Keep that brain active

How many times has it happened with you that you walk into a room to pick up something and suddenly can’t remember what it was? You meet a colleague and two minutes later forget that person’s name? How many times have struggled to remember that favourite old song that you used to love so much or more commonly, where you just put your bunch of keys.

is this normal absentmindedness, an age related factor or sign of a serious memory problem? In many cases, incidents like these are less related to memory problems and more to lack of attention or focus.  It is quite likely that you were distracted by another thought when you walked into that room, or you didn’t give your colleague full attention when you were being introduced. The formation of a memory takes place in a system of stages; if you’re not giving your full attention in stage one, by stage three that memory is probably already slipping away. While all this is seemingly innocent, this loss of mental focus can potentially have a negative impact on our professional, social, and personal well-being. Your brain, if left alone can actually become quite a dull, inactive organ. If you have been working hard at a satisfying career, are more or less well settled, have a loving family and a good social life then  in general it should mean everything is just going great in your life isn’t it? Not really. It could mean that your mind has become stagnant and inactive, just like our body without a regular fitness programme.  Research shows that the brain needs exercise in much the same way our muscles do, and the right mental workouts can significantly improve our basic cognitive functions.  Many people relate absent mindedness to age , this need not necessarily be true. If you find yourself being forgetful regularly, so much that others are noticing and commenting upon it, then it’s time to do something about it.  The human brain has an astonishing ability to adapt and change—even into old age. Neuroscientists are increasingly showing that there's actually a lot that can be done to keep that brain in a good working condition throughout your life. Thinking is essentially a process of making neural connections in the brain. With the right stimulation, your brain can form new neural pathways, alter existing connections, and adapt and react in ever-changing ways.

Follow these 10 tips to brush up and polish those amazing brain cells:

1. Don’t skip out on physical exercise and sleep: This could be one of the most important tips. Workouts provide essential oxygen to your brain. Regular physical exercise reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Exercise may also enhance the effects of helpful brain chemicals and protect brain cells.

Similarly when you’re sleep deprived, your brain cannot operate at full capacity. Creativity, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking skills are compromised. Whether you’re studying, working, or trying to juggle life’s many demands, sleep deprivation is a sure recipe for disaster.  Apparently memory enhancing activity in your body occurs during the deepest sleep stage.

2. Read a book : Reading helps you exercise your cognitive skills and increase your vocabulary.  Get back to reading regularly and you will be amazed at the information you absorb, which will make you a more interesting conversationalist. Choose from anything that interests you, classic literature, science fiction or career-enhancing business books and give your brain a boost. Pick up a novel while travelling, before an important meeting or vacation. On top of the cerebral benefits, the escapism that comes from reading can be very relaxing.


3.  Take a course or learn a new language: Sign Up for a new course, take classes or meet with people with whom you can converse in a different language. In short, challenge yourself and by doing so you will be challenging yourself to absorb new concepts, information and ideas, and you'll hone your retention skills through memorization. And learning or conversing in a new tongue keeps your brain flexible and your mind sharp, helping to reduce the slowing of the thought processes that comes with age.


4.  Keep a check on your stress levels: Studies show that stress is one of the brain’s worst enemies. Over time, if left unchecked, chronic stress destroys brain cells and damages the hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in the formation of new memories and the retrieval of old ones. Make meditation a part of your daily routine.  Meditation helps improve many different types of conditions, including depression, anxiety, chronic pain, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Meditation also can improve focus, concentration, creativity, and learning and reasoning skills. Remember it’s important to relax and that  leads us to the next tip…


5.  Laugh more often: You’ve heard that laughter is the best medicine, and that holds true for the brain as well as the body. Unlike emotional responses, which are limited to specific areas of the brain, laughter engages multiple regions across the whole brain. Listen to or read jokes, be in the company of people who laugh more. Spend more time with your family and children. Laugh at yourself. Take things lightly and surround yourself with things that remind you of funny moments, like a family fun picture, a funny poster or a screensaver, funny jokes on social networks etc.


6. Eat  memory boosting foods : Our ancestors have left us some amazing wealth in the form of ancient scriptures that give us knowledge on the right kinds of foods to eat.  Taking foods that are high in omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants, flavonoids, choline and complex carbohydrates, regularly will help boost your brainpower and reduce your risk of dementia and may also lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in the later stage of life. Take your pick from foods like the Oily fish like Tuna, salmon , mackerel, sardines etc. , Plant oils like the coconut and mustard seed oil Nuts like walnuts, almonds, flaxseed,  Berries like black berries, blue berries, strawberries, gooseberries etc. Drinks  (in moderation)  like coffee, red wine, green tea, Plant foods and herbs:  like  spinach, brahmi, broccoli, rosemary,  kale etc  are all wonder foods which when consumed  or used on a regular basis  can do wonders to your brain.


7.  Play games: studies show that our mind needs to play games to keep it active and in a good condition not only in childhood but throughout our lives. Pick up a pen and solve a crossword puzzle, Sudoku or perform some mathematical calculations. Challenge your brain all the time! Sit with children to put together a model toy.  Following all those written instructions sharpens your powers of concentration. Focusing on the task at hand will also be very relaxing. Engage in a healthy debate ,you’ll practice your quick-thinking skills, logic and creativity. Developing convincing theories on the spot will help you in your career and in your personal relationships.

8. Believe in yourself: Myths about aging can contribute to a failing memory.  It has been seen that middle-aged and older learners do worse on memory tasks when exposed to negative stereotypes about aging and memory, and do better if exposed to messages about memory preservation into old age. Remember if you can train your body into fitness, you can train your brain too.

9. Organize yourself, learn to focus and concentrate: Just like you organize your documents or desktop, your thoughts and memory can be effectively organized too.  Store your thoughts in small chunks or use mnemonic devices to help you memorize. Focus on the conversation when in company of people. Concentrate and force your mind to pick up small, not so obvious points and run them over in over in your mind at a later point of time. Rehearse the information that you have learnt already.


10.   Keep it simple, regular : Whether you are a student, a professional or a home maker remember too much and too often of anything can be bad. Don’t cram up everything at once. Space it out and take it in even regular doses and deal with it when necessary.  Business, work, studies, food, exercise, health even stress!
 

Finally, what’s life without a little fun? Enjoy what you do, have fun, keep it challenging , light  and watch that amazing brain of yours take you a long long way.

.....Veena Shyam Raja