If you notice that it’s becoming harder and harder for you to concentrate, you forget simple facts or you cannot solve the problems that you used to do, the brain can be stimulated by exercises. Problems with remembering and attention can overtake at any age and can only be corrected through proper nutrition and regular training: physical exercise and mental stress. In this article you will find the most effective ways to improve memory and brain function.
Physical exercise
Not only mental exercises affect our cognitive abilities. You can start with physical education. Fine motor skills are directly related to the work of the brain - improving it, you can develop cognitive abilities. Yes, and any physical exercise can also affect the brain. Consider popular techniques that will help in memory training and mental activity.
First of all, this is finger gymnastics - it will always be useful for the development of fine motor skills. It's no secret that finger movements are associated with the work of our brain. The more skillfully we are able to perform small precise movements with our fingers, the better our brain feels. To stimulate memory improvement, you can make animal figures from fingers, try to extend or bend fingers, resisting with the other hand, try to bend one finger, leaving the rest in a static position. It is unlikely that just the development of fine motor skills will be enough to seriously improve memory, but in parallel with other activities, this will be of great help.
You can try to perform fingers are exercises for the development of the brain that are done with one finger. They are aimed at the coordination of the two hemispheres, therefore, they help to improve memory and brain function.
Their essence is to perform different movements with the fingers on the right and left hand.
The simplest finger is to connect the little finger with the thumb on one hand, and the thumb and forefinger on the other. After that, you need to consistently change your fingers - on one hand moving from the little finger to the index, on the other - vice versa. Exercises are best performed regularly, speed and accuracy are important in them - at first it is better to perform slowly but correctly, and build up pace over time.
For the work of the brain will also be useful kinesiology classes. These exercises involve all muscle groups - during physical exertion, our body sends certain signals to the brain that can stimulate mental activity. Similar workouts are different and are suitable for people at any age. The simplest thing is stretching, try to do it every day, trying to stretch your muscles, but don’t be zealous - it’s better to do it after a normal charge and not bring yourself to severe pain.
Another simple kinesiological exercise - in a standing position, stretch into the string and strain all the muscles, and then completely relax and do this in several ways. Finally, breathing exercises can also help, for example, breathing alternately with different nostrils, covering the other with your fingers.
Workouts to improve memory, attention and speed of thinking do not require any simulators; anyone can learn methods without trainers. The main thing is the regularity of classes, without it you will not achieve the desired effect. Even if you have little free time, it is important to cut out at least a few minutes, but daily.
It is also important to combine physical education with solving mental problems and proper nutrition.
How to train memory?
There are many ways to develop intelligence and brain activity. As is known in psychology, many simple and fascinating activities can increase mental abilities and affect thinking. To strengthen memory, attention and improve cognitive functions, you can try different activities.
Reading
If you like to read, but notice that you don't remember the content well, don’t understand what you’ve written, or confuse the details of the story, you can try to retell the read. Try to read a few pages, and then reproduce as much as possible the contents of the writing. You can do this out loud or record a retelling on a piece of paper - as you prefer. Over time, increase the number of pages for retelling, but do not reduce the volume of your story - it should be as detailed as possible.
Try to retell the contents of what you read immediately after reading, in a few days, in a week. If it is difficult, write yourself the main points that you will reveal. Try to ask yourself questions before reading. For example, every time you sit down at a book, try to concentrate on one thing: either on descriptions of nature, or on the appearance of characters, or on dialogs.
Try to notice all the details in as much detail as possible. This method is good for training attention and logical thinking.
Memorizing verses
To develop intelligence, vocabulary, and memorization skills, memorizing poetry can also be useful. You will be able to find any poems that you like, while remembering that texts that are too simple will not bring results; it is better to take on difficult tasks. You can take part of the poem and gradually memorize it - so you yourself can stop when difficulties arise and engage in your own pace.
Learning techniques are very diverse. You can either memorize whole stanzas or memorize every line. Try to access the text as little as possible and try to reproduce as much as possible from memory - this is how you will train and improve your results. Remembering, even if it causes effort and doubt, is an important process for the development of brain activity.
Frequency and consistency are very important. - Do not forget the poem the day after memorization. Try to repeat it silently or aloud several times a day. It’s better to try not to peek into the book and try to remember the whole verse as a whole, but then you should definitely turn to the text and correct your mistakes.
It’s best to take a long verse or poem and teach them in stages. It's okay if at first you can only remember a couple of stanzas. Make it a rule in each lesson to increase the task, for example, by one stanza, while repeating all the previous ones. Such a cumulative effect will be very useful for memory. If any volume causes serious difficulties, you can stop at it and repeat the same thing for several days so that the text is firmly entrenched in memory. Gradually, you will be able to overcome your threshold and memorize longer texts.
