Have you ever woken up and just couldn’t get your brain going? Or reached a certain point in the day where you felt fuzzy and ‘out of it’? The brain is a muscle that needs to be exercised to work at its optimum efficiency. The human brain is able to continually adapt and rewire itself. It grows and learns through interaction with the world and receiving mental and physical stimulation. Try these methods to kick start your brain and getting those brain cells humming.
- Drinks such as water, Chai, ginko biloba or ginseng tea, kombucha and smoothies will awaken your senses and your brain.
- Take a walk. Whether it’s a brisk march or a slow stroll, a walk will help get the blood flowing and your brain working again.
- Tai Chi. This ancient form of exercise uses a graceful form of stretching to keep your brain physically fit. Tai Chi also helps build energy and concentration.
- Nuerobics is a technique developed by neurobiologist Lawrence Katz that uses your five physical senses and your emotional sense in unexpected ways. Nuerobics encourages you to shake up your everyday routines. When we perform routine tasks continually, we begin to do so automatically with little thought. By performing simple everyday tasks differently, we produce more chemicals of the neurobiology system that encourage growth of new dendrites and neurons in the brain. You can do Nuerobics anywhere to help the brain manufacture its own nutrients that strengthen, preserve and grow brain cells. An example would be performing an everyday task such as getting dressed with your eyes closed, depending on your other senses to complete the task. For more information see:
Fraimcenter - Neurobic Article PDF
Keep Your Brain Alive - Sex. Enjoy sex with your partner. Not only will it stimulate your senses, it has also been shown to sharpen your mind, especially for women. Studies show that love-making increases a woman’s estrogen levels. Higher estrogen levels are tied to better mental performance.
- Read. Whether you read the news online, study, read a book or catch up on the latest celebrity gossip magazine, do some reading each day.
- Meditation. Meditation helps improve focus and provides stress relief.
- Solve brainteasers such as anagrams, word games, and logic problems, to help get your brain going. Try these:
Brain curls
Text twist
Sharp brains - Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy offers a boost to your brain through various scents which work to stimulate, calm, energize, and more.
- Use your brain. Doing tasks such as avoiding the calculator for simple arithmetic or thinking through perplexing problems is sure to get your mind working.
- Switch hands. Try using your less dominant hand for simple tasks like writing, moving your computer mouse, brushing your teeth, eating or writing to stimulate your brain. Your brain will learn something new, strengthening neuron connections and creating new ones.
- Learn something new. Challenging your brain by learning a new task stimulates the brain. Find something you’ve always wanted to know how to do such as sculpting, line dancing, gardening, yoga, learning to sew, creating a website etc and go for it!
- Doodle. Doodling can kick start your brain when it is bored.
- New thoughts. Figuring out something new such as a new business idea, a better way to do something or ponder the why’s of life and the world will stimulate your brain and help create new neuron pathways.
- Go out and play! Physical activity is not only good for the body but is stimulating for the brain. Hiking, a game of kickball, playing outside with your dog or even a game of tag will get you going and feeling great!
- The Mozart Effect. Research has shown that listening to Mozart can help improve intellectual capacity, even boosting I.Q. levels. To learn more: Kickstart your brain with Mozart
- Cinnamon and peppermint. Research shows that cinnamon and peppermint stimulate the brain. Have some gum or tea and give it a shot.
- You are what you eat. Certain foods feed the brain and improve memory, mood, concentration and overall clarity. Nourish your brain with flax seed, eggs, chocolate, apples, broccoli, avocado, blueberries, salmon, curry, whole grains, olive oil or cocoa.
- Video games. Video games challenge and stimulate the brain as well as help with coordination and speed. Try these:
Freearcade.com
Bgames.com
Gamefly delivers video games to your door for a low monthly cost
GameTap lets you download popular games for a fee
World of Warcraft – Play other players online - Memorize a song. We all have our old favorites, but when was the last time you memorized a new song? It may take awhile at first, but if you keep at it, you will find it gets easier. This is your brain getting back in shape.
Author: Jeannie Wraight
