According to neurologists, an active lifestyle, and periodically disconnecting from the digital world are the widely approved methods to accelerate the thought process, improve memory, and boost creativity. However, there are quite a few other ways, most of them being daily-life staples (and some weird ones), that might surprise you with their hidden brain boosting benefits:
Table of Contents
1. Cute Animals
Pet-owners are more emphatic, responsible, happier, keener, and creative than non-pet owners. However, research conducted at the Hiroshima University states that aside from owning a four-legged companion, just looking at pictures or videos of cute animals between breaks at work can serve as a relaxing outlet and significantly increases attentiveness, efficiency, and productivity.
2. Video Games
This may come as a contradictive surprise, but setting some time aside for video games, particularly ones that involve quick thinking, problem-solving, and time-management, can have a long-lasting effect on thinking abilities, mental alertness, and memory improvement.
3. Chewing Gum
Habitual gum chewers rejoice! Mint-flavored gum serves as an instant solution to tiredness and fatigue by improving alertness. The strong, fast-acting menthol has also been shown to improve memory and escalate thinking.
4. Daydreaming
Imagining yourself as the next Bill Gates or directing an epic fantasy in your head is no longer the insidious cousin of procrastination. In fact, mentally foraying from your assigned tasks from time to time can help overcome temporary mental blocks, facilitate deep thinking, and improve overall problem-solving skills.
5. Total Energy Depletion
Especially true for getting creative inspiration, a brain that is tired and depleted after a long work day loses focus and cannot efficiently make rational connections between ideas and concepts or filter out distractions. As a result, it establishes new neural connections that help in approaching problems from other angles and promote innovation.
6. Napping
In addition to the medically advised 6-8 hours of daily night sleep, short sleep bursts of 5-10 minutes during work can optimize the memory absorption process. Any newly-acquired information is first stored in the hippocampus and is easily forgotten if not transferred to the ‘permanent’ neocortex. Occasional naps optimize learning and improve brain memory by providing a much-needed break for transferring and solidifying new memories.
7. Smelling Rosemary
Aromatherapy is not only good for relieving stress and anxiety, but can also improve brain power. Smelling rosemary oil in particular, can amplify cognitive abilities and metal dexterity. Similarly, smelling lavender and sandalwood oil promotes brain relaxation to slow synapse rate (electric signal transfer between brain cells) and improve concentration.
8. Chocolate
The flavonoids released by chocolate not only serve as super mood boosters, but also possess the ability to improve the brain’s ability to form new memories by increasing brain blood flow and inducing neuron creation. The catch? It has to be dark with no less than 60% cocoa.
9. Music
Blaring Europop or death metal at full blast doesn’t count. But actually learning to play a musical instrument can significantly improve memory and concentration, along with motor skills, hearing, and sociability. In fact, the intense concentration required to understand sheet music and play an instrument can greatly facilitate learning a new language; another effective brain booster.
10. Your Friends
The company you keep may not always define you, but regularly keeping in touch with, and widening your friend circle can help improve communication skills and stave off social isolation; a primary causative factor of age-related mental decline and reduced cognitive abilities.
Do memory issues still persist or has your thinking speed reduced significantly? If you observe any signs of a cognitive disorder, consult your doctor immediately. You can also book an appointment with top Neurologists in Multan, Karachi and Islamabad through oladoc or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT Doctor for your neural concerns.
