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70 Ways to Increase Your Brain Power

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Zenith
Zenith
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PostZenith Sun 16 Mar 2014, 8:55 pm

70 Ways to Increase Your Brain Power

1. Supplement your diet with omega-3 oils. Your brain laps this stuff up! Get good quantity fish-oil capsules.

2. Develop your concentration abilities. Learn a meditation technique your ability to remain focused like a laser. Smart people can concentrate for longer periods of time than dummies!

3. Practice flick-gazing for 2 minutes a day. Another great technique from win wenger as revealed in his audio program, brain boosters. Only moving your eyes, flick your gaze from point to point, once every second, throughout the rang of your vision. Go left, right, up, down, on the diagonals and so on.

4. Learn to mind-map. Mind-mapping is a great technique invented by Tony Buzan. It helps you think and remember better. You will find it an incredible valuable and easy skill to learn.

5. Think positively. This sounds like a right old chestnut, doesn’t it? But think positively enables you to access your thinking abilities. When you are positive and feeling good your mind functions smoothly. Ask yourself emotion-leading questions like, “what am I grateful for right now?” and “Who do I love and who leaves me?” (see: Mozart’s little psychotic secret and why you must adopt it today!)

6. Affirm your brain power. You act according to your identity is based on your self image. If you change the image you have of yourself, you can change your life. Start thinking of yourself as someone who is clever, intelligent and supremely creative. Use affirmations to declare the truth of this and over-ride old limiting beliefs about yourself. Repeating affirmations like, I am really creative, and, I am a genius, is a great way to improve your brain power. Try it and you’ll see!

7. Play computer brain games. Nintendo DS is a great gadget to get hold of. You can play the Dr. Kawashima brain training and more brain training games on them. There is also Big Brain Academy (also available for Wii players), left or Right Ambidextrous Challenge, Mindstorm Train Your and other new Brain programs being released all the time. See if one of your kids, or friend’s kids, have got it so you can have a go. Once you try it you’ll be looked! It’s a great way to exercise your brain and improve your brain power.

8. Do puzzles, brain teasers and strategy games. Break out the newspaper crossword puzzle for a quick 5 minute brain workout. Look out for riddles and brain teaser games (here’s a good sample here). Engage your strategic thinking by playing chess, checkers, GO and cool games like mancola (I’ve been playing this with my son – he’s ace at it!).

9. Keep journals and notebooks. Sorry, but all the smart people write down their ideas, thoughts and observations. Writing things down lets your brain know that you value “it’s” ideas. How does it reward you? By providing more ideas and better ideas. Writing things down creates a feedback loop that makes you smarter. You objectify your thoughts onto paper (or computer screen ) and that helps you think about them in a more powerful way. This is a great way to improve your brain power. (see note-booking. )

