Brain Health
Do you want to be smarter, and remember things easier? Do you want to enhance your brain health? If yes, this article is for you. Below are 6 daily habits you should apply to boost your memory, awareness, and intelligence.
1. Sleeping well
People spend one-third of their lives sleeping. When you are sleeping, your body and mind will be revitalized. When a deep and dreamless phase of sleep takes place, your brain will work to reorganize everything you have learned during the day and consolidate your memory. On the other hand, when your sleep is disturbed, your brain will miss the memory consolidation process, leading to memory impairments and many other mental diseases. It is best to sleep 7 – 8 hours per day. You will also feel better when having a sound sleep.
2. Eating well
If you want your body and brain to work well, eat energetic and nutritious foods only. Start reducing the amount of food you eat each time. If you often have 3 big meals a day, try to divide them into 6 smaller ones.
Our brain will work well if provided with 25 grams of glucose each time (you can get this amount by eating a banana). Other foods such as oily fish, dark chocolate, berries, nuts and seeds, coffee, avocado, salmon, etc. are also recommended. These foods can produce a hormone called dopamine, which will make you feel happy and delighted. Try to think carefully before eating something, and remind yourself to consume healthy foods only. And, if you do not know what they are, you can search on the Internet or read nutrition books; your body and brain will be grateful for that.
3. Writing instead of typing
The way your brain observes and understands things that are written down is different from that of things you type on your computer or smartphone screen. The written information firmly embeds in your mind, and you will remember it for a longer time.
There are many ways to practice this habit. Each evening, you can note down what you need to do the next day, for instance. This helps you feel less worried, sleep better, and work more effectively the following day.
4. Stepping out of your comfort zone
Stepping out of your comfort zone, trying new things, or simply going outsides may also positively affect your brain. Your brain will react differently in different environments. When you do the same thing every day, your brain doesn’t need to work, and it will fall into an automatic mode easily. However, when you change the environment, your brain and you will have to work more to adapt. This is said to be a wonderful way to practice good memory. Scientists believe that people who work intelligently have a better memory than those who work manually when they are old. It means the harder your brain works, the better you remember things when you become older.
5. Doing exercises
Doing exercise is not only good for the body but also the brain health. When you are working out, your brain produces a hormone called endorphin to help you feel happy. In contrast, it reduces the amount of cortisol hormone, which may negatively affect your awareness and critical thinking skills.
You don’t need to go to the gym every day. You can do simple workouts such as swimming, jogging, riding, and so on. Practicing regularly is of the most importance.
6. Slowing down
It seems to be lazy, but slowing down is vital for your memory and brain health. Being busy and doing many things at the same time is not as productive as you may think. When you slow down and concentrate on one work only, you will spend 100% of your effort on it. And, of course, it will be done perfectly.
When you slow down, you will feel less stressful, and your brain will produce less cortisol hormone. It means that you will become more conscious, and can find out creative methods to complete your work.
This is a simple but, sometimes, the most difficult habit to practice. You are often taught to go fast and finish all tasks ahead of time, but you do not know that it may be a mess. Write down what you would like to do and implement them respectively. You will feel more satisfied.
