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Your brain needs to work out just like your body does. It’s easier said than done, especially for those of us not in school, we need to make a point of practicing and learning new things every single day.
Here are 7 sure-fire ways to increase your brainpower.
Consume High Quality and Positive Content
The videos and articles you mindlessly flip through aren’t so mindless after all. Content shared via social media impacts the way you think and the opinions that you form. Gather information from legitimate sources to ensure that you are consuming only the highest quality content.
A foolproof way to do this is to take a look at what pages you currently “like” on your frequently visited applications, like Instagram, “favorite” or “follow” sources that contribute to your brain gains! This will force pertinent and valuable information to populate feed-first when you click to open your go-to social media apps.
Another option: download more apps!
Download applications that have something more to offer. Applications like Audible and podcasts can transform your daily commute or weekly cardio session into an opportunity to learn something new!
Eat Healthier
A healthy body AND a healthy mind? #CoupleGoals
What we don’t always realize is how much one contributes to the other, and vice versa. A well-balanced diet can protect and support your brain. We’re talking about everything from improving memory to cognitive function.
So, don’t forget your daily doses of greens, and reach for fruit, nuts and more raw foods when snacking.
We’ve all heard that meal prep supports convenience when it comes to meeting our diet and fitness goals. But that’s not all.
Taking the time to plan your meals, whether by cooking in advance or setting a recurring dinner schedule, allows your brain to focus on the important stuff (like decision-making skills) and gives you the time to accomplish more.
Explore New Places
Your comfort zone can be a dangerous place. It takes a bit of rewiring to remove yourself from the monotony of your every day. Put yourself in situations that create new challenges and inspire thought processes!
Even in the city, you live in, you could walk a different path home from work or break your weekly restaurant tradition to try out the new place you were curious about. Test out the perfect recipe that you’ve been meaning to try for some new challenges!
Take on New Hobbies
Hobbies are a great way to further your intelligence. Like we discussed before, new challenges have the power to teach us new things; taking the time to learn even the most basic new skill will inevitably boost your IQ. Try to crochet a blanket, repurpose some old furniture or maybe even start a garden. Challenge yourself with hobbies that interest you.
New challenges also serve as opportunities for us to learn more about ourselves. Bonus points!
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Exercise your Brain
Utilize brain game apps! Bored? Stop scrolling through Netflix’s most-watched and download an app like Lumosity, which can improve memory, problem-solving skills and processing speed.
Throw it back! Every once in a while, it’s nice to put the phone down and try something old school. I’m talking about playing cards!
A recent study has shown that card games can be cognitively-stimulating, and can even help battle Alzheimer’s Disease… Go Fish, anyone?
Teach Someone a Skill
Teaching someone requires you to think outside of your proverbial box. Skills that you have perfected over the years are almost instinctual at this point. It’s surprisingly more difficult than you think to verbalize exactly what you are doing when you simply strum a tune on the guitar or snap a photograph.
We all learn in different ways and at different rates. Breaking something down via a different learning style can expand your knowledge and expertise of a given skill. This will challenge you and the person you are teaching at the same time!
Meditate
Sometimes a problem can be solved by merely walking away from it. Meditation is the perfect way to recenter yourself and dive deep into self-discovery. Meditation is not as easy as it sounds; it takes time and practice.
Start small by taking just a minute or two to concentrate on your breath. Imagine a square, where each side symbolizes a change in your breathing pattern, breathe in for three counts, hold your breath for three counts, breathe out for three counts, hold your breath for three counts; then, repeat.
At first, your mind may start to wander, acknowledge the thoughts, and then refocus your attention on your breath. It can be helpful to repeat a mantra, whether it be a phrase, word, or sound. There are several free apps (like Calm) that can help provide a bit of guidance, as well.
Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?! As long as you continue to learn, you will continue to get smarter!
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