5 Ways to Boost Cognitive Performance

It's easy to find yourself stagnating, mentally, after college. You don't go to class anymore and you're not pleasing new things except for work. If you don't have a job that involves a lot of creativity and problem solving, you probably don't really use your brain all that much. The brain is a muscle and if you want to stay sharp, you need to use it. Here are five ways you can exercise your mind and improve your cognitive performance.

Stay Healthy

One of the best things you can do for your mind is to take care of your body. Sleep is an important factor in mental acuity, and so is proper nutrition. Your brain uses an incredible amount of energy, so it's important to make sure that it's getting enough fuel and the right kind of nutrition to stay active and healthy. The first step is healthy eating, but if that isn't enough, you may want to turn to supplements to make sure that you're getting the nutrition you need. Look at supplement and Le-Vel Thrive reviews to see if there's a supplement solution that might work for you. 

Practice Art

It does not matter what kind of art, and it definitely does not matter if the art is "good" or not. The creative act is what you are aiming for. Exercising your creativity is letting your brain play, and most brain exercise is, in essence, play. Whether it's oil painting or finger paining, it's going to get your mind involved in creative problem solving. Remember that there are countless art forms to explore: writing, drawing, sculpture, dance and design are just a few forms you might be interested in exploring. 

Learn a New Skill

Another way to exercise your brain is by learning a new skill. A practical physical skill like home repair or car maintenance involves a lot more brainwork than you might think. Even something as simple as gardening required quite a bit of thought as well as activity. This could also be a sport or other kind of gaming hobby. A new skill exercises parts of your brain that you haven't used before, and physical activity is also good for your mind, just like other pursuits that are good for your physical health. Getting your blood flowing, your body moving and your mind working all at the same time is about the best thing you can do for your mental health and acuity. 

Learn a Language

Learning a language is a specific kind of skill that you can acquire but it gets its own listing because it's so good for your mind. Learning a new language is pure thought exercise. It will teach you a whole new way of thinking about abstract concepts like time and point of view. The memorization and concentration required to get it right is exactly the kind of training your mind needs to stay sharp. Also, it's a cool and useful skill to have that is fun to talk about and good to put on a resume.

Read

The last tip is also the simplest. Read books. They don't even have to be good books, the simple act of sitting down to focus long enough to read words on a page is good for your brain, whether that page is paper or a screen. Even listening to audiobooks can help increase your focus and get your brain the exercise it needs to stay sharp and active. Reading nonfiction can educate you about all kinds of topics. Reading fiction can build emotional intelligence as well as exercising your brain. It's an activity that you can do in your spare time or even while you're commuting to work. 

Keeping your mind sharp and active is more than just exercise: it's fun! Humans aren't meant to loaf around never using their minds. You need mental stimulation to stave off boredom. Mental stimulation improves your mental health and your mood. So do yourself a favor and start exercising your mind exactly the way you would exercise your body.