Namita Nayyar:
When you are feeling mentally “stuck” or stressed, what is your go-to physical activity to reset your nervous system?
Andrea Oddos:
When I feel mentally “stuck” or stressed, my go-to strategy is usually running. What I find interesting from a neuropsychological perspective is that it doesn’t necessarily solve the problem I’m thinking about, but it changes the state of my nervous system. It helps shift attention away from repetitive thoughts and brings me back into the body, into rhythm and breathing.
Sometimes it’s not about intensity. Even a short, easy run or a walk can be enough to create that sense of mental “reset.” It gives the brain a different kind of input, which often makes it easier to come back to a situation with more clarity. More than a performance tool, I see movement as a way to restore cognitive and emotional flexibility.
Namita Nayyar:
You maintain a lifestyle centered on fitness. Beyond the physical benefits, what dietary principles do you follow to ensure your brain is getting the fuel it needs for high-level cognitive work? (e.g., do you follow a specific eating window, macro split, or focus on specific brain foods?
Andrea Oddos:
I wouldn’t say I follow a strict dietary protocol or a specific macro split for cognitive performance.
What I try to prioritize is consistency and balance rather than optimization. I focus on whole, minimally processed foods, enough protein for energy stability, and meals that support sustained focus rather than short-lived energy spikes.
I’m also quite attentive to something very simple: listening to my body. Eating when I’m hungry, and not turning food into something overly restrictive or controlled, is important to me. From a psychological perspective, excessive rigidity around food can sometimes create unnecessary stress and may, in some cases, contribute to a more deregulated relationship with eating.
So for me, the goal is not to follow a “brain diet,” but to maintain a stable and flexible relationship with food that supports both mental and physical well-being. In practice, that means regular meals, hydration, and a simple, sustainable approach to nutrition rather than an overly controlled system.
Namita Nayyar:
We talk a lot about activity, but rarely about rest. What does your recovery routine look like—specifically regarding sleep hygiene and active recovery?
Andrea Oddos:
I actually think recovery is one of the most important and often underestimated parts of both physical and cognitive performance. For me, sleep is the foundation. I try to keep relatively regular sleep hours, reduce stimulation in the evening, and give my brain time to “switch off” rather than stay in a constant state of cognitive activation. I don’t approach sleep in a highly rigid way, but I’m attentive to creating conditions that make it easier for the nervous system to down regulate.
During the day, I also rely on what we could call active recovery. That includes walking, light movement, time outdoors, and sometimes running at a very easy pace. These moments are not about performance, but about giving the brain space to reset.
I think we often underestimate how much recovery is not passive at all. It’s an active process of restoring attention, emotional balance, and mental flexibility.
Namita Nayyar:
As a neuropsychologist, you know that routine can be grounding. What does your morning and evening skincare routine look like? Is it a meditative ritual for you, or purely functional?
Andrea Oddos:
I would say my skincare routine is quite simple, but it is also one of those small daily moments that I really appreciate. In the morning, it is mostly functional ; hydration, protection, and getting ready for the day. In the evening, it becomes a way of marking the transition between an active day and a more restful state.
What I find interesting is how much our senses are involved in these routines. The texture of a cleanser, the feeling of water on the skin, or even certain subtle smells can become very grounding signals for the brain. They help create a sense of familiarity and closure after a busy day.
So I wouldn’t call it a meditation practice, but it is definitely a moment of presence. And I think these small, sensory routines are important; they are simple ways of giving you time, attention, and a sense of calm in an otherwise very stimulated world.
Namita Nayyar:
Between running, pageant styling, and podcast recordings, your hair goes through a lot. What are your “non-negotiable” hair care tips for maintaining health under that level of stress and styling?
Andrea Oddos:
I would say my approach to hair care is actually quite simple and very consistent rather than complicated.
My main “non-negotiable” are basic but effective: keeping my hair well hydrated, avoiding excessive heat when it’s not necessary, and making sure I give it time to recover between periods of intense styling.
Beyond products or routines, I think what really matters are not putting the hair or more broadly the body under constant stress. Just like the brain, it benefits from cycles of stimulation and recovery. So I wouldn’t say I have a highly engineered routine, but rather a few simple principles that I stick to: care, protection, and recovery.
Namita Nayyar:
You study well-being. How much of “beauty” do you believe is actually neurological—meaning, how much does a calm, regulated nervous system contribute to physical appearance versus topical products?
Andrea Oddos:
I think it’s important to be careful with the idea of reducing beauty to a single factor, whether it is neurological or cosmetic. What we could say is that there is a clear link between our internal states and how we are perceived externally. When the nervous system is more regulated; when stress is lower, sleep is better, and the body is not in a constant state of tension; this can influence many subtle signals: facial expression, skin quality, posture, and overall presence.
At the same time, topical care, grooming, and external factors absolutely matter as well. It is not an “either/or” but rather an interaction between internal regulation and external care. So I would say that beauty is embodied: it reflects both the way we take care of ourselves both internally and externally and the way these two dimensions interact over time.
Namita Nayyar:
You teach mindfulness and meditation. What does your personal mindfulness practice look like daily? Do you still sit for 20 minutes, or do you practice micro-moments of awareness throughout the day?
Andrea Oddos:
I’ve had a long-standing personal mindfulness practice, and I completed an MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) program some years ago, which really structured the way I relate to meditation. My practice is quite flexible today. There are periods where I still sit for 15 to 20 minutes of formal meditation, especially when I feel I need more structure or grounding. But on a daily basis, I also rely a lot on micro-moments of awareness throughout the day.
For me, mindfulness is not only what happens on the cushion. It’s also the ability to come back to the present moment in very simple situations while walking, between tasks, or during moments of stress. These brief returns to awareness are often just as powerful as longer sessions.
Overall, I see mindfulness less as a fixed practice and more as a way of relating to experience with more attention, openness, and less automatic reactivity.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
