Imagine a world where people don’t actually have to think about anything. Everything would do what it should do and serve its own purpose. Everything is simply given in an instant and there’s nothing to consider, nothing to worry about, nothing to wonder, nothing at all. Yes, life would be a lot easier but it would also be so plain, tedious, boring and even nonsense, right? Well, good thing it isn’t and, clearly, it’s not the way how things were designed to work.
Every little thing in the world was created out of the brilliant minds of the (so-called) geniuses. How or why they decided and did these things is really very difficult for an ordinary individual to understand. This is just a proof that love is not the only thing that works in mysterious ways. The human brain does too.
How does one know what he sees, hears, smells or touches? How and why do people dream and then wake up either remembering or forgetting what they dreamed about? How can some people make things move without touching or forcing them but just merely looking at them? These are some of the questions that continues to make life fascinating.
A Peek into How the Mind Works
The mind enables human beings to think, reason, judge and be aware of one’s surroundings but unlike any other life forms, the human brain is unique. It may not be the largest organ in the body but it gives an individual the power to speak, think and even to control the body and its movement. It makes a person dream and experience different kinds of emotions.
The brain receives a flood of information from the senses. It is commonly compared with that of the computers but the difference is that computers are limited but the human mind is not.
Basically, the mind creates, stores and recognizes patterns. Simply by reading something and going back to read it again or going through it several times allows the brain to further process the information until it makes sense. It helps to know things in an instant that one does not need to take a lot of time thinking or recalling how to tie a shoelace or knowing the right answer in a set of questions with multiple choices.
With less difficulty, the mind allows a person to be capable of handling new and unexpected situations. It has the ability to adapt to certain changes. It makes it easier for someone to converse with another person whom he just met, read something and understand it right away and navigate a place he never visited before. One can even think that once a memory is stored in the brain, it never forgets…
30 Ways to Make the Mind Unwind
Suddenly forgot to meet someone on a specific time and place? Don’t remember where the car keys are? Searching the whole house for those misplaced books? Yes, people are likely to forget things occasionally but these are the things one can’t just completely neglect.
The body isn’t the only thing that should always be kept in good shape. The mind must also be exercised to keep it in tip-top condition. Although the human brain is not nearly as limited as the computer, at some point, it can also reach its deterioration if not being properly taken care of.
‘Mental block’ is one of the most common things that can happen wherein one remembers something and totally forgets about it the next minute. A student may forget about what he just memorized during an exam or a public relations officer may not remember some details regarding his presentation. There may be circumstances where one can’t think of anything any more or may tend to over-think things.
Some people may think they’re not born as intelligent as Albert Einstein or Aristotle and that they have to be a millionaire just to have that chance to increase the capacity of their brain. Think not of these things. Time is the only thing needed for there are a lot of simple and natural ways to harness and strengthen one’s memory. Here are some of the practices that can be done in order to keep the mind sharp and fresh at all times.
#1 Get some sleep. Sounds so lovely, peaceful and relaxing, isn’t? Well that’s actually the point! When does one actually perform at his best when his eyes are beginning to shut? Though information can be absorb through the sense of hearing, it’s still not enough when a person is deprived of sleep.
Studies have shown that restfulness increase 200% if you use cute animals as a pillow.
It is vital to one’s health to at least sleep 6-8 hours a day to prepare for a good day’s thinking. If there are loads of works to do and there’s not much time for some real time relaxation, then at least take a power nap or take a break to calm the mind. Forcing the brain to function will only compromise one’s creativity and critical thinking skills while studying, working or even doing some physical activities, especially for those who find themselves the workaholic type of people. Everything will definitely turn out to be a disaster.
Besides, experts found out that sleep can enhance memory and learning skills and upon waking up, one can surely work more and longer. Sleep also helps clear out mental clutters and erase irrelevant thoughts. Just like a gadget getting its battery drained, the brain also needs some recharging so make sure it’s well-rested.
#2 Work that body. The brain is also a muscle that needs to be in good form. Anything that keeps a sharp mind can be easily obstructed if the body remains unhealthy. Physical exercise is actually proven to increase the flow of blood in the system which also increases oxygen to the brain and prevents disorders that can lead to memory loss. When the body is treated well, it helps enhance the mind’s ability to process and recall information.
Hitting the gym or playing a favourite sport can be an enjoyable way to boost one’s brainpower. A person doesn’t just lose weight while he’s busy sweating himself, it also makes him gain more brain cells which helps improve memory and learning skill. Intellectual plays including one that involves hand-eye coordination stimulates the brain.
Engaging in physical activities with a friend can be another way to clear one’s head and forget about problems or things that can cause stress even just for a while. The mind that’s about to explode because of too much thinking must be pulled away from it for a moment. Take time to simply get off that couch, walk up and down the stairs, run around or do a little jogging. Go out and get the body moving.
#3 Grab a pen. As much as one loves a keyboard, it can be helpful to just ditch the laptop sometimes and learn more effectively through writing with the hand. Unlike computers wherein it automatically corrects some misspelled words as well as grammar that thinking twice isn’t that necessary, writing with a pen and paper makes a person focus actively on the moment and let the mind know that it’s time to pay attention.
Try to write a story, poetry or an article. Try to start up a blog and write about things which seems interesting or just anything under the sun. Writing can actually improve one’s memory as well as his expression of thought. Keeping a journal or a diary can also strengthen the mind’s ability to put into words one’s thoughts and feelings and clarify thinking. It tells the memory the things which are significant to be able to recall them easily in the future.
Writing allows one to play with words and therefore increases creativity. It exercises the ability not only to analyse but to also build a thought. When a person writes something, he practices how to brainstorm, come up with certain brilliant ideas, and have the capability to visualize and create a distinctive world that can only exist in the mind.
#4 Be a wide reader. Nothing beats boosting one’s brainpower and vocabulary by reading books. Explore and choose from a broad range of authors and subjects. Reading something different and challenging at the same time allows the mind to have some exercise. Books can somehow make the reader argue with the things written in it that helps sharpen the mind. It is also a way of teaching the brain to get used to and absorb vast amounts of information within short periods of time. Aside from learning something while spending time reading good books, the brainpower increases too. It also challenges the reader’s thinking abilities and memorization skills.
Reading can be used as a form of escapism that relieves tension and stress. (But please don’t use that as an excuse to avoid work!) Just like in writing, it improves a person’s capability to visualize. Imagination is said to be a great way to train the brain. It forces the mind to picture what is being read.
Speed reading is what’s usually being practised in order to increase comprehension. It enables one to learn more in less time.
Want something that’s totally challenging? Try to read books in a different language and see how the mind works it out.
