SharpBrains

Last month I wrote about the importance of social support and motivation as part of a good brain fitness program. I suggested that a Head Coach, with good knowledge of brain fitness principles, could help people get their brain fitness program “off the ground” and keep it moving in the right direction through supporting and assisting individuals with realistic brain fitness goals.

When we began developing the SharpBrains coaching model two months ago, we knew we were in uncharted waters. After some study, and a lot of interaction with members, a five stage SharpBrains Coaching Model emerged from the synapses of our minds. The five stages of the model are:

1. Engage
2. Assess
3. Plan
4. Train
5. Support

Next, we contemplated the coach role. The field is still in the early stages of development. The reality is that we all have much to learn from one another. We began coaching SharpBrains community members during the month of February. For the most part, members had purchased either MindFit, an individualized training program for mental stimulation, or Freeze-Framer, a program that teaches individuals how to manage stressful emotions. This post will focus on the use of the model with SharpBrains members; in particular, the first three stages - Engage, Assess, and Plan.

Engage: The goals of the Engage stage are to: a) establish a foundation for a vibrant, stimulating, and productive brain fitness community; and b) help the members of the brain fitness gym get off to a good start. This stage provides a fundamental opportunity to build a brain based learning community. Also important in the Engage stage is the development of curiosity, adventure, play, and humor in brain fitness. The members that demonstrated these characteristics reported a sense of wonderment as they explored the possibilities of brain fitness. And this is critical, because we see some people approach normal age-related cognitive changes or short-term problems due to stressful jobs with too much worry and anxiety.

Assess: SharpBrains members reported various reasons for pursuing brain fitness. Some members were hoping that they could regain previous levels of brain function that they have lost due to illness or accident, and our programs may be a good complement to the other activities prescribed by a specialist. However, the majority expressed a desire to maintain their “edge” or remain “sharp” every year, every day. Similar to the desire to remain physically fit and active, the members we worked with expressed a strong desire to ensure top performance and remain brain fit; they were interested in maintaining a healthy brain along with their healthy bodies. For many of these individuals, the coaching session focused on identifying factors that could be impeding brain function. For example, stress can impede mental performance.

Plan: At times, it is difficult to imagine taking on another commitment. There is only so much time in a day. Therefore, some members benefited from a discussion of how to integrate a brain fitness program into their busy lives, given competing priorities. I worked with these members to become more efficient in their daily lives. Some members found it extremely difficult to commit to long-term change. These individuals were advised to approach brain fitness “one day at a time.”

Another aspect of training that emerged from the coaching sessions were ways to broaden or narrow brain fitness training to address stress management. Several members expressed a desire to incorporate stress management into their brain fitness program. They were encouraged to investigate available options for stress management including how to influence heart rate variability with programs like Freeze-Framer.

In conclusion, brain fitness coaching can help improve quality of life and performance at work, by supporting members find the right brain fitness program and exercise towards their goals. The SharpBrains Coaching Model represents the leading edge in brain fitness.

Future posts will discuss in more detail the first three stages of the SharpBrains model and introduce the reader to the Train and Support stages.