Ah, the brain… that big hunk of delicious grey matter that controls everything that we do, say, want and feel. When it’s performing at optimum levels, life is good. And when it’s feeling a little peaked…. well, we tend to experience things like brain fog, memory loss, and a lack of coordination. Lately, I often find myself rushing from my desk into my bedroom (which is maybe a 10 second trip), only to get there and have NO IDEA why I am there. None. Zero. Zip. It’s scary to say the least. The good news is that there are lots of things that we can do to boost our brain function. One of the best is meditation, but here are 3 more simple ways to improve your brain.
Yawns Are Good for the Brain
Yep, you read that right. Yawning is our body’s way of keeping the brain in top working order. When you yawn, you inhale deeply, bringing cool air into your body while releasing warm air. Since the brain operates best when it’s cool, yawning it kind of like the body’s internal air conditioner. So, if you feel a yawn coming on, let it rip. Your brain will thank you.
A Nap is like a Spa Vacation for Your Brain
More effective than caffeine, a nap not only improves our brain’s learning capacity, it improves memory. Naps make us more creative, boost performance and lower our risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Taking a nap can even help you to loose weight. The important thing with naps is duration. A cat nap of 20 minutes or less will give you a quick boost without leaving you groggy. Otherwise, aim for 45 minutes or at least 90 minutes. The latter will take you through all of your sleep cycles so that you wake feeling rested instead of clubbed over the head which has always been my problem with naps.
Exercise Makes Your Brain Younger
A recent study proves that strenuous exercise does more than just keep your muscles strong and your waist trim. It also slows down brain aging by as much as 10 years. That’s huge! Aerobic exercise delivered the best results, but even the participants who engaged in less intense activities like walking and yoga still experienced benefits such as a lower decline in executive function and risk of memory loss. So, the next time that I find myself debating between Netflix and a walk, I’m choosing the walk. What about you?