Luckily, there are many ways to sharpen your mind’s focus.
Even there are several powerful techniques that can boost your focus, improve concentration and affect your brain function. The best way is to try out what is suitable for you rather practicing the techniques regularly to achieve desired results. Let’s talk about 3 brain training techniques. These techniques have made the biggest impact on concentration and focus. In this post, I will explain each technique in three sections in order to emphasize how it keeps the brain sharp, why I consider these as important and how you can practice it daily. I hope you will find these techniques useful.
Technique #1– Ask yourself a simple question every morning- what is the one thing I am committed to doing today?
Wondering how it helps to sharpen your brain?
It helps in enhancing your focus at the start of the day.
Why I consider it as important?
This habit can be a big turning point for me. As early as I wake up, and look forward to doing it, I am assured that it will positively affect my concentration. Honestly, this small question made my life even simpler. My brain is now focusing faster. It helps me to prioritize goals, streamlines my work so I don’t have to worry that I need to accomplish several things in a day.
How to Practice it?
Write the Question in BOLD letters on a paper and hang it on your bathroom or bedroom wall. It helps you to see it as you are getting ready or brush your teeth.
Read out loud and come up with an answer. The trick here is to get your eyes on it so it becomes your habit and you don’t have to think about it again and again.
Keep the answer ready as you go to your daily tasks and work. It helps you to avoid distraction from other things. Moreover, it acts as a reminder of what is on high priority.
Technique #2– Execute your Deep Work as soon as possible
How it helps in keeping your brain sharp?
It permits you to tap into your restricted willpower, enabling you to get the toughest mental tasks at first.
What makes it so important for me?
Deep work refers to any sort of analytical thinking that needs concentration like problem-solving, writing, reading and analyzing. All these aspects need a different sort of focus from the other tactical thing we do daily. The one thing I noticed is when I switched to my deep work early, I don’t run out motivation or energy. Moreover, it frees up my evenings as well as afternoons for working out, devoting time to my friends and family, and socializing.
How to start practicing it?
- Spare 2-4 hours after waking up for deep work
Several scientists say that this is the peak performance time of the brain. For instance, if you wake up at 7, your peak time starting from 9Am to 11 AM. You are free to increase this time when you have lunch or if you are seeking to expand your hours of peak performance.
- For a week keep a track of things to do at your peak times
Are you concentrating on your crucial psychological tasks? Or learning how to solve complex problems, writing, reading and learning new material? Most people spent this time checking email, listening to the news, commuting to work, attending meetings and chatting with their co-workers.
- Make some changes in your peak brain performance time
Think how you could redesign the things to do that are least required for your professional and personal development. Do you have to be on the top of the latest news? Save this activity right after lunch or for your lunch. Are emails waiting for you in your inbox? Be careful of the time it takes to check email, as it can take over your day.
Choose any 2 blocks of time to read them. Either on midday or at the end of the workday.
Technique #3 Properly feed your brain
How it helps to keep your brain Sharp?
It helps you keep your brain in learning mode and engaged. Even when it is on a ‘resting’ state like when you are commuting, running errands or relaxing.
Why do I think it is Crucial?
Along back while, when I had a cable TV, I noticed that my free time runs within a blink of the eye as I watched movies and my favorite shows. But I didn’t find it mentally stimulating or even listening to radio programs that end up with lots of commercials. The disadvantage was that I was unable to identify anything value from these entertainment programs. As time passes, I realized that I had to be more selective about spending my free time, so it could be more entertaining and beneficial for my personal development.
How to start practicing it?
- Start listening to the podcasts
Podcasts are excellent brain food. They help you manage your time in a better way as you work out or commute. Moreover, it can improve your creative skills and critical thinking to a large extent. My favorite podcasts are –Optimize with Brian Johnson, The Tim Ferriss Show, The Art of Charm, Kwik Brain Podcast and The James Altucher Show. For more recommendations, click here.
- Start watching Documentaries
Documentaries are learning as well as entertaining, especially created by the BBC. But you can find many for free on YouTube. Some of the ideas are- Timeline: World History Documentaries, The Ancient Worlds, Empire of the Tsars and Athens: The Dawn of Democracy, which is narrated by historian Bethany Hughes.
- Read Books
Do you know that reading fiction book boosts connectivity and improves brain function? In a study called Short and Long Term Effects of a Novel on Connectivity in the Brain by Neuroscientists from Emory University, everything is explained in detail. To make reading books a habit, start with the basics like getting a library membership, read literary fiction topic of Quora or even download Goodreads app to find the topics and writers that interest you. Even websites like Psych Central has several topics that focus on psychological and mental health support and information.