In the name of self-care and self-improvement, we are continually looking for ways to feel smarter and healthier to lead a happier and more fulfilling life.
And no matter how old you get, taking care of your mind and optimizing your brain power can be linked to living a much healthier life. Here are five simple ways to improve your brainpower:
Exercise
Exercise gets the blood flowing. Which helps your brain get all the oxygen and nutrients it needs for top performance. Getting about 30-60 minutes of exercise three times a week helps improve blood flow to the area of the brain responsible for memory retention.
Sleep
We all deserve a nap from time to time. And it’s good for you, too! Rest is the body’s natural way of rebooting your brain and other organs, helping you improve your mood and brain. Napping also helps make new connections in the brain, which can help with creativity and problem-solving. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep every day but limit your naps to 20 minutes tops.
Eat a big breakfast
It is never a good idea to skip breakfast. Many studies have shown that eating a big healthy breakfast in the morning has been linked to improved memory and people who eat breakfast perform better than those who don’t. So get a kick start in your morning with a healthy breakfast.
Learn new things
Keeping your brain busy with crossword puzzles may not boost your cognitive functions, but learning new things definitely will. Trying new activities of learning about new things shows a significant improvement in brain function. The brain is very much like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. So find a new exciting hobby and challenge yourself. You’d be surprised at how focused you’ll become.
Meditate
When in distress, your brain releases the hormone cortisol, which actually can destroy brain cells, causing memory loss and slow cognitive features, that’s why people who suffer from depression and anxiety struggle the most with chronic memory loss and difficulty concentrating. Meditation is a brain boost. It allows you to control your stress levels and suppress the production of cortisol. In addition to this, the happier you are, the happier your brain is.
