How to Future-Proof Your Brain and Think Smarter in the 21st Century

With the world around us evolving at an ever-greater pace, especially with the rapid explosion of AI, you might fantasize about upgrading your brain to make sense of it all. While our grey matter hasn’t physically changed much since the Stone Age, neuroscientists believe we possess an incredible capacity for mental flexibility.

According to neuroscientist Hannah Critchlow, author of The 21st Century Brain, understanding neuroscience can unleash the cognitive potential we all have to navigate the ambiguity and rapid changes of the modern era.

1. Cultivate Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence and empathy are often dismissed as “soft skills,” but they are crucial for survival and innovation in the 21st century. While genetics play a small role, these skills are highly trainable. It starts with self-compassion: taking the time to ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this emotion?” By being compassionate to yourself, the effects naturally ripple out to others.

2. Nurture Your Gut-Brain Connection

Did you know your altruism might come from your gut? A fascinating study from Insead in France showed that healthy volunteers taking pre- and probiotics for just seven weeks developed a more varied gut microbiome—and became significantly more altruistic. The millions of nerves in our gut communicate directly with the decision-making parts of our brain via the vagus nerve, meaning our physical gut health directly shapes our social interactions.

3. Optimize Your Bioenergetics

Our brains use vast amounts of energy to perform mental gymnastics. This relies heavily on mitochondria—the tiny powerhouses inside our cells. Anything we do to help our mitochondria create clean energy, like exercising and keeping physically fit, will protect our neural connections and help our brains cope with modern challenges.