Boost Your Brainpower

In the 21st Century, there is so much going on inside our heads that it is no wonder that we get forgetful. Our brains are constantly stimulated, and we can have a minimum flow of 50,000 individual thoughts in any one day. Barring medical issues, there is much that can be done to improve the memory. Follow my tips to increase your brainpower!

Fuel your body and mind
It sounds obvious, but your mind is affected hugely by what you put into your body. Science has proven that even 2% dehydration affects energy levels, memory and attention span. If you need to, set a reminder to drink water each hour to keep your hydration levels and your brain power at full capacity.

Eat delicious, fresh food, and include foods such as avocado, blueberries, broccoli, coconut and dark chocolate, which are all excellent for the brain. Have essential oils of peppermint or rosemary nearby as these naturally make you more attentive and alert.

Ditch distractions
The constant pinging of email, text and social media notifications from gadgets means that we often get distracted from the job in hand. Turn off your notifications for an hour each day if you can, and see how much better you feel! Less likely to be distracted, this will reduce procrastination, and you will feel more focused.

Grab a pen
Whilst phones and tablets are useful, there really is no substitute for writing things down on paper, as far as your memory is concerned. Not only does it create a more lasting memory than typing, hand writing a list or a calendar stimulates different areas of the brain, giving it a good workout! Writing a list and working through it methodically also helps you to reduce multitasking, which can cause you to forget things.

Do a brain workout
Crosswords, Sudoku, logic puzzles and general knowledge quizzes all exercise your brain and stimulate memory neurons. Scientific studies have shown that people doing regular brain exercise have faster thinking times, better focus, and improved mood and brainpower.

Test your brain by learning to use chopsticks, take a different route to work, or wearing your watch on the opposite wrist (or even upside down!) Anything that you do that goes against your usual routine will wake up your brain and boost your memory.

De-stress
Stress has a negative effect on brainpower. When we feel stressed, we are consequently less likely to absorb new information and are therefore more likely to forget it later on. Take time to quiet your mind through meditation, clearing emotional and mental clutter and ‘rebooting’ yourself.

Here is a simple technique that you can use:

Go to a quiet room where you will not be disturbed, preferably a bedroom with no telephone or a quiet place with no distractions. Dim the lights or turn them off.
Close your eyes and breathe very slowly and deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth. Breathe away tension with every out breath. Continue building a very slow and very deep rhythmical breathing pattern for as long as it takes for you to feel pleasantly relaxed.
Allow your mind to go completely blank. Don’t worry if you still get unwanted thoughts drifting into your mind; tell yourself not to fight them as they will soon drift away again.
If you get an unwanted thought, imagine you are looking up at the sky on a pleasant summer’s day. You notice a few small clouds that drift across the sky and then fade away. Eventually all of the clouds have drifted away and the sky is clear. Imagine your thoughts are like clouds that fade away.

The state you are aiming to create is one of strong focus where you are deeply relaxed and your mind is calm and not actually thinking. With practice you will find it easy to block out distractions and go into a meditative state.

Learn something new
In addition to practising your existing skills, try learning something new. Studies show that learning new things slows down cognitive aging, and creates fresh new cells in your brain. The more practical and creative, the better, and things that make you laugh are the best of all, as they make an emotional and happy memory.

Take the opportunity to learn an instrument, a language, become a chess whizz, learn dancing or try out a new skill or craft such as drawing or painting.

Sleep
There really is no substitute for healthy, happy sleep! At night, our body repairs itself and our brain tidies up the information that it has gained throughout the day, which often manifests in some very unusual dreams! Allowing your mind to reset through sleep makes more room in your head for more important things and sets you up for the next day. Make your bedroom a dark, calm, technology-free haven to ensure that you get the best quality sleep.

Above all, never tell yourself or others that you have a bad memory. We tend to believe our inner voices. Unhelpful suggestions such as this tend to be self-fulfilling prophecies. Be positive, and affirm to yourself regularly that your memory is excellent. Rid yourself of any belief that you have a poor memory. Accept that, from this moment, your memory is going to improve.

All the best,

Glenn

P.S. My hypnotherapy / hypnosis recordings can help you boost your brainpower. Download these recordings now!