The human brain is considered the most active and complex part of the body.
It is the source of intelligence and bears the sole responsibility of interpreting our senses, initiating body movements and activities, and controlling human behavior. It is also the seat of all qualities that identify us as humans.
Often times, we hear that the brain has more capacity than the computer in all ramifications, even far more efficient than AI but the drawback remains that human beings in our limitations are unable to fully Maximise our brain power.
Research has shown that certain ways and activities stimulate new nerve cell connections and may even help the brain generate new cells, develop neuronal connections and build up useful reserves that provide protection against any cell loss in the future.
These are simple effective ways to Maximise your brain power in order to boost efficiency and productivity in every sphere of life.
- Exercise: General exercise is profitable to the body, not only does it improve body fitness, but can also help to develop a healthier brain. Exercises like biking, walking, running, swimming help strengthen brain cells connection, improve learning speed and memory retention capacity. According to experts, you ought to exercise at least five times a week for 30 minutes.
- Do things the hard way: Do things the hard way, get creative. Technology has indeed made a lot of things easier and faster hence increasing productivity and efficiency but sometimes our cognitive abilities bear the brunt of this overly easy life due to disuse resulting from these shortcuts. A perfect example is one who drives all the time, ultimately eliminating walking from their everyday routine. Over time you will experience muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, weight gain and a decline in overall health. Same goes for the brain. Your brain needs exercise as well. Indulge your problem-solving skills, your spatial skills, your logical skills, and your cognitive skills.
- Improve your diet with vitamins and micronutrients: Good nutrition is good for the body and even better for optimum brain function. It is also of great help to your mind just as it is to your body. Some nutrients and vitamins boost brain power in many ways, zinc and iodine can improve the normal brain cognition, vitamins (B6, B12) and folate can help you prevent unnecessary study-time fatigue, reduce study time and increase assimilation. Omega-3 and one of its essential fatty acids, Docosahexaenoic acid help maximize brain function. All of these protect the brain from dementia and other possible cognitive impairments.
- Socialise: Networking, according to research, connecting with someone for as little as 10 minutes each day keeps the brain vitalised, optimised and yields better memory. By networking with people, you get exposed to new ideas, environments, and new opportunities for cognitive growth. More so, being in the midst of people from different spheres especially those outside your immediate circle of interaction offers you the opportunity to see the world from different perspectives and also develop new tactical ways to problem-solving.
- Try new things: Trying out new things is one of the most effective methods of training the brain to increase its speed and enhance its ability to quickly process very complex information. New experience is essential for continuous brain growth, it also helps improve and expand the brain’s storage power. You can try colouring as an adult, solve puzzles, take courses, do maths, learn an instrument, learn a new sport, a new skill, or a new language, or try volunteering for a good course. If you love cooking, try out new ingredients and different recipes, be adventurous and embrace spontaneity.
- Sleep well: When the brain is well-rested, the memory and learning process speed up. This is what a good sleep does. When you do not sleep well, your frontal lobe which is responsible for support, memory controls and executive function begins to lose its gray-matter causing a decline in these functions. Power naps during the day is as important as a good night’s sleep. Ultimately, there are only two approaches to the brain, either you use it or you lose it and in the absence of an anomaly, irregularities or health conditions, no one is an under-achiever, it all boils down to how much of your brain power you are willing and able to maximise in your lifetime.
Remember our brain changes with age and so does its function and cognitive abilities which is one of the dreaded impacts that comes with aging.
Keeping your brain healthy through the brain power optimisation steps listed above will essentially improve your quality of life and curtail the cognitive impairment that comes as we grow older.