10. Practice image streaming. Another super technique courtesy of mind maestro Win Wenger. Image streaming is a process of describing aloud what’s going on in your stream of consciousness. It is incredibly powerful. I repeat. Image streaming is an incredibly powerful process to improve your brain power in dramatic, life changing ways
Improving your brain power is as much about getting rid of old behaviors as it is about starting new ones. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that sitting in front of the TV for 2-4 hours every nit ‘rots’ your brain. If you must watch TV…take notes, discuss what you’ve watched with someone else, think about how the program was made, the filming and camera work, the acting, how you could have made it better.
1. Breath deep. More air in means more oxygen in the blood and therefore in the brain. Breath through your nose and you’ll notice that you use your diaphragm more, drawing air deeper into your lungs. Several deep breaths can also help to relax you, which is conducive to clearer thinking.
2. Meditate. A simple meditation you can do right now is just closing your eyes and paying attention to your breath. Tensing up your muscles and then relaxing them to start may help. When your mind wanders, just bring your attention back to your breath. Five or ten minutes of this will squally relax you, clear your mind, and leave you more ready for any mental task.
3. Sit up straight. Posture affects your thinking process. Prove it to yourself by doing math in your head while slouching, looking at the floor and letting your mouth hang open. Then do the mental math while sitting up straight, keeping your mouth closed and looking forward or slightly upwards. You’ll notice that it’s easier to think with the latter posture.
4. Phosophotdyl serine (PS). This supplement has been shown in clinical studies to increase lucidity and rate of learning. It activates cell-to-cell communication, helps regulate cell growth, improves the functioning of the special receptors found on cells, and prepares cells for activity. In other words, it can help your brain power. It’s also thought to reverse memory decline. Phosohatidylserin has no known adverse side effects.
5. Vinpocetine. This extract, derived from an alkaloid found in the periwinkle plant, is used as a cerebral vasodilator. It increases blood flow to the brain, which improves its oxygenation and thereby increases mental alertness and acuity. Research suggests it may also be most powerful memory enhancer available to date.
6. Gingko Biloba. The leaves of this tree have proven to increase blood flow to the brain. The trees often planted in parks. My friends and l used to eat a few leaves when we wanted a brain boost. It is also inexpensive, if you buy the capsules or tea at any health food store.
7. Saint john’s Wort. This is s common weed that may be growing in your yard. Although its brain enhancing qualities are less documented (studies do show it’s usefulness for treating long-term depression), many people swear by it’s temporary mood-elevating effect, and our brains tend to function better when we are happy. It is inexpensive, but I used to just collect it in the yard and make tea of it.(hyperacum perforatum, if you want to look it up by it’s botanical name.)
8. Good thinking habits. Just use a problem solving technique for several weeks and it will become a habit. Redesign everything you see for a while, and that will become a habit. You can develop many good thinking habits with some effort, and that will become a more resourceful effortlessly from that point on. Use the power of habit.
9. Use dead time. This is time that is otherwise wasted or just under-utilized. Driving time, time spent in waiting rooms, or even time spent raking your yard can be included in this. With a tape player and a trip to a public library, you can start to use this time to listen to books-on-tape. You may spend 200 hours a year in your car. What could you learn in that time?
10. Learn a language. Learning a new language has been shown to halt the age-related decline in brain function. It also introduces your mind to new concepts and new ways of looking at things (in English we are afraid, whereas in Spanish we have fear). It is one of the best brain exercises.
11. Rosemary. This common herb may have an effect on the brain when the scent is inhaled. We are waiting for the research, but some people swear that just sniffing rosemary wakes up their brain. It seems safe, so if you have rosemary in your spice rack, give it a try.
12. Mindfulness exercises. Concentration and clear thinking are more or less automatic once you remove distractions. Lean to stop and watch your busy mind. As you notice things that are subtly bothering you, deal with them. This might mean making a phone call you need to make, or putting things on a list so you can forget them for now. With practice, this becomes easier, and your thinking becomes more powerful.
13. Writing with your opposite hand strength your brain? Yes? Yes, it will indeed!
This kind of activity is called Neurotics, which is essentially doing things you normally do but done differently. Like brushing your teeth with the other hand, taking a shower with your eyes closed, writing with the opposite hand, taking a different route to work, etc
What happens in your brain while you’re doing this become a brain exercise because different, underused nerve pathways and connections get activated. This stimulates the growth of new brain cells and brain connections.
