Have you ever found yourself unable to concentrate at work, struggling to find the right word, or always being the one to lose at Scrabble? It can be frustrating when our brains don’t seem to be functioning as well as they could be, and often the cause is the stress and rapid pace of everyday life. Read on to find out the 5 best ways to keep your mind healthy and strong.
1. Meditation
Meditation is becoming more and more popular, for good reason. It’s a practice that has been around for centuries and it’s actually a really simple complex. Meditation simply involves practicing becoming completely present in the moment, without giving into your thoughts and letting them distract you with the worries of everyday life. There have been many studies that show the benefits of meditation for your mental health, it’s been proven to help with anxiety, depression and PTSD. If you’re unsure where to start, there are many apps out there that provide guided meditations, such as the headspace app, narrated by a former Buddhist monk.
2. Exercise and Diet
One of the most important ways to look after your mental health is to look after your physical health as well. Regular exercise releases endorphins and reduces stress, while eating a proper balanced diet will help to boost your focus and ability to learn. Try incorporating some of these foods into your diet to boost your brain:
- Green tea
- Omega-3
- Matcha
- Vitamins B, C and E
3. Keep on Learning
It’s not just your body that should be staying active, your brain should as well. It’s often said that the brain is a muscle, you have to keep using it for it to get stronger, but this can often be easy to avoid doing once we leave school and no longer have the education system to push us into constantly learning new information. Try picking up a crossword, or aiming to read a certain number of books in a month, or if you’re seriously busy and don’t have time to relax with a book, try to at least engage with the news in a fun way on websites such as fabweb.org, perhaps during your morning commute.
4. Learn a New Language
Learning a new language has been proven to improve cognitive function, since the brains of bilingual people work slightly differently to those who only speak one language and bilingualism offers several mental benefits such as building multitasking skills, improving memory and avoiding the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia for several years. Apps like duolingo can make learning a new language easy, fun and free. Plus, it gives you a great excuse to book a holiday.
5. Stay in Touch with Nature
There have been many scientific studies into the benefits of spending more time in nature for your mental acuity and wellbeing. Research has shown that spending more time outdoors improves short term memory, relieves stress, improves concentration and creativity and may also have a role in fighting cancer.
With a combination of exercise, diet and keeping your brain active, you will be on your way to a healthier mind!