We are all born with it, and we all need it... a brain. A brain is something we cannot function without, and most of the time, it runs automatically. In fact, I am already wrong about everyone being born with one. It can happen that a person is born without a brain or with parts missing, but this is extremely rare, and when it happens, lifespan is usually a matter of minutes, hours, or days.
Since we only get one, we need to take good care of it, because if something fails, it is hard to get a second chance. We can mistreat our brain in so many ways that it is hard to even count them all. In many cases, we aren't even aware of what we are doing wrong because everything seems fine on the surface.
It’s like any system that is up and running smoothly. We just don't pay attention to it, not until it breaks or stumbles.
The Breakdown That Changed My Focus
I did not pay any attention to my brain health or function until it broke down. Around the year 2000, I had my first epileptic seizure, a grand mal seizure with no warning that it was coming.
Looking back with common sense, I should have known that my lifestyle and habits back then were far from healthy. But when everything seems to be running smoothly, it is easy to remain unaware of the damage being done. That experience forced me to start paying attention to my brain and how it works. Unfortunately, it was not until many years later that my focus slowly shifted toward my overall brain health, often through indirect ways.
I realized that how the brain works is a fascinating subject. It spans everything from automatic tasks like breathing to complex skills like spatial focus and memory.
This site, mybrainlab.io, isn't meant to be strictly about epilepsy. But since it plays such a major role in my life, and takes up so much mental space right now, I can't completely avoid it. I will likely write about it often, and those thoughts will naturally evolve into the other topics I cover. My interests shift and develop over time, but they usually all come back to the brain in one way or another.
What This Site Is (And Isn't)
I read and listen to a lot of books and podcasts across many subjects, mostly focusing on diet, memory, brain health, learning techniques, and how external factors directly impact our well-being.
When it comes to learning, I am deeply interested in taking on new challenges to keep my skills sharp, like learning human languages, coding, and exploring modern AI technologies.
The idea for this site was born when I found myself feeling a bit stuck and adrift. I started thinking about how I could challenge myself, explore new areas, or brush up on old skills I had set aside. Around that time, I was listening to a book on brain health that emphasized the importance of constantly challenging the brain with new tasks.
That’s when the thought struck me: why not start a blog? I could learn how to build and manage the platform, optimize it for search engines, and see how far I can go by dedicating just a small amount of time to it each day.
The primary goal is to build something meaningful without burning out or abandoning the project, as I’ve often done in the past. If my overall health improves down the line, these new skills might even help when I look for a part-time job. So, why not?
I am also fascinated by chess. I am not a master-level player, you could say I’m fairly average, so you won't find me here teaching deep opening tricks or tactical grandmaster secrets. Instead, I am far more interested in how the human brain processes chess and how modern technology can be used to build interactive learning programs that use chess as a brain-stimulation tool for both kids and adults. Lately, I have also been experiencing how simple mindfulness meditation, prayer, and basic breathing techniques can have a direct, positive impact on my mental clarity and overall brain health.
So, it is safe to say that this platform is a personal research notebook and log. It is not a source of academic medical advice or theoretical textbook science, just an honest, plain-language record of what I am testing, tracking, and learning in real life.
What You Can Expect to Find Here (And What You Won't)
Here, you’ll find logs of my real-life experiments in brain health, focus, and cognitive longevity, ranging from how diet, breathing, and mindfulness affect mental clarity to how we can use technology and AI to keep our minds active.
You can expect behind-the-scenes breakdowns of projects I am building, insights into using chess and other game-based methods as practical tools for cognitive stimulation in adults and kids, and honest notes on learning new skills.
I will also share my trial projects, sometimes building my own apps to save a few bucks instead of subscribing to paid services. While saving money is nice, I mostly do it for fun, because I can, and because I believe you can do it too.
Along the way, I’ll share key insights from books I read, things that inspire me, and life advice that has worked for me and might help you too.
Why Write in the Open?
I chose to publish these entries publicly to keep my process transparent and honest. Documenting my self-experiments in the open keeps me accountable, and hopefully, sharing what I learn along the way will offer practical value to anyone else looking to keep their own mind sharp.
A common question that comes up when reading posts or looking at websites these days is whether this is just another AI-generated site.
No, my content is not AI-generated. However, I do use AI as an assistant. It would be out of character for me not to use every available tool. I write everything myself, either in my native Icelandic or in rough English, and then paste my draft into a language model to correct grammar and spelling errors.
In some cases, I also ask for advice on improving subheadings or structuring my text, much like human writers use human editors before publishing.
I use AI coding tools to help build my website and applications. I try to learn and understand the underlying logic so I know what is happening in the background, which becomes essential when coding tools run into errors or loops. I also create most of the graphics using AI tools.
Finally, I always read through the corrected text carefully to ensure the tools don't alter my core meaning or tone, or introduce words I wouldn't naturally use. My routine is simple: I type "Is this correct grammar and spelling?" and paste my draft in. That is how I use AI.
Thanks for reading, and welcome to My Brain Lab.