Even when it did not have such a fancy term for itself, cognition was an unremitting process that was as vital as unstoppable, and has remained so till this day, for all of humanity. In fact, it’s such an integral part of our experience that we can hardly ever separate the way we think from who we were, are and can become. What we think we become. This implies that we can become smarter if we think smarter. But how do we do that? Read on to find out.
Contents
Improving Cognitive Performance
10. The Perfect Cuppa-ccino
Faster reactions & responses, alertness, better reasoning, and better focus during most activities- from the most mundane to the horribly humdrum. And it’s all found in a singular cup of coffee. But not all is aromatic as the possibility of a disrupted sleep cycle in the long run can have your health going for a run. Also, while the magical chalice of cherry-seed essence might help you get through a few hours of exhaustive brain work, the effects won’t last forever, and you’ll discover that so won’t your smarts either. It’s a quick fix solution that tumbles down with time, and then you’re back to your regular performance level.
9. A Tall Glass of Wine
Hurray for the scientists of Norway! They’ve generously given us- especially women- a new reason to raise our glasses. They have declared that wine (when taken in moderation and regularly) over a certain period of time improves mental abilities in people, especially those of the fairer sex. The reason? Well, it must be due to the antioxidants, they say. But who cares! Bring on the goblets!
8. Sweet Sunshine
Is your Midlife crisis getting to your brain? Is your post-midlife crisis getting to your brain? Is our wife’s more-than-ever-before complaining about your inability to pay attention to what she says, your kid getting a D on his homework because you did it for him, beginning to bog you down? Well, look no further! Here at Sunshine Spa, we have just the thing you need- Sunshine! Researchers have found that vitamin D can significantly prevent the effects of aging- on the brain, for everything else we’ve got Botox. And what’s a sunnier source for cholecalciferol (another name for sunshine vitamin D, see you can remember this better when you’ve got it under your skin) than the Sun itself? Well, you don’t have to actually go near it, so no need to wear an astronaut suit, but even when soaking it on earth, do wear sunscreen. Lots of Sunscreen.
7. Head In The Clouds
School can be wrong about so many things, and one of them is when they foresee a dark, dull future for the children who look out the window during classes, lost inside their own heads. Whereas those are the tots they should be betting their money on (millions of it!). Daydreaming not only de-stresses us poor creatures, but also enhances performance on memory-related tasks. Researchers also insist that multi-tasking is, after all, a fool’s errand as it drains our brains, and so spinning threads of imagination is a great respite for the grey days of our grey matter.
6. Name-calling
If you’ve lost something, repeat it’s name while looking for it and you’ll find it faster than someone who isn’t doing the same. Do not repeat the name of an unrelated word (although, why would you do that?), because that’ll hamper your hunting efficiency. This is a revolutionary discovery made by researchers. Which ones? Don’t ask.
P.S. But the finding is valid, trust me
5. Take A Break. Break a Leg. Leg Your Brain.
And you can be so smart! In fact, some very smart people conducted some very smart studies, only to find out that leisure activities that compel a person to make snap decisions and learn new patterns and algorithms up their smarts by a commendable degree. What are you still doing in the library, go hit the Club to ace that test! Hehe…just kidding.
4. We Are What We Eat
This one’s deceptively simple. Certain food types which contain fatty acids like Omega-3 (as in fish), sugar (not as in candy, but fruits), amino acids and antioxidants help our brain. Another food that helps a lot, is one that even looks like our cerebrum- the walnut! Essentially, it’s the Vitamin E present in it that does the trick. Apart from this, blueberries, other nuts, wholegrain and avocados are also suggested for increasing cognitive efficiency.
3. Tetris To Clear The Debris
Some People will do anything to justify their addiction to a game, but only a few of those are lucky enough to stumble upon some really substantial proof of their time-killer’s relevance. When some researchers ventured out to find out the benefits of Tetris, here is what they found:
- Tetris leads to increase in gray matter- say MRI scans
- People who play tetris handle spatially related tasks like a pro.
- Playing Tetris immediately after a traumatic incident prevents the brain from congealing the memory, thereby reducing the frequency of possible flashbacks. If anything, this was a shocker, I’m off to play some Tetris!
2. Dumbbells for the Dumb Belles
Exercise releases endorphins in the body that make you feel good, but in addition to that, it also allows your brain to work with 10% greater efficiency! Your Brain does like Big Books and it cannot lie, but it still cannot deny, that taking a walk or hitting the road for a run may not get you the Nobel Prize for mathematical prodigy, but will definitely help you focus more on the things you do everyday.
1. Empty Stomach, Full Brains, Never Lose! Rats!
Researchers (again) conducted an experiment on rats and found that the ones who perform a mental task while still unfed do a better job than ones full to satisfaction. And so, thinking along the lines of evolution, they say the same rules apply to us as well. Thus students who sit for a test on an empty stomach shall be more alert and focused than the ones who come stuffed.
And so I am reminded again of how I hate rats.