According to the neurobics. Com website,
Writing is good for your mind in a number of ways. It is a way to tell your memory what is important, so you’ll recall things more easily in the future. It is a way to clarify your thinking. It is a way to exercise your creativity and analytical ability. Diaries, idea-journals, poetry, note-taking and story-writing are all ways to use writing to boost your brain power.
14. Listen to Mozart. In a study at the University of California, researchers found that children who studied piano and sang daily in chorus, were much better at solving puzzles, and when tested, scored 80% higher in spatial intelligence than the non-musical group. In another study, 36 students were given three spatial reasoning tests on a standard IQ test. Just before the first test, they listened to Mozart’s sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K 448 for ten minutes. Before the second test, they listened to a relaxation tape. Before the mind, they sat in silence. The average scores for all 36 students. 1st test: 119. 2nd test: 111. 3rd:110. a nine-point boost from Mozart!.
15. Development your institution. Intuition can be an important part of brainpower. Einstein and others have relied heavily on their intuitive hunches. See Chapter 25 for tips on how to develop your intuition.
16. Avoids food that causes subtle allergies. These can include wheat, corn, peanuts and dairy products. Watch yourself to see if you have a problem with any of these. They cause digestive problems and brain fog in some people.
17. Sleep better. As long as you get a certain amount of sleep-probably a minimum of five hours-the quality seems to be more important than the quality. Also, short naps in the afternoon seem to work well to recharge the brain for some people.
Sleep LESS and have MORE energy by optimize your sleep patterns in order to create an abundance of energy in your life.
18. Caffeine. The research shows higher test scores for students who drink coffee before major exams. My chess game gets better. In other studies, it has been shown that too much caffeine leads to poorer quality decisions. Caffeine affects individuals differently, and has some nasty long-term side effects for some of us, but short-term-it works!
19. Aviod sugar. Any simple carbohydrates can give you “brain fog.” Sometimes called the “sugar blues” as well, this sluggish feeling makes it hard to think clearly. It results from the insulin rushing into the bloodstream to counteract the sugar rush. Avoid pasta, sugars, white bread and potato chips before any important mental tasks.
20. Hypnosis audios. The power of suggestion is real, and one way to use it is with hypnosis yaps, CD’s or downloads. This type of brain “programming” has more evidence for it than subliminal
21. Speed reading. Contrary to what many believe, your comprehension of material often goes up when you learn to speed-read. You get to learn more in less time, and it is definitely a good brain exercise.
22. Exercise. Long term exercise can boost brainpower, which isn’t surprising. Anything that affects physical health in a positive way probably helps the brain too. Recent research, though, shows that cognitive function is improved immediately after ten minutes of aerobic exercise. If you need a brain recharge, you might want to walk up and down the stairs a few times.
23. Imaginary friends. Talking to and getting advice from characters in your mind can be a grate way to access the information in your subconscious mind. Imagine a conversation with a person who has a lot of knowledge in the area you want advice in.
24. Develop your creativity. Creativity gives power to your thinking. Raw computation can be done by computers now, but humans provide the creative that shapes our world. See Chapter 24 for tips on developing your creativity.
25. Learn more efficiently. When you decide to learn something, take notes from the start. Leave each “learning session” with a question or two in mind, to create anticipation and curiosity. Take short breaks, so there will be more beginnings and endings to your studies (things learned at the beginning or ending of a class or session are remembered better).
26. Use techniques for clear thinking. Cluttered rooms and offices can contribute to cluttered thinking. Organize a space for mental work. Sign, stretch, and take a deep breath before you start on a tough mental job. Plan some distraction-free time for brainstorming.
27. Brain wave entrainment. The newest brain wave entrainment products are powerful tools for altering your brain function. Some will almost immediately relax you, while others will put your brain waves in a pattern that is most conducive to analytical thinking.
28. Creatine. This is a compound found in meat, used by athletes to help build muscle. Now the evidence is here to show that it helps your brain as well. Proceedings B, a journal published by the Royal society reports that the research showed improvement in working memory and general intelligence resulting from creatine supplementation. The dose used in the study was 5 grams per day. This is about the level used to boost sports performance, and is as much as you’d normally get in four pounds of meat, according to lead researcher Dr. Caroline Rae.
29. Talk. Talking is only good for the brain if you are actually exercising it, of course. Try explaining something that you don’t understand very well to a friend, though, and you’ll notice that the process of explaining will help you clarify your understanding.
