June is Brain Health Awareness Month, and I want to mark it by sharing something that has been on my mind since a recent coffee with my former colleague, Lisa Austin. Lisa is the Community Engagement Manager for the Alzheimer’s Association Heart of America Chapter, and over the course of our conversation, she opened my eyes to a great deal about brain health, the work the Association does, and the very real reach of Alzheimer’s disease in our community.
Like so many of you, I have watched Alzheimer’s steal someone I love. My aunt died from this cruel and relentless illness, and hardly a week goes by that I don’t hear from a friend, colleague, or client who is navigating a similar heartbreak with someone in their own life. Alzheimer’s is not a distant issue. It is right here, in our families, our workplaces, and our communities.
What Lisa shared that stuck with me most is something genuinely hopeful: many of the habits that protect our brains are the same habits that make us better connectors, more curious humans, and more engaged community members. The Alzheimer’s Association outlines ten healthy habits for your brain, and I was struck by how naturally they align with the Coffee Lunch Coffee philosophy.
Consider a few that resonated most with me.
- Challenge your mind. Be curious. Learn something new. Try something artistic or hard. As networkers, we know that the best conversations happen when we show up genuinely interested in the other person’s world. Curiosity, it turns out, is also one of the best things you can do for your brain.
- Stay in school. Not literally, perhaps, but keep learning. Take a class. Read widely. Pursue the highest level of knowledge and engagement you can. The Alzheimer’s Association notes that education reduces the risk of cognitive decline, and I would add that lifelong learners tend to be the most interesting people in any room.
- And then there are the habits you might not immediately associate with networking: Get moving, sleep well, eat right, manage your blood pressure, protect your head. These are not just wellness clichés. They are genuine investments in the organ that makes every relationship, every conversation, and every meaningful connection possible.
The people we meet over coffee, lunch, and coffee again keep us socially engaged, mentally stimulated, and emotionally grounded. Turns out, showing up for your network is also showing up for your brain.
For more information and resources, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.
Happy Networking!