20 ways to keep your brain in good shape

Entrepreneur Jason Demers argues that with motivation and determination, anyone can become smarter. To do this, he suggests introducing 20 good habits into everyday life.

1. Learn new things

Set aside 10-20 minutes a day to study a topic that interests you. It can be the history of China, the theory of relativity, or the rules of etiquette – in fact, it can be anything.

It might be hard at first. But then you will wait for these moments of silence alone with new discoveries.

2. Visit new places

It is not necessary to travel. You can go to a new coffee shop or take a new route to work. Most people like familiar places. We are more comfortable and calmer in a familiar restaurant or store, because we do not need to study the menu for a long time or look for fitting rooms.

However, it is more useful just to get into unusual situations. The need to adapt to new conditions forces the brain to solve unexpected problems.

3. Continue your education

Everyone rejoices, having received the coveted diploma. After all, the majority go to college just for the sake of it, because “it’s necessary” and “it’s better for the future.” Adult education provides much more. You are no longer studying for the sake of a piece of paper, but for the sake of new knowledge.

Taking a course or getting a second degree is the best way to spend time, money and energy. In addition, this is an occasion to challenge yourself and try something new. It is not necessary to study something serious. For starters, amateur courses are quite suitable.

4. Read the news

Make it a rule to devote at least 20 minutes a day (10 in the morning and 10 in the evening) to the news. It is important to read them, and not listen to them on the radio or watch on TV. By analyzing the agenda, you make the brain work.

5. Read books

This is the easiest way to train your brain. You expand your horizons and vocabulary, imperceptibly improve your grammar and learn how to build sentences correctly. In addition, reading is a way to develop the imagination by traveling through space and time.

6. Get creative

Whatever you do, any task can be done in two ways: the usual and alternative. The second you will have to invent yourself. Take a fresh look at the workflow, try to think outside the box, solve problems creatively and come up with fresh ideas.

Instead of worrying about a new project, relax and start looking for alternative ways to reach your end goal.

7. Challenge yourself

Albert Einstein once said, “Don’t pursue goals that are easy to achieve. It is worth aiming at what can be done with difficulty, with considerable effort. ” Therefore, constantly come up with difficult tasks for yourself – learn a foreign language, understand how to mount a video in a new program.

Do not limit yourself to phrases like “this is not for me”, “I will never master this”. Often it is a low assessment of one’s own capabilities that blocks the path to success.

Imagine a weight lifter. He does not immediately take the weight of 200 kg. Training starts with a smaller mass, but gradually he comes to his goal. It just takes time and faith in yourself.

8. Practice in the game

Solve Sudoku, solve crossword puzzles, master poker and bridge, arrange memory games with children. These simple and fun ways will not let your brain freeze.

9. Use the Five Whys Technique

The main task of this technique is to find the root cause of the problem by repeating one question – “Why?”.

Each subsequent question is asked to answer the previous one. The number “5” is chosen empirically and is considered sufficient to find solutions to typical problems.

10. Avoid Gadgets

Of course, high technology makes life much easier. Still, try to do without them in some situations. For example, find the address you need without a navigator or calculate how much you spent today without a calculator.

11. Get creative

Artistic thinking creates new opportunities for finding non-standard solutions. Therefore, use your creativity and develop talents. Take pictures, embroider, decorate the house and sing at least for yourself.

12. Draw

Scientists have proven that fine art improves connections between neurons in the human brain. According to the researchers, drawing helps to better focus on the subject and absorb knowledge faster.

13. Color

A coloring book is a simple and affordable way of art therapy. It allows you to express yourself creatively, relax and relieve stress.

14. Play a musical instrument

Excuses from the series “I don’t know how” or “a bear stepped on my ear” are not accepted. Everyone can master a triangle, a children’s flute or an electronic piano.

Making music improves hand-eye coordination, memory, concentration, and math skills. The latter are needed to count the measures and hit the musical time signature.

15. Write

Keep a diary or blog, come up with bedtime stories for children or grandchildren. Or just write for yourself. Literary creativity improves memory and analytical skills.

16. Play a role

Imagine yourself as a different person. Think over his daily routine, habits and rules. Try acting like this fictional character at a family dinner for fun. Such reincarnation expands the boundaries of consciousness.

17. Meditate

The brain perceives meditation as a rest, which allows it to better cope with fear, anxiety and depression. In addition, meditation improves concentration and attention.

18. Eat right

The list of foods with scientifically proven benefits for the brain has long been known. These are walnuts, dark chocolate, green tea, seaweed, spinach, oily fish and eggs. But fast food, sweet soda, alcohol and fatty foods are best excluded.

19. Be active

Physical activity is just as necessary for the brain as mental activity. In 2010, data from experiments on monkeys were described in the journal Neuroscience. The exercised primates learned new tasks and completed them twice as fast as their “lazy” counterparts.

Everything is logical: physical activity improves the supply of oxygen to the brain, which contributes to its productive work.

20. Connect with interesting people

No two people have the same life experience. Each person perceives information individually, stores memories and analyzes events in his own way. This is what makes communication so important to brain health.

Whether the conversation is about religion, finance, politics, or fashion trends, it’s good to be a good listener. Although we all tend to think that our opinion is the only correct one, sometimes it is good to know another point of view.

About the author: Jason Demers is the CEO of a digital agency and digital marketing specialist.