3. Set goals – small or big, but clear
Goals are not a luxury, but a basic necessity for a mentally healthy life. Without them, the brain stagnates – like a screen without a signal.
“If we lie on the couch and don’t get up for six months, we will have to learn to walk again. The same goes for neurons,” says Chernigovskaya. The goal can be a big achievement – learning a foreign language, writing a book – or a small project, such as perfecting recipes. The important thing is that it exists.
“Just wanting to ‘live longer’ is not enough. Living for the sake of living is like driving in circles. The brain needs to know where it’s going, at least roughly,” the professor adds.
Mental clarity is the result of work.
Old age is not a punishment, but a test. Those who have sought meaning throughout their lives, who have loved to think and develop their minds, go through the years with clarity and lucidity.
Keeping a mental flame alive is like keeping a fire going in a fireplace: if you forget to add wood, the flame goes out. The brain requires constant attention, challenge, and motivation—and then it will stay alive, bright, and ready for all stages of life.
