Why Overcoming Challenges is Good For Cognition
Most people have those moments where it seems like your brain tells you to stop working on a task. You may suddenly feel like it’s not worth the effort it takes to study, finish reading your book, or continue practicing a skill. And we can’t totally blame ourselves for this! It’s part of human nature to seek the path of least resistance and try to avoid frustrating obstacles. However, there are countless benefits to taking the more difficult path and toughing out the challenges. Let’s explore how overcoming challenges is good for cognition and the brain!
The Neuroscience of Effort and Challenge
Engaging in challenging activities is of course, challenging! The challenge is what makes it so beneficial. Working on something difficult stimulates the brain in various ways, potentially leading to cognitive growth, increased resilience, and improved mental health. Here’s how:
- Neuroplasticity: The brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections is known as neuroplasticity. When we tackle difficult tasks, our brain rewires itself, strengthening existing connections and creating new pathways. This process enhances our ability to learn and adapt.
- Increased Brain Volume: Studies have shown that engaging in complex tasks regularly can increase the volume of grey matter in the brain. Grey matter is crucial for processing information, memory, and decision-making.
- Enhanced Cognitive Functions: When completed regularly, effortful activities may improve cognitive functions such as attention, memory, problem-solving, and critical thinking. These improvements are linked to the brain’s increased efficiency in processing information.
- Stress Management: Facing and overcoming challenges helps the brain develop better mechanisms for managing stress. This resilience can reduce the negative impact of stress on cognitive functions.
Benefits of Perseverance and Hard Work
The act of trying hard and not giving up when faced with obstacles offers numerous cognitive and mental health benefits. Not only does regular cognitive effort help to increase brain volume which is linked to improved memory, problem-solving, and more – but it can also help our confidence, motivation, and emotional regulation.
Successfully overcoming challenges boosts confidence and self-belief, which are essential for mental well-being and motivation. For example, if you are trying to go for a run twice a week, it’s easy to give into the temptation to skip running and simply drop the goal. But if you push past that initial instinct, and go for the run instead, you’ll likely feel more confident and proud. This can push you to want to do it again next week! Just as neuroplasticity can help us build new habits, so can increased confidence and an understanding of the rewards you might reap from following through.
How to Persevere
Obviously, persevering through obstacles is much easier said than done! If you have a lot of trouble pushing through the desire to give up, you’re not alone. The best way to begin building your perseverance muscles is to start slowly.
Set small, measurable goals
There’s a reason why gyms tend to be extremely busy every January and not so busy in later months. People tend to try to reach goals so quickly that they have no framework for how to make continuous progress and work steadily towards their goal. Small steps are key!
For example, if your goal is to learn a new language, beginning by trying to study for hours each day is a sure way to get discouraged and avoid working on your goal. Instead, just take a small step each day.
You could try spending just 10 minutes each day learning the language using an app. And maybe once you’re able to steadily do that for a few months, you can try making it a bit harder. You could start studying for 15 minutes a day. If you’re able to keep that up, try to write a short journal entry in the language after your study session each day. This way, you build up the challenge slowly, which helps to avoid overwhelm and makes it more likely that you can stick with it.
Using the SMART goal framework can be helpful when setting these small goals.
Set aside time
As you try to achieve small milestones and goals, it’s helpful to organize when you’ll work on these goals. Marking time in your calendar or planner can be helpful. If you have nothing else planned for that specific time, you’re more likely to take helpful steps toward your goal during that time.
Remember your reason
Whether you’re learning an instrument, trying to exercise more, working on recovering from a brain injury, learning a language, or trying to achieve more at work, there’s always a good reason for trying hard and overcoming challenges. When you get the urge to give up, remember why you want to work on this habit or goal in the first place.
Give yourself grace
Like we mentioned earlier – it’s part of human nature to avoid difficulties. There may always be an instinct to stop working hard, and there will be times when you slip up and don’t work toward your goal that day. That’s okay! Even if you haven’t worked on a goal in a year or more – every day is a new opportunity to start again. Remember that it’s normal to get discouraged, but pushing through will serve you in the long run.
Conclusion
Embracing challenges and putting in the effort to overcome them is not just about achieving goals; it’s about fostering brain health and enhancing cognitive wellbeing. The neuroscience behind effort and challenge reveals that our brains thrive when we push ourselves a little bit beyond our comfort zones. By integrating challenging activities and goals into our daily lives without overexerting ourselves, we can promote neuroplasticity, build resilience, and maybe even improve cognitive functions. So, the next time you face a difficult task, remember that trying hard and persevering has powerful benefits!
