To remain strong, it is important that you exercise your brain. The less we use our minds, the duller they become. There are a lot of emphasis on these days staying in good physical health, but we should also be concerned for our mental well-being. Our brains continue to develop and adapt to the stimuli they receive throughout our lives. Plus we take care of our brains, the better thinkers we become. Here are twenty ways you can develop a training regimen for your brain.
1. Read a good book.
Read a book stimulates the imagination. Your brain can not help but draw mental pictures when reading. Reading becomes your mind out of her ass and working. I like to let a book take me. I always have a book I read and I have 3 or 4 times! I get most of my books in the library to avoid the cost of each purchase. This also allows me to try a wide variety of books safely.
2. Big Brain Academy.
Video games have a bad reputation for causing brain rot, but there are some that will actually help you strengthen your mind. I like Big Brain Academy for Wii. This is a collection of puzzle that tests your mental acuity. The tests are fun and addictive. You can even compete with others which makes for family fun.
3. Practice meditation.
Do not worry, I'm not going out of the new age deep-end here. There are many different forms of meditation. For me, in its simplest form, meditation is to spend some time alone to relax and center your thoughts. It's surprisingly therapeutic. If you have not tried meditation before, I highly recommend reading this guide to meditation.
4. Get plenty of rest.
Lack of sleep can affect your ability to assimilate new information. This means that these late nights you've learned back in college were much less effective than you thought. Your brain needs rest to function at its peak performance. That may be why things always seem clearer and brighter after a good night sleep.
5. Exercise regularly.
You did not think you go out without a bit of time on the treadmill that you have done? Cardiovascular exercise improves blood flow to the brain which improves brain function. One study showed that exercise actually helped to increase the volume of the brain. So if you want a brain bigger, better, and get to exercise!
6. Eat a good breakfast.
This is not a myth. Eat a good breakfast do you get off to a better start. You should eat a breakfast high in protein and good carbohydrates. A couple of pieces of whole grain bread with peanut butter will do the trick. Eggs are also an excellent source of protein. Nuts, milk and fresh fruit are also great ways to feed your brain.
7. Think positive thoughts.
Do you encourage. I am convinced that positive thinking increases the efficiency of the brain and helps to avoid things like depression. I like to say that your brain works like a computer, garbage-in, garbage out. Find positive, encouraging people to hang out, read the documents you embellish, do whatever makes you feel good about yourself. These things will also help you be more productive mentally.
8. Be a continuous learner.
Never stop being curious about your world. Seek new experiences, skills and knowledge. Think of something you've always wanted to learn to do and then begin. A now famous study showed that some areas of the brains of London taxi drivers were more developed compared to the average citizen. This was due to their need to learn to navigate the maze of streets downtown. We can use this technique to challenge your brain to improve our capabilities.
9. Lay off the alcohol.
Alcohol is a depressant of the course. It slows mental functions. The effects of alcohol on the cognitive ability of a person is well documented. If you need peak mental performance, and to stop drinking alcohol. In addition to its obvious effects, it also decreases the tranquility of sleep which, as we have already discussed, impedes your ability to think clearly.
10. Get romantic (especially if you are a woman).
Studies have shown that there may be a link between sex and brain performance improved steadily in women. Making love increases levels of estrogen a woman's estrogen levels and higher are associated with better mental performance. Of course, the mental benefits probably do not outweigh the risks, unless you are in a faithful monogamous relationship.
11. Break your routines.
Driving a new way of working. Try writing with your opposite hand. Mix things up a bit. The benefits of your brain, because it forces you to think more. You are not just running on autopilot. Challenge your brain from getting out of your routine and it will respond. This is a great way to get your mental juices flowing.
12. Stop watching TV so much.
The researchers found that too much television between the ages of 1 and 3 led to attention problems later in childhood. Let's face it, TV is mind-numbing. Get off the couch and away from the television. Of course, there are some good educational things for children and adults, but the average American watches way too much TV. If you want to peak mental performance, then turn off the television.
13. Working with numbers.
Do math problems in your head rather than a calculator. For many of us is to use it or lose it. We have become mentally lazy. We rely on our gadgets instead of thinking for ourselves. Work with numbers and memorization is a great way to get your brain in shape. It could pay big dividends down the road!
14. Stop relying on your GPS to tell you where to go.
Do not forget the taxi drivers in the No. 8 above? Using your brain to figure out how to get from point A to point B is good mental exercise. You must use your brain's ability to determine spatial relationships effectively read a map and navigate a city. Traveling in an unfamiliar area, even better!
15. Recall old memories.
Take out the old photo albums and start leafing through them. This taps into your brain memory banks. Photos will help you remember things you thought you forgot. Dig deep to see what all you remember. If you have other ways to boost your memory, like old letters or home movies, then by all means use these too.
16. Make beautiful music.
Learn to play a musical instrument is a great way to super-charge your brain. It requires a number of different parts of your brain to work together to make the songs you want. Of course, if you are already a musician, then learn a new song. Force yourself to learn new techniques. Music is a great workout for the mind.
17. Speak a new language.
Many people agree that learning a new language to speak is a powerful way to give the mind a row. If you have ever tried to learn a few new words, then you know what can be difficult. Of course, the thing is more difficult for the brain, the better! You have the ability to much more mental than you could imagine. Give it a try!
18. Memorize a song.
Many of us have a lot of old songs stored in our heads, but why not expand your memory by learning some new tunes? It may take some time at first, but if you persevere, you will find it gets easier. This is your brain back into shape.
19. Walk around the house blindfolded.
It might seem like a strange business, but your brain can handle it. Once you try sometimes, you will probably find fun and challenging. Again, it relies on memory, motor skills and reasoning skills. What a workout!
20. Expand your vocabulary.
Decide to learn a new word every day. There are several sites out there that can help you in this process. You will not only expand your mind, but you'll also be able to impress your friends and co-workers while working one of your new words in conversation.
Start today and be smarter tomorrow.
