We all have our senior moments. One time, I was heading out to the shop to do groceries and stopped by the fridge to grab a drink before leaving the house. When I got out the door, I noticed that I didn’t have my wallet with me. So I rummaged through my bag for a good 5 mins before heading back inside to look for my wallet. Guess where I found it? Yup, in the fridge.
Don’t we all wish we had a better memory? Or that we could be quicker, sharper, better at making sense of that paragraph we’ve been reading over and over? Cognitive skills and stellar recollection come in handy when I need to remember my passwords or the key takeaways of a weekly meeting.
There are 2 ways for us to significantly improve cognitive abilities. It will come as no surprise that exercise and sleep are two of the biggest factors to improving mental performance. In fact, those two are also the best things to improve the rest of our bodies. A plus point is that exercise may be the only thing that encourages new neuron growth in the adult brain.
But as adults, we don’t always get enough time for sleep and exercise. So, here are 3 other tips that can help your brain work smarter, faster and stronger:
1. Write things down
The science behind writing things down is simple. “In order to take notes in your own words, you have to think deeply enough about the content to identify what is important and how to best articulate the main points,” says Daniel Oppenheimer, a psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University. They also provide spatial reminders through the visual cues that paper provides. So, in this case, take notes, people!
2. Print it
Writing isn’t the only advantage paper has against any digital medium. It is also superior for reading. In this day and age, we usually read on our laptops, PCs, or other mobile devices (phone, tablet, kindle, etc.). The idea behind reading things on print is that devices offer a lot of opportunities for distraction. You can switch back and forth between messages, emails, and YouTube or other forms of distracting apps – which could mean that you’re not as focused on your reading as you would like. So if what you’re reading is important, say a legal brief, contract, academic paper, or white paper – print it out.
3. Breathe
Breathing meditations can do wonders for your cognitive abilities. When your mind starts to wander, you can use this low tech hack – bring your focus back to your breathing. This serves as an anchor to bring your focus and concentration back. It’s a mini workout for your brain, just like physical exercise. Try the guided meditation app available in app markets like Balance, Headspace, or Calm.
What tips do you have for exercising your brain? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!
Written by Jaie O. TheHelp