Strong mental health and an active, well-stimulated mind can be powerful tools in helping you live your best life. Whether at work or home, a healthy headspace can empower you to be the best version of yourself. Fortunately, there are numerous simple lifestyle changes you can make to enhance your brainpower over time.
Social Interaction
Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash: Consider talking to people who are willing to listen
It may come as no surprise, but even the most introverted among us benefit from quality time with those near and dear to us.
Research shows that consistent periods of social interaction with family and friends do wonders for the cognitive functions of the brain. These interactions dampen stress levels, provide intellectual stimulation, and even ease depressive symptoms. It is not surprising that high levels of social interaction are linked with lower rates of memory decline.
Consciously make time to spend with your friends and family – organize weekly game nights or lunches, or at least make plans for special events.
Do not let distance be a barrier; thanks to technology, your loved ones are only a video call away.
Dietary Changes
Binging on junk food and sweets can provide temporary boosts to your blood sugar and dopamine levels, but in the long term, it serves to make you lethargic and unhealthy. Instead, try switching to an overall healthier diet.
Not only will this work miracles for your physical health, but it will also leave you feeling happier and more energetic.
A diet to consider is the Mediterranean one, which focuses on cutting carbohydrates in favor of lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.
Its many benefits include lowering blood pressure levels, raising good cholesterol levels, and ultimately enhancing the cognitive functions of the brain.
If the Mediterranean is not for you, any diet that focuses on meeting the nutritional needs of the body while being mindful of calories will work. Shop around different cuisines to find one that suits your lifestyle.
Meditation
Pexels / Pixabay: Make your brain more useful with meditation
Unplug from the busy humdrum of daily routines with a short, effective meditation session. Research shows that meditation can boost one’s attention span, memory recall, and even oral fluency.
You need not retire to a monastery to meditate. There are many books and apps available that provide valuable guidance on conducting simple meditation routines at home.
Sleep
bruce mars/Unsplash: Sleep all your stresses away
We all know that our adult bodies function optimally with six to eight hours of sleep a night. But how many of us actually meet this quota?
Lack of sleep not only affects your day to day cognitive abilities – such as making you more forgetful, less attentive, and impairing your hand-eye coordination – but also has harmful long-term effects. A sustained lack of sleep has even been linked to dementia.
Make an effort to go to bed on time and maintain a regular sleeping schedule. A well-rested body is the first step taken to a well-functioning mind.
Ultimately, the answer to boosting your brainpower does not need to be as complicated as doing puzzles or solving riddles. It can be as simple as incorporating small, easily implementable lifestyle changes into your everyday life.