#18 Grab the remote control and turn off the TV. Procrastination is very common to people especially when one feels he has tons of work to do like there’s no tomorrow. What exactly turns out? He leaves his workplace, grabs some chips, jump on the couch and watch TV.
A little TV actually does not hurt anybody, but it does make some changes regarding brain functioning. It is not the only reason in which rotting of the brain begins, but it is a main ingredient to the rotting process and slows the brainwaves causing a declination in brain fitness.
Too much TV and you become like this – stale and irrelevant.
Spending too much time in front of the television set causes mental clutter. Things seen on the screen are useless and uninspiring. It is just a way to satisfy one’s curiosity and pull away from the reality of being alone with those never ending tasks to accomplish. It’s a great way to kill time. This form of activity, though unnoticeable, is mentally draining. Passively staring at the screen for hours only makes a person feel numb and sleepy because the brain is still actively working and processing the information it receives even though one is just sitting.
Watching TV extensively suppresses one’s imagination (DUH!). Unlike reading where the mind actively converts the words into visuals, only little imagination is required during a TV session. Instead of devoting much time on it, choose to be busy at all times. Laziness leads to poor health and any kinds of lazy attitude limits the brain’s maximum ability.
#19 Develop a creative hand. A drawing or a painting is usually just appreciated if someone really has the skill and the talent but come to think of it, they just consists of lines, shapes and colors so how hard could it really be? The good thing is, this skill can also be learned. Sometimes, only those who have the interest and the patience to learn and practice it are the only ones who acquire this skilfulness.
Drawing inspires and draws out creativity and stimulates the right hemisphere of the brain. Painting gets the right brain to function to its fullness and also improves a person’s creative side. Visualizing a particular place someone wants to be and letting the paint go on paper sparks nothing but pure originality and creativity from deep within.
Haven’t tried doodling around, drawing or painting a picture? Well, try putting some coloured pencils on those hands and give it a shot. Get out of the house, watch the birds, spend time under a tree and observe people. Buy a sketchbook or just grab a pen and paper and prepare to be mesmerized by the beauty of the life. Who knows? There might just be something in there hiding somewhere from within that needs to be discovered. Draw a way into that powerful brain.
#20 Say things out loud. No matter how crazy or noisy it may seem, talking to oneself or uttering words out loud a form of mind exercise. In trying to make those words or problems inside the head communicable, clarifying one’s thoughts is a must. Simplify and transform it into an objective list kind of way. To be able to clearly express the words or the message one wants to say, one is forced to mentally organize the scattered information on the brain.
Those information are actually being freed from the useless psychological noise occurring in the head such as anxiety, fear or frustration for not being able to come up with a good solution to end the problem. Putting those unwanted thoughts into words would actually help a person understand it. Not only is language a communication tool, it also a tool of thought.
Saying what’s on the mind out loud activates more areas of the brain than just merely thinking about it. Pretending to talk to someone and explain things but doing it only in thinking is of little help. It is shown that speaking words triggers some parts of the brain which are involved in moving the diaphragm, tongue, vocal chords and other part of the body.
Just remember not to make it a habit of speaking loud while thinking of something that might cause trouble with another person. Leave it on the subconscious part and do an internal monologue. This also works but doesn’t exercise many areas of the brain unlike when speaking one’s own words.
#21 Go out for a little walk. Some things just need to be left for a while to recharge the brain and clear out those fogs suffocating the brain. Walking is considered by many to be one of the best forms of exercise. It’s low impact and rhythmic nature seems to put someone in a particular state that is very beneficial to clear thinking very effective for boosting brainpower.
When the mind doesn’t perform well and is too stressed about so many problems that it can no longer absorb any more new information, let it rest. Stroll around a mall, or go to a nearby park and get some fresh air. The mind might need a bit of oxygen to work (and that’s an understatement). Watch the children running around and enjoying themselves on the playground, a group of friends chilling and spending some quality time together, a family having a fun picnic.
This can surely freshen up the mind and lift some burden off those shoulders. As a matter of fact, walking for a few minutes is a great way to solve problems. It puts a person in a relax state which gives the brain a chance to wander around and free itself from any troubling thoughts.
#22 Be the impersonator. Trying to be the class clown? Surrounded by people having a bad day and want to lighten up the mood inside the busy office? Sometimes, even the funniest things can bring positive results in terms of brain functioning. The ability to mimic a certain person’s way of talking or moving activates several areas of the brain that seems to be inactive. Having fun in a playful manner by imitating others improves brainpower and its ability to quickly adapt when faced with new and unexpected situations. It also increases one’s creativity where one visualizes the person he wants to mirror.
Mimicking others can also be in a form of simply admiring someone who is creative and intelligent and looking up to them like a good role model. It helps a person have a positive outlook in life.
#23 Drink Caffeine. This is good news to all coffee lovers out there. Caffeine helps stimulate the brain’s activity, improve one’s focus and speed up his thinking. Some research has been conducted wherein students who drink coffee before taking exams have higher test scores. Caffeine affects individuals in different ways but surely works in short terms. But be warned: too much caffeine brings no joy and can cause stress and even trigger anger. It has also been proven that too much intake leads to poorer decision-making skills. Drink some and see how it can really affect the mind’s ability to focus and think straight.
#24 Practice positive thinking. There are really times when one feels like the odds are not exactly in his favour and the world is starting to weigh on his shoulders. No matter what he does to avoid it, bad things happen successively but it’s not a healthy thing to just go with the flow and continue complaining about life’s mess. There is always a solution to a problem, but if there’s really no answer to it, don’t mind it and just forget about it.
If a person is currently good at thinking positively, then chances are, he already has a more powerful brain than those who keep on blaming the world for all their dilemmas. Sometimes, people tend to instantly think about negative things before they even occur. This just cause stress and anxiety that can kill existing brain neurons and stop the creation of new neurons. Positive thinking, especially in the future tense, has been proven to speed up the creation of brain cells and significantly reduces stress and anxiety. It also improves thinking abilities and problem solving skills.
Be more positive and always look on the brighter side of things. Erase those negative thoughts and transform them into positive ones. Motivating oneself is also important to mental tasks. Failure should be a fuel to get one pumped up and always ready to face new challenges. Spare the mind from all the stress and never forget that there is always a better tomorrow.
