Before learning to think faster, make sure the conditions are right for the learning.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep supports the emotional (moods), mental (concentration/focus/memory) and physical (immune system/metabolism) making this one act one of the most imperative to furthering any goal.
- Stay hydrated. One study shows that a 1% loss of brain water adds up to a 5% decrease in cognitive brain function!
- Eat good brain food! Fish, dark chocolate, blueberries, turmeric – you know the drill.
- Exercise. It improves blood flow to the brain and produces endorphins which will make you a happy learner!
- Chill! Take a break. Unwind. Go on vacation. Somehow, some way, give yourself and your brain a breath of fresh air.
- Eyes & Ears – make sure they’re working right. Most of our information is coming in through these two sense organs.
Now you might be ready to actively practice some brain-building techniques, or learn some new ones like:
- Speed Chess
- Timed activities like puzzles, debate or interview answers, writing assignments
- Flip a coin for unimportant decisions and just go with it.
- Ad-lib and improvise instead of making a plan. If you like to follow recipes when you cook, wing it sometimes.
- Practice faster decision making like instead of coordinating your clothes when you don’t have to be anywhere, just choose.
- Set challenges for yourself that are going to demand resourcefulness. How to make that toy for your child. How to create a good time without any money.
- Play games that stimulate your creativity like charades.
- Learn to do something new with your hands, like carpentry. Learn a new art form like music, dance or painting. Learn a language that you can practice with a partner.
- Meditate and keep a journal to stimulate your recall of sensory observation. Or write a journal of your dreams to stimulate the recall and attention immediately upon waking from sleep.
- Check out BrainHQ! The BrainHQ brain-training program represents the culmination of 30 years of research in neurological science and related medicine. It was designed by an international team of neuroscientists, led by Michael Merzenich—a professor emeritus in neurophysiology, member of the National Academy of Sciences, co-inventor of the cochlear implant, and Kavli Prize laureate.
- Forget the social media – have a real conversation with a live person in front of you. What’s more important, don’t hold back your opinions. Shape the conversation as if you were shaping a piece right here on Quora.
- Ever heard of the Mensa workout?
Thanks. That was fun. This isn’t precisely my niche, but getting out of my comfort zone is good for my brain! Oh, and don’t forget the supplements like Acetyl-l-Carnitine and Bacopa!
Hey everybody. Stay safe and happy, when and wherever possible, even during a pandemic eh! God bless.
…is a Saiva Tantrika, Gyana Yogi and founder of Uma Maheshwara Yoga & Ayurveda. David has an MA in Semiotics, lives in Japan with his family and works as a coach in L & D, devoting his time to developing science-based tools and programs that help people reach the fullest potential of the human condition.