Brain health is so 2025!

Hi Reader,

This week I handed in my second last assignment for my postgraduate certificate, only one to go now! It's a big one too, so wish me luck! Between uni and travelling back from interstate, it’s been a whirlwind few weeks.

This most recent assignment was on the ageing brain, and what I’ve learnt has really amplified what I knew about creativity and health.

We can and should be caring for our ageing brain right now.

If you are a similar age to me (45), Reader, midlife is the ideal time to adopt preventative lifestyle behaviours (if you are older, it is still not too late to do all you can to care for your brain).

Protective behaviours include regular exercise and healthy eating (the Mediterranean diet is the most evidence-rich whole diet for healthy brain ageing), but also prioritising social connection and creativity can protect against cognitive decline.

​Recent research (just last week, in fact) shows that staying creative, learning new things, exploring ideas, and expressing ourselves actually helps keep our brains younger for longer. These kinds of experiences strengthen neural connections and support areas most affected by ageing, such as memory, attention, and executive functioning.

Even better, the simple act of connecting with others creatively builds what scientists call cognitive reserve - our brain’s resilience against stress and ageing.

Whether you’re journaling, painting, photographing, dancing, drawing, or just staying curious, you’re doing something incredibly protective for your brain health. And, if you are doing it with others, even better! Creativity isn’t just self-expression; it’s brain healthcare.

Inside the Permission to Play (PTP) group, we’ve been living this first-hand. Our community shares ideas, experiments with new ways of creating, and supports one another, and it’s a powerful reminder that creativity and connection are health practices, not luxuries.

If you’ve been thinking about bringing more creativity (and calm) into your life, this weekend could be a perfect time to begin.

This Sunday night, I’ll be guiding a live creative mindfulness session.​
We’ll start with a short mindfulness activity, then move into an open mark-making practice to explore focused attention and flow.

You’ll just need something to draw or paint with and a piece of paper, no experience required.

If you’re part of the PTP group, I can’t wait to see you there.
​If you’re not yet a member, this is your invitation to join us and experience the benefits for yourself. It is FREE to come and have a curious look-see (I know you wnt to haha!)

Check out the link below to find out more or hit reply with any questions.

Let’s keep our brains curious, connected, and creative together.

Until soon.

Delphie Joy xox

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Loving these musings? I pour a lot of heart and soul into these emails. If you think someone you know might enjoy, forward it on!

Thanks for being here and sharing,

DelphieJoy xox

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I live and work on the traditional lands of the Jaggera and Turrabal First Nations People. I honour and respect this Country and the Elders, past, present and emerging and thank them for their continued care.

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