Words shape thoughts and thoughts shape actions. If you have ever played sports you know this as fact. What do you do when someone makes two basketball shots in a row? Tell them that no one makes three.  Put your fingers in your ears when the ball bricks off the rim.  What does the guy on the free throw line do when taking his shot? Tells himself he is going to make it. Self-talk is just one way that words shape our thoughts.

Different languages associate gender with nouns. This affects the way that the same objects are viewed by different cultures.  This article from Newsweek does a much better job explaining why language changes the way different cultures view the world.

The power of words and thoughts are so strong that we have words that are not allowed to be said anymore in America.  Football teams are having to remove their nicknames because the words are offensive to people. Why does it matter to them? It matters because words shape thoughts and thoughts shape actions.

This brings me to the point of my blog.  I am starting a trend to eliminate the term “brain break”.  That term makes it seem like people who are exercising as a break from sitting are temporarily stopping their learning.  This bothers me. We know the science behind exercise.  “According to a study done by the Department of Exercise Science at the University of Georgia, even briefly exercising for 20 minutes facilitates information processing and memory functions.” When we move we are not taking a break we are creating a brain boost!

“Recent research from UCLA demonstrated that exercise increased growth factors in the brain- making it easier for the brain to grow new neuronal connections.” It is really simple.  The more we move the better it is for our brains. This is why I am publicly petitioning @gonoodle to get rid of the term “brain break”.  I believe that brain boost would be a much better term that will encourage people to move and make time to improve their learning.

Q1: What words in the English language really bother you? Why? #slowchatpe

Q2: What is a phrase that your ss say that drives you crazy? Why? #slowchatpe

Q3: What is a phrase that your co-workers say that drive you insane? Why? #slowchatpe

Q4: What is a phrase that your bosses say that grinds your gears? Why? #slowchatpe

Q5: What phrase motivates you the best? Why? #slowchatpe