When confronted with the emotional stress of dealing with seriously ill children, neurosurgeon Katrina Firlik wrote … “The truth is we are trained to do a job: recognize a problem, come up with a solution, and execute that plan. Our ability to actually do something protects us from what you might expect would be a chronic depressive state.”

Have you ever thought about how you are shaped for either well-being or trauma, by what you do. It may seem simplistic at first, except that we now know from magnetic imaging that the brain’s plasticity is altered through the night as we sleep, because of what we did that day.

This explains why depressed people who complain about dirty or disorganized homes find healing if they simply clean or organize a small section each day … say, for 20 minutes. Similarly, people who fear dogs, tend to lose that fear if they care for a friend’s pet for a day.

Simply do and your brain mysteriously reboots for new chances to solve a problem, or carry you past a barrier that slows you down. I like to think of doing as the brain’s way of tweaking two-bit solutions into grand plans.

It may simply mean a slight change. Last month the MITA Brain Based Center grew far busier than we could handle at times, and my schedule found me up working until wee hours of the morning, night after night. The pattern turned my day upside down, as I found it harder to get up at the crack of dawn when I like to write, and hard to sleep much before 3:00 AM.

Because of the shift in times, and loss of my creative space, I decided to do things differently to rewire for more productive days again. First, I turned out the lights at 10:00 PM, and simply listened to classical music until I slept. Sure enough - within two days I awoke ready to greet my muse at 5:00 AM.

Sometimes, the brain needs a bit of help from us, as Dr. Firlik implied. Yet when I think about all a human brain gives back in the day through multiple intelligence options - the doing of a thing to rewire for better neuron pathways, seems a small cost to pay. What do you plan to do today? I’m taking in a Georgia O’Keefe show at the Rochester Art Gallery with the extra time I wired in because I did more work in the morning today.

Few would dispute the importance of a good night’s sleep for the brain to function well and remain alert during the day. Power naps work well when conditions are right, according to sleep experts at Harvard University. And some people seem to get by on less sleep. Take Yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur, who sailed solo around the world, and power napped for very short periods. But what about those who have trouble sleeping at night, and who tend to nod off during the day? The normal brain requires about 8 hours of sleep nightly, to reboot, and regular interruptions could a serious trigger to bigger health problems, according to a new study.

If you tend to fall asleep during the day, you’ll be interested in new research that shows daytime sleepiness can put people at risk for cardiovascular problems. Check out the details in the December 1st issue of the journal, Sleep. Assessment of brain activity helps researchers to spot regions of the brain which differ between healthy and unhealthy sleepers. Research typically involves sleep studies, PET and MRI scans as well as follow-up care.

The 86 participants in this study averaged 47 year in age, and show daytime sleepiness decreased cardiac function. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reported the study’s conclusion that daytime sleepiness from Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA, can raise the risk for cardiovascular problems.

OSA follows when tissue at the back of a person’s throat collapses and blocks the airway. Because air is blocked from reaching the lungs, sleep is disturbed. The best cure reported at this point, is a steady stream of pressurized air breathed in through a mask worn during sleep. The flow of air holds the airway open and restores normal oxygen levels.

Not sure where you stand on the awake - asleep exchange? You’ll find many more answers to this problem at SleepEducation.com - which updates information often and lists sleep facilities you can contact. Sleep well!

Last week found me down with strep throat and fevers and I am glad it’s over. I especially missed golf and walking, but as I lounged around drinking tea, I thought about the relationship between walking and focusing. No wonder we create more when we walk. You could say that kinesthetic intelligence works in your favor - while you simply enjoy the ride, or more precisely - the walk.

Those who created the scholar’s walk, with 40 bur oak trees and monuments to celebrate innovation and success at the University of Minnesota, remind us that walking and accomplishments have a great deal in common. Have you found that to be the case?

To walk for focus is to gain benefits that research has barely begun to tap. We become mindful of things otherwise missed when we walk. Not only do the sounds, sights and aromas bring an awareness of things outside ourselves, but experiencing wind, sun, and sounds of nature stirs up new reactions that draw from different parts of the brain.

When your body’s in motion your mind grows more alert due to the extra surge of oxygen it gets from the exercise. Some people describe experiences that bring immense enjoyment when they walk - and that experience also triggers serotonin to the brain. When you consider that the brain requires 21% of the body’s oxygen, you see why we need that daily stroll just to focus in on daily challenges we all face.

If you are not used to walking, you might enjoy starting in an area close by, and walking briskly for about 20 minutes at first. Open spaces work well, and if you can avoid heavily traffic areas, that too is good for the focus you can expect here. After twenty minutes ask yourself this question…. What one insight did this walk bring, that could zip in some area of my life? The answer to that question will likely also add incentive to tie on those hiking shoes for another round.