Neuroplasticity & Growth Mindset

September 2025

Research: Neuroplasticity

How understanding the principles of neuroplasticity benefits people

The core principles of neuroplasticity include: incrementally increasing in difficulty, repetition spaced out over time, and most importantly, perspective and breaking huge goals into smaller ones day by day (or even within the day) to get that natural reward system activating even when learning more and more difficult or dense topics.

These principles benefit people because despite the growing research on neuroplasticity most people still live, work and study in a fixed mindset. Growth mindset allows us to use our bodies and work with ourselves to become better learners, teachers, employees and ultimately better human beings.

How I might engage with the principles of neuroplasticity for my benefit

I have definitely already started to apply principles like repetition at even intervals of concepts and deeply changing my perspective on learning and not being down on myself. A severely understated part of the benefits of learning about neuroplasticity and learning is being kind to yourself.

You can do all of these changes as the scientists have determined but if you don't start to accept you deserve to learn, be seen as intelligent but also be vulnerable and have some humility on your journey of growth you ultimately won't get as far as someone less technically intelligent but who has developed stronger skills to work with their own brain and body.

Ways to increase neuroplasticity

Common ways to increase neuroplasticity are learning a new language (be it human or code), engaging in mentally stimulating activities like sudoku, puzzles, daily short quizzes and challenges. Learning new instruments, or engaging with any other creative pursuit is known to increase neuroplasticity too.

Basically anything and everything new to your brain is creating new neural networks, but continuing to practice regularly paves the highway wider and wider for more consistent connections. This results in better recall, memory, applied knowledge and overall confidence of the individual. The food you eat also heavily impacts your overall and brain health.

Useful Resource

Harvard Health: Tips to Leverage Neuroplasticity

Research: Growth Mindset

What it is and why it is relevant

Growth mindset in simple terms is the belief that one’s own ability to learn and understand or participate in/do something is malleable, adaptable and is constantly changing and growing. As opposed to fixed mindset which is the belief that you are as you are born, at 25 your brain stops developing and that’s it. But we have since the past 15–20 years come to find this is not scientifically accurate anymore.

Did anything surprise or change for me?

I didn't realise the impact positive self talk (in your head and out loud) can have in shifting the brain from fixed to growth mindset. I found this quite useful as someone who has struggled with a strong inner critic for decades.

How I will integrate growth mindset into my learning journey

Focus way more on eating better and exercising even a little bit daily, keep noting down and repeating concepts I don't fully grasp a day or two later to build stronger pathways, make sure I am in the discomfort-learning area not just in comfort (push myself when I can but not over do it).

And to prevent burnout take regular breaks and even if I have a day of code, play a game that uses my logic brain to keep it engaged in a fun way.

Useful Resource

Learning Hub: Growth Mindset — this graphic is very useful at comparing the differences between growth and fixed mindset clearly.

Blending With My Learning Plan

Looking back at my learning plan and comparing it to what I have just touched on, the main things that really stand out to me are to continue working on my positive self talk and not be my own biggest critic every second of the day.

I also need to make sure I am mentally and physically fit so my brain doesn't have to struggle with new concepts. And lastly, as we are now at Sprint 4, I am going to start noting down things that challenge me so I can review the concept the next day to better pave those neural pathways.