{"id":63788,"date":"2026-05-27T15:50:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T03:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/?p=63788"},"modified":"2026-05-27T15:52:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T03:52:13","slug":"self-care-and-the-brain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/self-care-and-the-brain\/","title":{"rendered":"how consistent self-care changes the brain"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"63788\" class=\"elementor elementor-63788\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b0608fb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b0608fb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0752956\" data-id=\"0752956\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2de5029 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2de5029\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p dir=\"ltr\">Most of us understand, in theory, that rest is important. We know we should sleep more, slow down and take better care of ourselves. And yet self-care remains something many of us treat as optional, a reward for a productive week rather than a practice worth protecting.<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">According to Dr Grace Ng, Brain Health Specialist and part of the <a title=\"endota Wellbeing Conversation\" href=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/endota-wellbeing-conversation\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">endota Wellbeing Conversation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">,<\/span> the way most of us think about self-care is worth reconsidering. Not as a matter of treating yourself, she explains, but understanding that the things you do consistently to rest and restore are, according to the neuroscience, some of the most important things you can do for your brain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e93bebd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e93bebd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e49891c\" data-id=\"e49891c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be9d526 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"be9d526\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">what neuroplasticity actually means<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7e4638 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a7e4638\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Most people assume the brain they have now is more or less fixed. But one of the more hopeful things neuroscience offers is the understanding that this isn&#8217;t true. The brain changes in response to what you do repeatedly, and the pathways you use most become the ones that shape how you think, feel and recover.\u00b9<\/p><p>As Dr Ng puts it, &#8220;what you practise, your brain gets better at.&#8221; That applies to focus and learning, yes, but it also applies to rest, stillness and the ability to recover from a hard day. The nervous system that feels permanently switched on, that struggles to wind down even when you finally have a moment, is also a trained state. And one that, with consistent practice, can begin to shift. This is the foundation of neuroplasticity and habits: what the brain does repeatedly, it becomes better at.<\/p><p>Which means the small things you do for yourself are doing more than you might think. Done regularly, they aren&#8217;t just felt in the moment. They are quietly becoming the brain health habits that shape how you cope, how you sleep and how you feel over time. Understanding how to rewire your brain doesn&#8217;t require anything dramatic. It begins with consistency, and it begins with care.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d5b25d9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d5b25d9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dbeee7d\" data-id=\"dbeee7d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6e5ad7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a6e5ad7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">what happens in the brain when you rest consistently<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a83e111 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a83e111\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Most of us know that a bad night\u2019s sleep leaves us foggy and short-tempered. What is less widely understood is what is actually happening in the brain while we sleep, and what we lose when that sleep is cut short too often.<\/p><p>During deep sleep, the glymphatic system activates. Dr Ng describes it as \u201cthe garbage collection component of the brain\u2019s clearance system,\u201d a mechanism that clears the metabolic waste accumulated through the day, including proteins associated with neurodegenerative disease.\u00b2&amp;nbsp;\u201cThere are a lot of things that are the enemy of good deep sleep,\u201d Dr Ng notes. \u201cWatching movies, swiping right, going through social media, all of these stop you from really getting the rest that you need.\u201d<\/p><p>When that deep sleep is disrupted night after night, this system never gets the time it needs and the effects accumulate in ways that go beyond tiredness. \u201cWhen people don\u2019t get enough sleep, you can actually see those changes on the brain,\u201d Dr Ng says. \u201cOn an anatomical level, you actually start seeing grey matter changes, that is the thinning.\u201d Consistent quality rest, by contrast, reduces cortisol, supports immune function and protects the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain most vulnerable to the long-term effects of stress.\u00b3<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1c6b279\" data-id=\"1c6b279\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba9031b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ba9031b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/what-happens-to-the-brain-when-you-rest.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-63789\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/what-happens-to-the-brain-when-you-rest.jpg 400w, https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/what-happens-to-the-brain-when-you-rest-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/what-happens-to-the-brain-when-you-rest-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/what-happens-to-the-brain-when-you-rest-160x160.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8bcb906 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8bcb906\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-65c9212\" data-id=\"65c9212\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3762b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b3762b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">the long-term results of stillness practice<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c59bcc1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c59bcc1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p dir=\"ltr\">There is a version of rest that goes beyond sleep, and most of us are not getting enough of it either.<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">&#8220;Stillness is active maintenance,&#8221; Dr Ng says. &#8220;Think of it as the time in which you can drop your brain from this really focused state, beta waves, into something that&#8217;s much more rest and repair.&#8221; Even a few minutes of intentional quiet, breathwork or simply sitting without reaching for the phone can begin to move the brain toward the slower wave states where restoration happens. With practice, Dr Ng notes, that shift becomes easier to access.<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">Research has shown increased brain matter density in people who maintain a consistent practice of breathwork or meditation, specifically in areas linked to thinking and executive function.\u2074 &#8220;The result of stillness practice long-term,&#8221; Dr Ng explains, &#8220;is better decision making, sharper decision making and that ability to emotionally regulate yourself, being able to tip over to one side and find centre again more quickly, more frequently.