30. Do something you enjoy. This is to both lower stress and rev up your brain. The key is to do something active. Watching TV doesn’t count. Whether it is playing scribed or building birdhouses, when you are actively engaged in an activity that you enjoy, you worry less about things and you start to think better.
31. Adjust your beliefs. Believe you are smarter, and you’ll become smarter. For this, affirmations may work, but even better is evidence. Make a note of your success. Tell yourself,
‘Hey, that was really creative,” when you own intelligence and you’ll start to experience more of it.
32. Brain exercises. Do math in your mind while driving. Think of a new use for everything you see. Regular use of the brain has been shown to generate new neuronal growth, and even halt the decline of mental function that often comes with age.
33. Learn new things. This is another way to exercise the brain. It can also be done with little time investment if you use books-to-tapes while driving.
34. Walk. Exercise has been shown to benefit the brain, and walking is one of the best exercises for many. It is low impact, and the rhythmic nature of it seems to put you in a state that is very conducive to clear thinking. In fact, carry a tape recorder with you to take notes, and a twenty minute walk can be a great way to solve problems.
35. Model others. Find others that are creative, intelligent, or very productive. Do what they do, and their advice, though. Successful people often don’t really understand why they are successful. Do what they do, not what they say.
36. Eat fish. Eating fish actually speeds up brain waves, and improves concentration. Researchers have also found an almost perfect correlation between intake of fish and lowered levels of depression in the various countries of the world. The U.S has 24 times the incidence of depression as Japan, for example, where fish intake is much higher.
37. Avoid unnecessary arguments. When u depend a position too vigorously, especially when it is just to “win” the argument, you invest our ego into it. This is not conducive to the easy acceptance and use of new information. In other words, you put your mind in a rut, and you dig it deeper with each argument. Debate can be a valuable thing, but when the ego takes over, the mind closes a little. This is not a recipe for better thinking.
38. Laugh. The release of endorphins cost by laughter lowers stress levels, which is use for long term brain health. Laughter also tends to leave you more open to new ideas and thoughts.
39. Play. Stimulating the brain causes measurable changes in the structure of the brain. New connections are made and new brain cells are grown. Intellectual play, as well as any playing that involves hand-eye coordination stimulates the brain.
40. Do puzzles. Crossword puzzles, lateral thinking puzzles, and even good riddles are a great way to get brain exercise. You can work on them while waiting for dentist appointment, or on the bus, if you are short on time.
41. Sing. When you are alone in your car, try singing about something you are working on. This taps into and exercises your right brain. Have you ever noticed how it is easier to rhyme when you sing than when you just speak or write? This is because the right brain is better at pattern recognition. By during this brain exercise regularly you can train yourself to tap into the power of the right brain. This will make you a more effective problem-solver. If you doubt the distinction between the hemispheres of the brain, look at how stutterers can stop stuttering as soon as they start singing. Try it.
42. Nuts. University students in Brazil and other South American countries often eat several Brazil nuts before an exam, believing they are good for their mental power. The evidence is starting to conform this. Other nuts that have minerals and amino acids that are beneficial to the brain include almonds and walnuts.
43. Olive oil. High in mono-unsaturated fat, olive oil has been shown to improve memory. A cheaper alternative is canola oil, but this hasn’t been studied much yet.
44. Vitamin supplement. In studies, children scored higher on test when on a regime of daily vitamin supplement. “Expects” will tell you that if you eat a balanced diet?
45. Fiber. It isn’t what just goes in, but what comes out that is important to brain function. Toxic build-up in the body and brain can cause “brain fog”. People often report clearer thinking as one of the benefits of curing their constipation.
46. Self awareness. This may not seem important to brain power, but it is. When you know yourself better, you can avoid the effects of ego and emotion in your seemingly “rational” thinking. Or you can at least take it into account. Watch yourself, especially as you explain things or argue.
47. Motivate yourself. Motivation is as important to mental tasks as it is to any other. Learn a few simple techniques for self motivation. You can start with those in Chapter 8.
48. Avoid too much stress. Neuropsychiastrist Richard Restak, M.D., form the George Washington university school of medicine and health services, sums up the research thus,: “stress causes brain damage.” Long term stress has repeated been shown to hurt the brain, not to mention the rest of the body. Learn a few stress reduction techniques if you get stressed out often.
