4 Things Brain Surgeons Do Every Day to Stay Sharp

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Learn what neurosurgeons do to keep their brains healthy. Image Credit: DjelicS/E+/GettyImages

When you're an expert in brain health, you know a little about the noggin' — like how to keep your mind sharp and your mood running high. Oh, and how to prevent burnout that makes you feel like you're walking around in a perpetual fog.

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We asked three neurosurgeons what they do regularly to stay on top of their game cognitively. Their answers may surprise you.

1. ‘I Find Ways to Be Calm’

As you might imagine, neurological surgery is a stressful job.

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"Finishing an operation where we have removed a tumor from around the optic nerves, waiting for the patient to wake up and worrying that they might be blind can take a toll on you," Reid Thompson, MD, chair of the department of neurological surgery at Vanderbilt Medical Center, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

That's why he starts his day with a dose of calm. "My patients know that the morning of surgery, they won't see me," Dr. Thompson says. "I am meditating and taking the time to get into a more flow-like state for their surgery."

He rehearses the operation in his mind's eye, imagining each step. Then, in the operating room, he plays calming music to help everyone in the room relax.

You might not be performing craniotomies like Dr. Thompson (who has done more than 5,000 in his career), but you can learn from his commitment to calm and how it can help you perform at your job, think clearly and stay on your toes.

"The karma of the room really matters. When I'm calmer, I can problem-solve in more creative ways," he says.

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