How To Increase Your Brain Power In Six Ways
Did you know there are a few ways you can learn to improve your brainpower? A strong IQ (Intelligence Quotient) depends on the health and vitality of your brain.
Whether you’re a student studying for final exams or a working professional interested in doing all you can to stay mentally sharp, there are lots of things you can do to improve your memory and mental performance.
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1. Play Mind Games
Actual games and definitely not on humans. Games like Chess, Scrabble, or Sudoku are known to sharpen your senses and increase your brain level considerably. Imagine Chess, for example, players have to analyze a game many moves ahead and properly evaluate the chess composition. Even when exact calculations are impossible, players can predict the advantages or disadvantages of every move by considering approximate criteria: pawn order, open lines, capturing the center of the chessboard, etc.
You must time yourself while trying to navigate through a Chess game, Scrabble, or Sudoku to boost processing speed, attention, and positive intellectual engagement. People who are cognitively active have better memory as they age. So quiz yourself, flex your brain, and improve your memory power.
2. Read Books
Those that read have higher GPA’s, higher intelligence, and general knowledge than those that don’t. Studies have found that analytical thinking is boosted by reading. Readers improve their general knowledge, and more importantly, are able to spot patterns more quicker. If you can spot patterns quicker, your analytical skills receive a boost. No matter what you’re wanting to do or become, you can’t do it without more knowledge. Reading is an excellent way to get where you’re wanting to go.
Don’t say you don’t have books to read. There is always a library around you. Libraries are probably the best creation man has ever made. Imagine, free knowledge for anyone. It’s like going to a clothing store, “checking out” an outfit, wearing the outfit, and returning it in four weeks, free of charge.
3. Learn to Play a Music Instrument
Research suggests that playing an instrument lights up several areas of the brain responsible for different cognitive functions. It can even increase IQ by about seven points, according to several types of research. Learning to play the piano—or any musical instrument for that matter—will give you a sense of accomplishment. It will also stimulate your senses and give you the energy to tackle other passion projects you might have neglected because of your studies or your job.
Another byproduct of learning to play an instrument is the ability to ‘keep a beat’, which in turn develops your ability to analyze and interpret audio information. This is why adults who took music lessons as a kid have a better aptitude for learning foreign languages.
4. Exercise regularly
Did you know that every time you exercise, you create new brain cells? Any form of exercise increases your heart rate, which gets the blood flowing to your brain, thus keeping your memory sharp. For at least 30-45 minutes a day, run, swim, dance, or cycle as it benefits your brain health, and cognition and even helps enlarge the hippocampus i.e. the catalyst for long-term memory in the brain.
If that isn’t reason enough to get you off the couch, who knows what is? Just take a 10-15 minute walk around the block or do a few jumping jacks to reboot your brain in case you don’t have time to squeeze in a full workout.
5. Eat healthy meals
Fact: The brain is an energy-hungry organ, which comprises 2% of your body’s weight, but gobbles up more than 20% of your daily energy intake. So you need to eat throughout the day to optimize brainpower (not too much, not too little) and drink at least eight glasses of water since dehydration can lead to memory loss and confusion.
You probably already know that a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, “healthy” fats (such as olive oil, nuts, and fish), and lean protein will provide lots of health benefits, but such a diet can also improve memory. For brain health, though, it’s not just what you eat—it’s also what you don’t eat. Leave out junk foods if you are serious about boosting your brainpower.
6. Sleep!
Sleep to remember. Yes, the other way around. Your mind is always racing, stealing your peaceful sleep every night, making you so anxious that your brain simply can’t take in new information (let alone remember it). If you have a big presentation tomorrow and you want to remember your speech better or you are in the revision stages and your exams are looking too close for relaxed reading, instead of cramming until the sun comes up, you should get at least six hours of sleep. A single night of sleep deprivation may lead to memory loss and the destruction of brain cells. Lights out!
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but when it comes to the human brain, there are things you can do to sharpen, adapt and change its vitality. To build a better brain, adopt the right stimulation, which can help form new neural pathways that will increase your cognitive abilities, enhance your ability to learn new information, and improve your memory.
Additional 5 Tips
If you’re having trouble remembering crucial information, such as birthdays, where you left your keys, or where your car is parked, it’s time to work on your cognition. Follow my five suggestions to sharpen your mind and increase your mental capacity.
- Increase brain activation through exercise
Exercising raises your heart rate and gets blood flowing around your body to your brain, which improves memory and focus. I strive to exercise four hours per week, alternating between cycling, swimming, kickboxing, kettlebell sessions, and circuit training. Yoga practice is also beneficial since it increases mental awareness. Mix up your workouts because repetitive activities reduce your chances of strengthening your memory because your body goes into auto-pilot while exercising. - Eat healthier and keep informed
Healthy food improves your brain’s mental power, allowing cells to move freely throughout your body. Skipping meals might result in decreased concentration, thus I always eat three meals a day. Blackberries, apples, spinach, and salmon are examples of foods that can help boost brain power because they contain potent antioxidants that protect your cells. Chewing sugar-free gum can also assist to sharpen your thinking by increasing blood flow to your brain through regular jaw movement. - Maintain contact
Never underestimate the power of human connection. Memory loss is less likely in individuals who are more social, according to research. Regular socializing keeps your brain sharp, so spend more time with friends and family – it’s healthy for your soul and your brain. - Exercise your brain.
If you use your intellect, it will grow – it will. Find new activities to do to push oneself. As travel broadens my mind, I enjoy visiting different countries, learning new languages, and experiencing new adventures. Try puzzles – everything from memory jogs to Sudoku and crosswords has been created to strengthen every aspect of our brain, from the visual-spatial ability to perception, attention, memory, numerical agility, and problem-solving. - Begin writing
Writing is one of the most potent brain-boosting hobbies that many of us overlook, as it can improve our ability to think. The best method to accomplish this is to write every day, for example, in an action list, a diary, or establish a blog. Writing can help you retain knowledge faster and develop your mind to think more clearly.
When it comes to your brain, “use it or lose it!” thus make sure to exercise it by following my 5 advice.
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