When you start forgetting things, I'm guessing that you believe that it is inevitable because you are getting older...or maybe even believe that you have symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
But how about when you get too little sleep, feel stressed out, or perhaps drink a little too much the night before? Don't you find yourself working at less than capacity?
Guess what? Sometimes forgetfulness has nothing to do with your age. It usually has more to do with your brain ~ or more specifically brain function. In fact, you can start immediately to improve it by sharpening your perceptions, improving how you approach problems and analyze information, and by adjusting your sleep, eating, and exercise routine.
Your brain is not only like a muscle. It's also like a 10 year old. It could have started out curious and as you nourish that curiosity and take pleasure in the habit of learning more and solving problems, you tend to improve the cognitive aspect of your brain.
Problem solving is a good way to keep your brain sharp. Once you get familiar with how your biases clog and impede your way of seeing things, and get some training on problem solving techniques, not only will your stress level go down, you will start to feel empowered.
Most people try to avoid problems, but if you're curious on how to generate solutions to things and to try them out, then problems become opportunities to make things better. The more empowered and capable you feel about your problem solving skills, the better you feel about yourself, and the more you become capable of dealing with stress. Consequently, the more capable you become, the healthier your brain gets.
Conversely, when you don't become empowered or capable your brain atrophies or diminishes. Like a plant, it doesn't grow well when it doesn't receive the right nutrients. It becomes limp and unhealthy.
There is also a social and self-affirming positive outlook about trying to better your brain. It involves spending time enjoying the company of your friends and family, when you can just be yourself. There's something spiritually relieving about being yourself, and around the people you're comfortable with, and whose company you enjoy. This kind of rest is good for your brain, too.
At the risk of sounding like your Mom, in order to build a better brain, you need to get some sleep ~ a lot of sleep. The brain works better when your synapses are healthily firing and your subconscious has had time to sort itself out. This means that you need to rest physically and mentally. The more time away from a problem you get, the more your mind has time to work on it, subconsciously. It's always better to approach work problems after a long night's sleep.
Okay, now I'm starting to sound like a nag. But no matter how complacent you have become, you need to get moving. You need to exercise on a regular basis. The more often your heart gets pumped up, the more blood circulates throughout your body, and your brain, bringing fresh supplies of oxygen and nutrients to it. Also, working out brings about increased levels of release of endorphins that make you feel good.
It's no wonder some people become addicted to exercise. Your brain will like it, too. Now get up, get moving, and create better brain power.
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