The New Year is a time for setting big goals and shiny resolutions, but did you know that most people fail to accomplish 80% of them?
Goals take time, effort, and an enormous amount of self-discipline, as well as focus and strong willpower. Every goal we set, whether it’s a big or a small one, requires brain energy to change the old habit.
The brain is a smart ‘machine’, but we have to keep it sharp and on top of its game at all times. It needs time to reset, establish new routines, and neuropathways in order to serve you better.
Read on to discover 8 effective ways to boost your brain power and become the best version of yourself in the new year.
1. Get Better Quality Sleep
Want to know the secret to optimal mind boosting? Get at least 6-8 hours of quality sleep to help your brain cells renew and replenish their energy. The time you fall asleep is also important because the brain gets the best quality sleep between 11 pm and 1 am.
If you’re not a morning person, make an effort to get up at least 15 minutes earlier than the previous morning. Getting up early while the world is still asleep will help you clear your mind, sharpen your focus and get you ready for a productive day.
2. Eat More Healthy Foods
The simplest way to boost brain power is through eating healthy, nutrient-rich, unprocessed food. Fatty acids like omega-3 are essential for proper brain function and can also help prevent depression, anxiety, mental disorders, and Alzheimer’s Disease.
You’ll find omega-3 fatty acids in nuts, seeds, seafood, fish and fish oil, beans, Brussels sprouts, and avocados.
Antioxidants are another substance that can improve brain function and memory. Like any other organ, your brain is susceptible to aging and oxidative stress. Antioxidants can fight free radicals in the body and help improve the nerve cells’ natural protective system.
Fresh, organic foods like blueberries, turmeric, raw cocoa/dark chocolate, coffee, nuts, citrus fruits, broccoli, green tea, and goji berries are packed with antioxidants.
3. Spend More Time in Nature
Have you ever heard of forest bathing? It’s an ancient Japanese practice of spending time in nature and being fully present with the sounds, smells, and colors of your surroundings. There’s no physical activity involved – only activating your senses and becoming more aware of what’s around you.
With more and more people living in cities, we don’t often go out of our way to connect with nature. Even green spaces in your area can have the same effects as a trip to the mountains. The way of nature is calm, without any rush, and everything happens in its own timing.
Spending time in nature and getting fresh air can clear your mind, help you focus on the present moment, and reduce stress and anxiety.
4. Maintain Healthy Relationships
According to a few recent studies, loneliness is now a national epidemic. Good social relationships and close friendships are a major factor in a person’s wellbeing and mental health.
This is partly due to the modern fast-paced lifestyle and the inability to keep a balance between your personal and professional life. If you want to learn how to boost brain power, pay attention to your social communication.
People are social creatures and crave connection with others in order to survive in society. Social isolation can be detrimental to one’s mental and physical health, but so can hanging out with toxic people.
5. Meditate Regularly
Meditation is a scientifically proven way to reduce stress, improve your brain power, and awaken your creativity. All you need is 10 minutes of silence within your day to learn how to handle your thoughts and emotions.
Meditation sounds simple, but it’s incredibly difficult, especially for those who aren’t used to being alone with their own thoughts. The brain is constantly active and doesn’t know when to stop producing thoughts.
Meditation teaches the brain it’s ok to slow down, breathe, and stay in a thoughtless state for a while. It helps clear brain fog, boosts creativity and productivity, and improves the person’s stress response.
6. Implement More Movement
If you’re struggling to learn how to focus at work, get up from your desk and get moving. Whether you go for a walk around the block, to a nearby park or hit the gym, movement activates the brain’s pleasure and reward centers.
Exercise increases your blood circulation, transporting more oxygen to the brain cells. This leads to better productivity, improved concentration, and more effective work.
Working out also reduces stress and anxiety, so you can focus more on the tasks ahead of you and less on worrying about it.
7. Take Brain Supplements
If you’re looking for a faster way to boost your brain power, enter nootropics. Brain supplements are shortcuts to higher productivity, improved focus, and better brain performance. However, they come with side effects if you don’t use them properly.
Nootropics can be of synthetic or natural origin, so be careful when choosing a brand. Do thorough research on the ingredients and make sure they’re visibly listed on the product, as shown on this website.
Some of the best natural brain supplements include Ginko Biloba, fish oil, acetyl-L-carnitine, Rhodiola Rosea, and curcumin.
8. Learn a New Skill
The brain is constantly active, even when you sleep. To keep it sharp and productive, try to learn a new skill. This can be something entirely new or perfecting something you already know.
Learning new things helps the brain create new pathways and improve its neuroplasticity. The brain also releases dopamine when it masters a new skill, completes a test, or does something successfully.
These Are The Best Ways to Boost Your Brain Power in 2019!
Is one of your new year’s resolutions to more productive and accomplish all your goals? If so, then these tips will help you boost your brain power and pave the way to a better, healthier you in 2019.
Want more mental health tips and productivity hacks? Check out our blog where we share the best advice for being your best self.