Looking to improve your memory or focus? Learning new strategies may help, but in many ways the key lies in boosting brain health, so that your mind can function at its peak. When our brains are fatigued or not properly nourished, the frontal lobe—the part of the brain that houses all of executive function skills, such as memory, focus, planning, and task initiation—is the first to suffer. Here are four tips for keeping your brain healthy and happy—and developing those executive function skills.
1. Set a regular bedtime.
This can be tough, especially if you often find yourself working late to meet deadlines. However, going to bed on time and finishing your homework or project the next day, if possible, may be more beneficial. Here’s why:
- The hours that we sleep prior to midnight actually lead to more restful, regenerative sleep than do the hours that we sleep after midnight.
- Sleep allows us to maintain our neural pathways, so that different parts of our brain can communicate with each other and consolidate short- and long-term memories. While we sleep, our brains actually move information from one part of the brain to another, so that the information stays there for good.
- While we sleep, our brains clear up the toxins that accumulate during the day–and, of course, toxins are not conducive to efficient brain function!
2. Don’t sleep with your phone.
Many of us are surrounded by electronic devices 24/7. We wake up to the sound of our phone’s alarm clock, check our phone several times per hour during the day, and fall asleep scrolling through social media. However, we suggest you leave your phone in another room while you sleep, or, at the very least, putting it into airplane mode if you must keep it in the room with you. There are some scientific reasons for this:
- Neuroscientists have discovered that the electromagnetic waves released by cell phones—the waves associated with batteries and wifi, for example—have an impact on how adolescent brains develop. In particular, these waves negatively impact children’s ability to focus.
- Neuroscientists have also found that the electromagnetic fields from phones can penetrate the brain to a depth 5 cm—that’s almost to the center of the brain! You really want to keep your phone anywhere other than in your bedroom at night.
3. Hydrate.
Depending upon how active you are, you should aim to drink 8 to 12 glasses of water per day. That might sound like a lot, but did you know that your brain is 75% water? It’s no surprise, then, that how much you hydrate directly correlates to your brain health. Hydration promotes communication between different parts of the brain, allowing for faster processing.
4. Exercise.
Plan to get at least then minutes of high intensity exercise every day. Studies of brain imaging have shown that physical activity promotes organized, robust, and flexible brain networks—networks that allow executive functioning skills to flourish. You can reap the majority of the brain health benefits from exercise with just ten minutes per day, given that you’re truly getting your heart rate up within that space of time.
In the end, if you take care of your brain, nourish it properly, and get enough sleep, you’ll set yourself up for success. Check out our Daily Brain Care Checklist to start building habits that promote a healthy brain. Looking for more tips on how to boost your executive functioning skills? Contact us or reach out to your Director of Client Services to set up a free consultation.