49. get education. Scientist has known for a while that the less educated get Alzheimer’s more frequently. Education in any area seems to make the brain stronger.
50. Avoid too much fat. In laboratory studies; animals consistently learn slower when they are on a diet high in fat. Type of fat may make a difference, so you may want to stick to using olive oil and other non-saturated fats. Saturated fats has been shown to actually stunt the growth of brain cells
51. Eat less. Overeating has the immediate effect of redirecting more blood to the digestive process, leaving less for the brain. Long term, it can cause arterial obstructions that reduce blood flow to the brain permanently. In at least one study, rats on a restricted-calorie diet had more brainpower.
52 .Avoid suspect foods. There is evidence that the following foods can be bad for your brain: artificial food colorings, artificial sweeteners, colas, corn syrup, frostings, high-sugar drinks, hydrogenated sugars, white bread, and any white-flour products.
53. Eat breakfast. When kids who didn’t eat breakfast to eat it, researchers found that their math scores went up a while grade on average.
54. Avoid diabetes. The development of diabetes coincides with a dropping of IQ scores. In other words, if you want to maintain your brain power, follow your dietary recommendations for preventing or treating diabetes.
55. Eat food high in antioxidants protect your cells, including brain cells. Some of the foods highest in antioxidants include: prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, garlic, kale, cranberries, strawberries, spinach, and raspberries. In one test, rats had age-related mental decline reversed by eating the equivalent of a ½ cup of blueberries per day.
56. Drink wine. In moderation, red wine can be good for the brain, it seems. It is rich in antioxidants, which protect brain cells. One glass per day for women and two for men is usually consider a safe and moderated amount.
57. Use alcohol in moderation. In a study at the University of Indian School of medicine, elderly light drinkers (fewer than 4 drinks per week) scored higher on tests of thinking abilities than non-drinkers. Those who drank 10 or more drinks per week scored lower. It is known that alcohol can kill brain cells, So moderation seems to b the key.
58. folic acid. According to one study, 200 micrograms of folic acid, the amount found in ¾ cup of cooked spinach, alleviates depression and reverses memory loss.
59. Potential brain food. Other foods that may be good for your brain include: avocados, bananas, lean beef, and brewer’s yeast. broccoli, brown rich, brussel sprouts, cantaloupe, cheese, chicken, collard greens, eggs, flaxseed oil, legumes, oatmeal, oranges, peanut butter, peas, potatoes, romaine lettuce, salmon, soybeans, spinach, tuna, turkey, wheat germ, and yogurt.
60. Vitamin E. jean Carper, I.U.s of vitamin E daily. It is an antioxidant, and reduces the clogging of blood vessels, including those going in the brain.
61. Vitamin C. taken in the form of orange juice in a study at the Texas women’s university, vitamin C increased the IQ scores of children.
62. Selenium. 100 micrograms of selenium has been shown to be a mood-elevator. Your brain almost certainly functions better when you are in a better mood. Foods rich in selenium include Brazil nuts and garlic.
63. alpha-lipoic acid. Alpha-lipoic acid (10 to 50 milliongrams daily) improves memory and protects nerve cells.
64. Inositol. This is and natural substance that is often group with the B-vitamins. It reduces stress and promotes clear thinking. It contributes to energy production, and so can “wake you up.” Animal studies show a measurable increase in physical activity for up to five hours after taking it.
65. Huperzine A. this is a compound extracted from the Chinese club moss. Researchers both in Israel and the U.S have used it to treat Alzheimer’s. it improves memory and learning an seems to be very safe.
66. Ask questions. This is a great way to keep your brain in shape. Just get in the habit of asking questions often. Even if it only in your own mind. Why are taller buildings better? What is the purpose?
Of curbs? Ask anything that comes to mind, and ponder the possible answers.
67. Sniff Basil. This of the herbs that may be good for your brain. No studies yet. But many report a brain boost from smelling basil.
68. Temperature. Many people have noted that they think better at certain temperatures. In general, it seems that being slightly cool, but not uncomfortable, is most conducive to good thinking. Try experimenting on yourself to see what temperature works best for you.
69. Use system. From the time I was ten years old, 12x49 was always (12x50)-12. It’s easier to figure in your head this way (588, by the way). I didn’t get any credit for my personal algorithms then, but they are selling these shortcuts and late-night TV now, because they work. You can find your own easier ways to do mental math or other mental task, or read a good book on them.
70. Make a brainpower plan. It takes about twenty to thirty days of repetition to establish new habits, many psychologists will tell you. This means that when you create your plan for better brainpower, be sure you plan to use that new problem solving technique, or eat dose new brain food for at least three weeks. We can use many of the brains boosters here and gets immediate results, but it is creating new habits that will give you the most brainpower.

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