture our brains and live in a way that optimizes brain function. A variety of natural approaches exist to help accomplish this goal.

1. Get positive

Start the day with a mantra such as "Today is going to be the best day ever!" or “What good shall I do today?"

Positive thinking helps manage stress and can improve your health. These words can put you in the right mindset for the day ahead. But what makes a day good or bad isn't the events that occur, but rather your response to them.

 2. Mentally prepare and visualize your success

Practicing visualisation ten minutes a day can harness the power of your subconscious mind. Simply close your eyes and imagine yourself excelling and being the best you. Put yourself in situations where you shine, visualizing the best possible outcome. Include as much detail in your visualizations as possible, using all of your senses and making your "training" even more powerful.

For people who have trouble closing their eyes and "seeing anything," use a pen and paper and writing out how you want your day to unfold. Be as specific as possible, and be sure to keep it positive.

The purpose of all of this is to pass command from your conscious mind to your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind wants to believe what you tell it (good or bad) and it will do whatever it takes to turn those commands into reality.

4. Read a book - even if it's just a page a day

Reading can boost your intelligence, increase your brainpower and even strengthen your ability to empathize with other people. Reading has also been found to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's by more than double - all this while helping you feel more relaxed at the same time!

5. Eat a plant-based diet with lots of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids

Eating too much sugary, highly processed food is bad for the body and the brain. It can alter blood flow to the brain and impair cognition. This is one reason why diabetes is a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction. Our brains need glucose to function and more natural whole foods provide a slower and more constant source of fuel.

Antioxidants can be easily added to the diet by consuming a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains and green tea.

Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy fats that are positively associated with brain function. Experts believe omega-3s improve the health of brain cell membranes, allowing greater communication between cells. In fact, deficiencies in omega-3s have been linked to increased risk of various disorders including ADHD, dyslexia and depression. Foods that contain omega-3s include walnuts, flax seed, kiwi fruit, salmon and other oily fish.

6. Practice stress management

Stress results in the release of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol causes inflammation and has been shown to be toxic to the nerve cells in the brain and can kill brain cells and cause memory loss. Chronic stress may also deplete the body of nutrients that are critical to brain health.

Many relaxation techniques and coping strategies are available to counteract the negative impact of stress. Consider trying yoga, meditation, or deep breathing techniques. Meditation offers a brain boost. In addition to lowering stress, it has been shown to increase cerebral blood flow and activate certain parts of the brain to improve concentration, focus and mood.

7. Exercise

Consistent exercise can generate new cells and blood vessels in the brain, and increase the brain’s volume principally in the frontal and temporal areas involved in executive control such as planning and working memory. 

8. Make sleep a priority

Sleep is necessary for our nervous systems to work properly. It gives us “downtime” for growth and repair. Studies indicate that many of the body’s cells show increased production and reduced breakdown of proteins during sleep.

9. Be purposeful and connected

Get together with your friends and do something meaningful. People who have a rich social network and who have a clear purpose in life have been shown to have a decreased instance of Alzheimer’s. The key is to increase the frequency of positive experiences. Enjoying pleasurable activities, doing something that seems to make time stand still, spending time with loved ones, pursuing meaning in its many forms, and celebrating accomplishments stimulate the activity in your left prefrontal cortex.

10. Train your brain with NeurOptimal

NeurOptimal is the feedback that can tell your brain everything it needs to know about its behaviour. If a meditation session gives your brain a dozen insights about its behaviour, NeurOptimal gives the brain 250 signals per second! It is the fastest and most effective form of feedback for the brain. 

Basically neurofeedback provides a mirror to the brain to how it should work more optimally. It gives it the information it needs to perform at a more optimal level. One analogy is if you see yourself in the mirror and you’re slouching, you immediately straighten up. That’s what your brain does with neurofeedback, it auto corrects itself.

So start exercising your brain so it can function optimally. It can change your life in amazingly smart ways!

Contact me at Neurofeedback Perth on 0402041561 or neurofeedbackperth@gmail.com if you would like further information of how to optimise the power of your mind, body, spirit and life.

For many Christmas is a wonderful happy joyful time, yet for many it can be one of the most difficult times of the year. Some may be missing loved ones passed, or feeling lonely with family living elsewhere. For some people seeing old friends and family members may be exciting or it may bring up memories of disappointments and feeling hurt. So feeling depressed or anxious is not unusual during the holiday season. 

Essentially the healthier your family is, the less difficult holidays are. If you have more of a dysfunctional family, it’s important to have a survival plan.