Hobby
Many hobbies can be useful for developing cognitive functions. First of all, these are any activities related to fine motor skills. Knitting, embroidery, sculpting, papier-mâché, collecting puzzles - all this perfectly affects the intellect in both children and adults. You will surely be able to make yourself such a useful hobby by choosing something to your liking.
The main thing in fine motor exercises is the accuracy of movements. Therefore, for example, mixing the dough for the pie is not suitable, and calligraphy will be very useful. It is important that you strive to correctly perform small movements, be focused in the process. Over time, you will enjoy not only the time spent, but also the results of labor, and your own successes in brain activity.
Crosswords
All kinds of crosswords will help to develop memory, and logic, and erudition. They come in print or electronic form, you can choose the level of complexity that will be within your power and will cause interest. You can also search for crossword puzzles in the areas you are interested in. The advantage of crossword puzzles is that they can be solved between things, no need to separately allocate time for them.
You can make a decision while traveling by public transport, having lunch or standing in line. So imperceptibly for yourself, you can develop intelligence and over time notice tangible improvements.
Chess
This is an interesting and intelligent game that can be a great hobby. For maximum benefit, you should study the rules well and not rush during the game: in order to succeed, it is important to think through your moves and the moves of the opponent. You can play with anyone - with friends or relatives, it will be useful for everyone.
Chess is good because you can start at any level, and there are no limits to perfection either. This game can be a fun way to spend your free time. And also the great advantage of chess is that they develop all the functions of the brain at once.
Meditation
Meditation can also help significantly improve memory - combine them well with useful hobbies and exercises. You can choose meditation and yoga programs, go to classes with a trainer, or try to work out on your own at home. For the time of meditation you need to put off all your daily activities and devote time to yourself.
Find a place in the house where no one will bother you, sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Concentrate on your body, palpitations, try to relax each muscle sequentially. Then try to completely free your thoughts from everyday worries.People who engage in serious meditation reach a state where they don’t think about anything, but for this they will have to study for a long time, study themselves and their body.
Meditation is useful for the intellect in that it allows you to completely relax and reload all thought processes. Then, with renewed vigor, one can embark on mental tasks, find ways to look unusually at familiar problems.
Meditation will give you peace of mind and composure, which are necessary for solving any problems.
Choose food
Proper nutrition is very important for both physical health and mental activity. Food should be healthy and balanced, try to give up fast food and junk sweets. Instead, eat the foods described below that are considered especially good for the mind.
- Walnuts contain many useful omega-3 acids, trace elements and oils. They stimulate brain activity, increase concentration and performance, reduce fatigue. Eat at least a few nuts a day and you will feel the change in a couple of weeks. You can add nuts to breakfast or dessert - they are great for adding to cereals, yogurts, ice cream. And also with them you can cook the first and second courses, for example, kharcho soup or fried eggplant.
- Beans - This is a plant source of protein, which is also extremely useful for the brain. Especially for improving cognitive functions, red beans are good. It can be added to soups and main dishes, it will be a great addition to meat or vegetables.
- bitter chocolate - This is a wholesome dessert that is also useful for focusing and thinking speed. This product gives an instant effect: if you have a responsible event, it is useful to pre-eat a piece of dark chocolate. It is also a great alternative to unhealthy sweets for children and adults.
It is not worth it to abuse bitter chocolate, but a few bars a day can be allowed to maintain tone and mental activity.
Recommendations
Brain activity is important for solving many problems: in a career, in training, and in everyday life. The problems associated with memory, attention and speed of thinking are relevant for everyone, regardless of gender and age: they are encountered by students, elderly people, and working men and women. There can be many reasons for the weakening of brain activity, and there are enough methods to improve cognitive functions: with simple exercises, you will learn to think faster, remember better, and will be able to increase concentration and working capacity.
It is important to remember the general rules that are relevant for any class.
- The regularity of tasks is very important. - You can devote quite a bit of time to exercises, but you must not miss them. Best of all, if you can give them at least a few minutes every day, there will definitely be no sense in having lessons once a week. If you have a busy schedule, some exercises can be performed between things. If you get into the habit of classes, the result will not be long in coming. If you lack motivation, you can always pick up a useful hobby that will bring you pleasure.
- Tackle difficult tasks. If you do not leave the comfort zone, do not strain, then there will be no effect. If you can solve the problem without any problems, complicate it. Even if you make mistakes, this is the learning process. And motivation will not take long to wait - you will experience pride in performing complex exercises and in improving your brain activity.
- After the very first results and visible improvements, do not stop working. You need to work on yourself constantly to maintain intelligence. You can engage less often, but at least sometimes return to useful hobbies or gaming techniques. So you keep clarity of mind for a long time.