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e01714f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e01714f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8770687 elementor-hidden-mobile\" data-id=\"8770687\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3160f07\" data-id=\"3160f07\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19c4349 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"19c4349\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 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class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;The result of stillness practice long-term is better decision making, sharper decision making and that ability to emotionally regulate yourself&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b91b21 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0b91b21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2c618a3 elementor-hidden-mobile\" data-id=\"2c618a3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6028257 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6028257\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b983e86\" data-id=\"b983e86\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-848dab7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"848dab7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/why-rituals-matter-more-than-occasions.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-63790\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/why-rituals-matter-more-than-occasions.jpg 400w, https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/why-rituals-matter-more-than-occasions-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/why-rituals-matter-more-than-occasions-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/why-rituals-matter-more-than-occasions-160x160.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3d024be\" data-id=\"3d024be\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5f672a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a5f672a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">the role of sensory care in neural repair<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2968a86 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2968a86\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p dir=\"ltr\">There is something quietly powerful about the way the body responds to touch, warmth and intentional sensory experience, and it goes beyond how those things make us feel in the moment.<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThere\u2019s a neurovisceral component to massage,\u201d Dr Ng explains. \u201cIt\u2019s not just the idea that you get to chill out for an hour. Your peripheral nervous system is receiving signals to essentially chill out but also grow in particular ways, releasing factors and starting to have an experience that nourishes and regenerates the body.\u201d What massage does, at a neurological level, is signal to the body that it is no longer in fight-or-flight and that it can rest and repair. \u201cAfter you have a great massage,\u201d Dr Ng notes, \u201cyou usually have a really good sleep.\u201d<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">The <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/product\/spa-menu\/massage\/relaxation-massage\/organic-massage\/\">endota Organic Relax Massage<\/a><\/span> is designed to support exactly this kind of nervous system shift, activating the specific nerve fibres that signal safety and stillness to the brain.\u2075<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">Scent adds another layer to this. \u201cSmell is one of the most powerful ways to stimulate the brain,\u201d Dr Ng says. \u201cWhen you smell something, the signal is received by the olfactory bulb, which has a direct connection into the limbic system, associated with emotions and memory.\u2076\u00a0I like <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/product\/all-products\/gifting\/gifts-under-50\/essential-oil-dream\/\">the use of lavender<\/a><\/span> about thirty minutes before bedtime, it can really set the mood in order to start winding down.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6fdf7cb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6fdf7cb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-31d1e00 elementor-hidden-mobile\" data-id=\"31d1e00\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ca98aa0\" data-id=\"ca98aa0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa64a24 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"aa64a24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2f14de elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c2f14de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>What massage does, at a neurological level, is signal to the body that it is no longer in fight-or-flight and that it can rest and repair.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58dc0e7 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"58dc0e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-430bcd9 elementor-hidden-mobile\" data-id=\"430bcd9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4b39d11 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4b39d11\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5cca993\" data-id=\"5cca993\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b58d370 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b58d370\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">small actions, real results<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-673db1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"673db1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p dir=\"ltr\">The brain you tend now is the brain you will have later. For Australians looking to build lasting brain health and wellness habits, you want to start with small, repeated acts of genuine care. The wind-down ritual, the treatment appointment, the five minutes of stillness \u2014 not indulgences but in the most literal neurological sense, the work of keeping yourself well.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-319d283 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"319d283\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e67ae34\" data-id=\"e67ae34\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f4b492a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"f4b492a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-04b9d2b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"04b9d2b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f7c79a0\" data-id=\"f7c79a0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c6f1278 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c6f1278\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">frequently asked questions<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cdce83b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cdce83b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How long does it take for new habits to change the brain?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c7367e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0c7367e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p dir=\"ltr\">Research suggests meaningful changes can begin to emerge within weeks of consistent practice.\u2077 What matters more than the timeline is the repetition \u2014 the brain responds to what it does regularly rather than intensively.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9dcab26 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9dcab26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Does neuroplasticity work at any age?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fab7381 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fab7381\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes, and this is one of the more hopeful things the science offers. The capacity for change continues throughout life,\u2078\u00a0and it is never too late to begin.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81a965b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"81a965b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Can self-care genuinely have a physical effect on the brain?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c210f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7c210f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes. Consistent sleep protects grey matter in the prefrontal cortex,\u00b3 regular stillness practice has been associated with increased brain matter density\u2074 and massage activates nervous system pathways that shift the body out of the stress response.\u2075 These are measurable neurological processes, not abstract wellness claims.