Did you know that the average adult only uses approximately 10% of their brains? The mind is mystical yet powerful and is proven to be a key element in overcoming many of life’s physical and mental challenges. The connection between the mind and body continues to astound medical and scientific researchers as they learn more about how optimum mental health can greatly improve your physical well-being and your quality of life. In order to reap these benefits, however, it has been determined that one must continually “change the mind”.
How Can You “Change Your Mind”?
What most people may not be aware of is that the brain is a muscle. Like other muscles in the body, fueling and exercising the mind essentially changes it for the better. When you are constantly stimulating and training the brain, you stand to increase its strength and function.
Tips for Improving Brain Function
How do you fuel, stimulate, and exercise the brain on a daily basis? By making essential lifestyle changes and finding ways to challenge the mind. Here are some examples:
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Steer Clear of Toxins – You’re exposed to toxins on a regular basis from the foods you eat to the environments you live and work in. As these toxins enter the body, it alters your brain chemistry, resulting in everything from mood swings and fogginess to lack of concentration and poor performance. You may not be able to do much about the air quality in your neighborhood, but you can do something about the toxins you bring into your own life. Steer clear of things that may appear to be good for you or a past time, but are harmful to your health like alcohol, recreational drugs, and certain prescription medications. If you’re struggling with addiction or substance dependency, look into residential drug treatment california or near where you live for assistance.
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Let Go of Stress – Stress is commonplace in everyone’s life, and in small amounts is normal. If your life, however, is consumed with stress, this is horrible for your brain. Chronic stress can have lasting impacts on the brain including increased risk for mental health disorders, a change in brain structure, the loss of brain cells, memory loss, and even a shrunken brain. Take an assessment of your life. What areas are most stressful? Are there things you can do to make changes? For instance, if you’re in a toxic relationship, could taking a break or removing yourself from it make things less stressful? If you’re bogged down at work, could developing a schedule, getting organized, and talking to your employer about your workload make things easier?
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Eat Right – Did you know that your brain consumes about 20% of the nutrients and oxygen that you consume on a daily basis? It serves as fuel needed for your mind to function. When you eat a lot of junk that lacks nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, you deprive the brain of the energy it needs to function at its best. Change your eating habits by indulging in fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, beans, nuts, seeds, low-fat dairy, and of course, lots of water for oxygen.
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Challenge the Brain – Weightlifting is a tried and true method for strengthening the muscles. If you expect to get results, however, you can’t keep lifting the same weights or your body gets used to it and doesn’t grow. The same goes for the brain. If everyone were to stop learning, challenging the mind, and growing after they finished high school or college, their brains function and capacity will remain the same. You have to train the brain by indulging in things that stimulate and challenge it. Reading books, learning a new skill, doing puzzles, conducting research, traveling, self-discovery, and other personal development tasks keep the mind sharp.
There is untapped potential and power in the brain. To acquire the many benefits that come from having a strong mind one must find ways to exercise it daily. Eliminating waste like toxins and stress from your life, introducing healthier foods, and constantly striving to grow and challenge the mind will aid you in maximizing your brain’s potential. When you’re able to accomplish that, you’ll find that every area of your life is changed for the better.
