In our always-on connected society, more and more people express concerns about feeling mentally exhausted, and experience memory lag and information overload. Many of us may therefore conclude that we need a vacation or some downtime, when the actual remedy needed may be a boost in brain health.
Signs that you need to take a closer look at your brain health, according to Chapman's research, include a recurring feeling of mental fatigue or low mental energy, increased instances of forgetfulness, difficulty making decisions, the feeling that you're overwhelmed by information and the inability to plan or create innovative solutions.
Often, these symptoms are reversible. What can help here, Chapman says, is to reduce toxic 'brain habits' and make the conscious decision to adopt a more brain-fit lifestyle. (However, she adds, if you or a loved one exhibits changes in memory noticeable to others, or periodic bouts of a lack of insight or failure to pay bills on time, seek the advice of a healthcare professional.) Here are the six brain-boosting habits Chapman recommends:
1. Limit multitasking.
Multitasking diminishes mental productivity, elevates brain fatigue and increases stress.
2. Get an adequate amount of sleep.
Make sure you regularly get seven-to-eight hours of sleep. Information is consolidated in the brain at a deeper level of understanding during sleep.
3. Commit to an exercise routine.
Get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three to four times a week, to improve memory and increase attention and concentration and brain blood flow in the brain-memory area.
4. Construct bottom-line messages.
Summarize your task-assignment reading, training seminars, articles, movies you see or books read. Abstracting novel ideas, versus remembering a litany of facts, builds a brain with an enhanced long-term memory for global ideas and the ability to retrieve fundamental facts.
5. Laser-focus on important tasks.
Block out information that is relatively unimportant. Limiting the intake of information is a key brain function associated with brain health.
6. Stay motivated.
A motivated brain builds faster and more robust neural connections. Identify your passions and learn more about them.