Brain Gains
Have you ever blurted out the wrong name during a discussion, completely forgetting that very famous person? It’s on the tip of your tongue, right? Or even worse, addressed poor Millie at work as Mollie… on more than one occasion too? Have you ever been put on the spot and asked to multiply two very simple numbers and it takes you an extra 10 slow and painful seconds to come up with the correct answer? Bad news, your brain function could be older than your metric age. Please don’t panic as this is the case for a lot of us and there are endless things that you can do to improve your cognitive functions. The brain is just like any other muscle in your body, it can get faster, stronger and healthier with the right training and nourishment. You are never too old to start training, all you need is the right tools, the willingness to learn and taking good care of yourself.
The general IQ tests found online have now been rendered obsolete, this is mainly due to the fact they do not measure our ability to use certain brain functions when particular situations arise and require us to. Nevertheless, they are still the most commonly used test to asses intelligence. A way to make an IQ test more accurate would be a personally customized assessment delivered by a psychiatrist, however, we are not all multi-millionaires with copious amounts of spare time.
Long ago, when I was just a half-grown school girl, the Nintendo DS had not long been released and I was lucky enough to be gifted one by my wonderful grandparents. My first game was Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? It was all the rage back in 2005. There was nothing else like it on the market and I was committed to playing it every single day, it was the first thing I did as soon as I got home from school. It declared the peak brain age to be 22 and I was just 13 years old. The game initially assessed my brain as being age 41 but after about a year, I leveled up to 26. Impressive, considering my total lack of academic interest during my teen years; I was only interested in misbehaving, friends and fashion. I do have severe regrets for not taking advantage of such a privilege of free schooling and if there are any youngun’s reading this article, please make the most of your education; you may not realize it now but you are so lucky to have these resources. My point being, anyone can improve their cognitive function, even a prepubescent goblin like my past self and just like anything else, it takes time, drive and consistency.
Brain Training Strategies
Pick up a book… obviously - For years, I never understood the appeal of reading, I hated the literature at school, I never had the time to do it and my mind always drifted away from the plotline. Guess what? I love it now, there is rarely a day that I don’t read. The motivation? You really do have to find a book that suits you, it’s as simple as that. I have also implemented the “two page assuage” rule; as soon as I set foot in to my bed, I need to at least read two pages before I allow myself to slumber, it works wonders and I sleep better for it.
Regular reading will radically improve your focus and concentration. A dying skill in today’s over stimulating and technologically advanced society. This form of mental stimulation also improves your memory, your emotional intellect and empathy. It improves your vocabulary and teaches you to understand more about the world. Reading and studying has endless benefits and possibilities.
Fish Oil Capsules - A no-brainer, pardon the ironic pun. Much of our juicy brains consist of fat, 60% in fact. A fair amount of this fat is Omega 3, the main ingredient in fish oil capsules. We need it to keep going, to stay alive and repair our minds. Without it, our mental capacity declines at a faster rate.
Apps & Puzzles - There are so many free, fun and stimulating brain training games out there to download. All on your phone and ready to play at your own convenience. My current favorite is “Elevate”, it covers almost everything and customizes the games to your personal needs. Very clever. If you have any game recommendations, please send me a message and share the love.
Surround Yourself With Intellectual People - If stupidity is infectious, well, so is intellect. If you’re constantly listening to people spouting ignorance and negativity, it will eventually rub off on you like a virus. So remove yourself from this environment and find your people. Also, being competitive is healthy, if your friends are achieving great things, this will encourage you to push yourself further and if they are truly your friends, they will support you along the way.
Grow Your Muscles - Despite popular belief that “meat heads” have very few brain cells between the ears, it’s actually the contrary. A study conducted by the University of Sydney, Australia concluded that exercise specifically targeted at muscle growth, considerably improved the brains cognitive functions. In addition, it decreased the risk of Alzheimers and Dementia, an astounding discovery to say the least.
Last but not least, don’t forget your 8 hours sleep per night and for bonus points, a nice lunch-time nap. Sleep is imperative and it doesn’t take a genius to know the important role it plays for our brain health. I previously did an article on “Deep Sleep”, click the link below to read more.