Firstly, try not to have any expectations. The more we expect the more disappointment we will have when things don’t turn out as we hope. Instead try to be realistic, go with the flow and enjoy the present moment. Just being aware of how the holidays can wreak havoc on your emotions will help you better prepare. You don't want to be overly pessimistic going into it, but you do want to be realistic.

Identify each and every thing that's likely to trigger you. Then make a game plan for how you'll handle each one. Or just smile and nod. You can also try an all-purpose, but specific-to-family-drama mantra: "Today I'm giving my family the gift of tolerance." Deep breathing exercises are also powerful to use in combination with your mantra.

Ask for help if you need it. Reach out to others if you feel alone. Don’t self-sabotage and be a victim. Your loved ones want you to enjoy this special day.

Be true to yourself. Don’t take on more than you should. Do what is right for you – say “no” if you need to! Relax and spend time in nature – nurture yourself. Go for a walk on the beach. Dive into the ocean. Take your dog for a walk in the park. Water the garden. It doesn’t have to take long. Just long enough to refresh and renew your energy.

Don’t take things personally. Remember your boundaries. If someone tries to put you off balance, remind yourself not to personalise it. How people act and behave is a reflection of who they are and has nothing to do with you. Even though it can be tough, try not to personalise hurtful comments. 

Don’t expect people to change. Going into your holiday hoping people will be different this year just sets you up for disappointment. Remember: You are not your family; you are your own completely separate person.

Whether your family has profoundly hurt you or regularly offends you, use holiday time to become an even stronger person. No one can touch your thoughts, so think what you want, laugh to yourself and give yourself tremendous amounts of compassion as you navigate your complicated family landscape. When you meet dysfunction with incredibly healthy functioning on your part, you don’t hand over your emotions to anyone else.

Give yourself a healthy reminder that this is life, not a sparkly Christmas movie. Toss out all notions of achieving perfection, but try to create moments that are special to you. 

Nourish yourself with kindness, compassion and good food. Don’t binge on booze or food, just practice mindfulness, eat slowly, enjoy each mouthful, relax and find pleasure in your meals. Don’t beat yourself up if you over-indulge, as Christmas is often renown for. Just try and listen to your body wisdom and stop before you feel full. If you feel full but still want to taste all those delicious desserts, ask for a small portion to take home for tomorrow.

Schedule post-holiday self-care time. Boxing Day is the perfect day to do something for you. Make a plan to catch up with cherished friends, go watch a new movie by yourself, move your body with some kind of pleasurable exercise, go to the beach, or just curl up with a great novel for the day.

If Christmas being just around the corner seems all too over-whelming for you, then book in for a couple of neurofeedback sessions in December, as I’m offering 30% off until Christmas. Training your brain makes most things in life easier and it can help you find the ability to choose how to respond, rather than react in the same old way. That can make a big difference, especially at holiday time.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Neurofeedback Perth 

The brain is the centre of the human nervous system, governing our thoughts, feelings and movements; it filters and prioritizes all the information that bombards our senses even while we sleep; it controls our autonomic functions from swallowing and breathing to heart rate and perspiration; it constantly modifies our memories to improve our decision-making abilities and from early infancy it allows us to develop the self-awareness that makes us uniquely human.

Since you were born your brain has been developing and being fine tuned from the network of connections, associations, genetics and life experiences. Essentially life moulds your brain, and it has been described as 'plastic' meaning it will continue to develop throughout life. So it’s never too late to learn new information, change your thought processes and boost your brain power.

It’s important to keep working out your brain. You can do this my doing problem solving, puzzles, brain teasers, quizzes, learning new things, challenging yourself, being creative, performing mental tasks and doing neurofeedback.

Neurofeedback training is an all-natural approach that can create long-term changes in brain function. It uses a system of audio and visual feedback to re-train your brain, and bring it back to balance.

An amazing fact is the brain is so big and nutrient hungry that an estimated 25% of all our energy expenditure is used to power its 85 billion neurons; and new connections are formed between them every time you make a memory! All this brain size and flexibility is great news for those of you who recognise the importance of good brain health, stimulation and development.

Did you know that the hippocampus (a region of the brain associated with the consolidation of information from short-term to long-term memory and spatial navigation) continues to grow new brain cells well into old age?

So start exercising your brain so it can function optimally. It can change your life in amazingly smart ways!

Contact me at Neurofeedback Perth on 0402041561 or neurofeedbackperth@gmail.com if you would like further information of how to optimise the power of your mind, body, spirit and life.