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af4f2c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"af4f2c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What types of self-care are most supported by neuroscience?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-566b239 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"566b239\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Sleep carries some of the strongest evidence. Breathwork, meditation and stillness practices shift the brain&#8217;s wave states and support neural repair over time, and physical touch signals safety to the nervous system in ways that actively support recovery.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6439cb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6439cb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How do sleep and self-care routines interact neurologically?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72526e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"72526e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A consistent evening ritual sends layered signals to the brain that rest is coming and the brain learns those cues over time. As Dr Ng explains, the glymphatic system only fully activates during deep sleep, making quality rest not just restorative but genuinely protective of long-term brain health.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-39948f8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"39948f8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9b331d8\" data-id=\"9b331d8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bcd6bc elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"3bcd6bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9604ee2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9604ee2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-22d4b29\" data-id=\"22d4b29\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03a3e3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"03a3e3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">references<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03c925e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"03c925e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p dir=\"ltr\">\u00b9Morris, R. G. M. (1999). D.O. Hebb: The Organization of Behavior, Wiley: New York; 1949. Brain Research Bulletin, 50(5-6), 437. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/s0361-9230(99)00182-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/s0361-9230(99)00182-3<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">\u00b2Iliff, J. J., Wang, M., Liao, Y., Plogg, B. A., Peng, W., Gundersen, G. A., Benveniste, H., Vates, G. E., Deane, R., Goldman, S. A., Nagelhus, E. A., &amp; Nedergaard, M. (2012). A Paravascular Pathway Facilitates CSF Flow Through the Brain Parenchyma and the Clearance of Interstitial Solutes, Including Amyloid\u00a0 . Science Translational Medicine, 4(147), 147ra111\u2013147ra111. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/scitranslmed.3003748\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/scitranslmed.3003748<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">\u00b3Lupien, S. J., McEwen, B. S., Gunnar, M. R., &amp; Heim, C. (2009). Effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behaviour and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(6), 434\u2013445. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/nrn2639\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/nrn2639<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">\u2074H\u00f6lzel, B. K., Carmody, J., Vangel, M., Congleton, C., Yerramsetti, S. M., Gard, T., &amp; Lazar, S. W. (2011). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 191(1), 36\u201343. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.pscychresns.2010.08.006\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.pscychresns.2010.08.006<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">\u2075Ingvars Birznieks, &amp; Ingvars Birznieks. (2025). C\u2011tactile afferents: The mystery of human emotional touch has been hidden hair\u2011deep. The Journal of Physiology, 603(16), 4441\u20134442. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1113\/jp289528\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1113\/jp289528<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">\u2076Kadohisa, M. (2013). Effects of odor on emotion, with implications. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 7, 66. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnsys.2013.00066\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnsys.2013.00066<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">\u2077Lally, P., van Jaarsveld, C. H. M., Potts, H. W. W., &amp; Wardle, J. (2010). How are habits formed: modelling habit formation in the real world. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40(6), 998\u20131009. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/ejsp.674\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/ejsp.674<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">\u2078Bherer, L., Erickson, K. I., &amp; Liu-Ambrose, T. (2013). A review of the effects of physical activity and exercise on cognitive and brain functions in older adults. Journal of Aging Research, 2013, 657508. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1155\/2013\/657508\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1155\/2013\/657508<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fd21fb8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fd21fb8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[],&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f73be8\" data-id=\"3f73be8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ab8417 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6ab8417\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr Grace Ng is a brain health specialist with a background in medicine and neuroscience. She is part of the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/endota-wellbeing-conversation\/\">endota Wellbeing Conversation<\/a><\/span>, a group of experts who share <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/endota-wellbeing-conversation-dr-grace-ng\/\">evidence-based insights<\/a><\/span> to help people better understand how their bodies and minds work.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-57338a5\" data-id=\"57338a5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-febeb74 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"febeb74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Dr-Grace-Ng-2-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-63791\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Dr-Grace-Ng-2-1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Dr-Grace-Ng-2-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Dr-Grace-Ng-2-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Dr-Grace-Ng-2-1-160x160.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most of us understand, in theory, that rest is important. We know we should sleep more, slow down and take better care of ourselves. And yet self-care remains something many of us treat as optional, a reward for a productive week rather than a practice worth protecting. According to Dr Grace Ng, Brain Health Specialist [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":63836,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"normal-width-container","site-content-style":"unboxed","site-sidebar-style":"unboxed","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[172,173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-facial","category-treatments"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.5 (Yoast SEO v23.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>how consistent self-care changes the brain | endota New Zealand<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Self-care isn&#039;t just about feeling good in the moment. Brain health specialist Dr Grace Ng explains how consistent restorative habits physically rewire the brain over time.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/endota.com\/nz\/self-care-and-the-brain\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"how consistent self-care changes the brain\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Self-care isn&#039;t just about feeling good in the moment. 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