According to a study , listening to happy tunes helps generate more innovative solutions compared to being in silence. Which means, cranking up some feel-good music can help boost your creative thinking and brain power. And if you want to learn how to play music , now is a great time to start because your brain is capable of learning new skills at any point in your life.

Instead, be willing to try new ways to do the same things. Choose a different route to get to work each week or try a different mode of transport, like biking or using public transport instead of driving.

Your brain can benefit from this simple change, and you might be surprised by how easy it is to change your thinking. Daily meditation can calm your body, slow your breathing, and reduce stress and anxiety.

A review of research has overwhelmingly proven the many cognitive benefits of being able to speak more than one language. According to numerous studies, bilingualism can contribute to better memory, improved visual-spatial skills, and higher levels of creativity.

Being fluent in more than one language may also help you switch more easily between different tasks, and delay the onset of age-related mental decline.

According to researchers, you can boost your memory and improve other mental functions by becoming a student of a new language at any time in your life. Plus, it can also help center you when life seems out of balance.

Taking up a regular practice of tai chi can help reduce stress, enhance sleep quality, and improve memory.

A study found that long-term tai chi practice could induce structural changes in the brain, resulting in an increase in brain volume. Beginners do best by taking a class to learn the different movements. But once you know the basics, you can practice tai chi anywhere, anytime.

The next time you interact with someone, take note of four things about them. Maybe you observe the color of their shirt or pants. Are they wearing glasses? Do they have a hat on, and if so, what kind of hat? What color is their hair? Once you decide on four things to remember, make a mental note, and come back to it later in the day.

Write down what you remember about those four details. Focusing on your brain health is one of the best things you can do to improve your concentration, focus, memory, and mental agility, no matter what age you are.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Practicing certain lifestyle habits may help boost your intelligence and stimulate your brain.

Research has shown that when done regularly, these…. Constantly dream of romance? Fixate on thoughts of your partner? Feel a need to always be in love?

Learn why — and why this isn't an "addiction. Toxic femininity, or behavior that aligns with patriarchal beliefs about what women should and shouldn't do, can affect your well-being.

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Mental Well-Being. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By Sara Lindberg — Updated on February 17, Try puzzles Play cards Build vocabulary Dance Use your senses Learn a new skill Teach a skill Listen to music Try a new route Meditate Learn a new language Do tai chi Focus Bottom line Exercising the brain to improve memory, focus, or daily functionality is a top priority for many older adults.

Share on Pinterest. Brain exercises. Have fun with a jigsaw puzzle. Try your hand at cards. Build your vocabulary. Dance your heart out.

Use all your senses. The ideal temperature for optimal thinking seems to be around 72 °F 22 °C. A regular meditation practice builds a more efficient brain by stimulating the formation of new brain cells and neural connections, and by increasing brain plasticity.

Meditation strengthens communication between brain cells which, in turn, speeds up mental processing , enhances the capacity to learn, and improves the ability to concentrate.

Musicians have bigger, better connected, more symmetrical brains. Having musical training improves processing speed , cognitive skills , and working memory. The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly ACTIVE study was the first large-scale trial to show that computerized brain training can improve cognitive function in older adults.

This study concluded that computerized brain training provided long-lasting improvements in memory, reasoning, and processing speed. Another way to challenge your mental speed is by taking a reputable timed intelligence test, such as the Mensa IQ Challenge.

But anyone can exercise their brain with their free Mensa IQ Challenge. Take this question test when you have a bit of uninterrupted time; it has a minute time limit. Engaging with others face-to-face in real time, rather than digitally, will force you to think faster.

One huge study on over 1 million men found that exercise can actually raise IQ. All exercise is good for your brain, but aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, swimming, or biking specifically improve processing speed. If you feel mentally sluggish, you may be low in the brain chemical dopamine.

Faster thinking is linked to higher brain levels of dopamine. The simple act of chewing gum improves mental accuracy, reaction times, and the ability to focus. So, either hearing loss or vision problems can significantly impair your ability to process information quickly.

It can improve processing speed, mental clarity, and memory and also works as a fast-acting natural antidepressant. Bacopa Bacopa monnieri is a traditional herbal brain tonic noted for reducing stress and anxiety, boosting mental energy and clarity, and protecting the brain from aging.

Research on Bacognize® , a patented form of bacopa, has found it to be beneficial for processing speed, focus, short-term memory, and mood. Black cumin Nigella sativa is a culinary spice used in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. It speeds up cognition in many ways, including improving verbal processing speed , reaction time, and accuracy.

If you use caffeine, be mindful that too much can be counterproductive since it can increase stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Citicoline is a naturally occurring compound that increases mental energy and protects the brain from damage, toxins, and aging.

Citicoline supplements can increase processing speed, working memory, verbal learning, and verbal memory. Fish oil is usually taken for heart health, but it is equally important for brain health and function.

The omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil can improve mood, memory, memory-related learning, and processing accuracy. Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba is one of the most popular herbal remedies in the world. It enhances both processing speed and accuracy. It helps to rebuild myelin , a protective coating surrounding nerve fibers that speeds up communication between brain cells.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants found in the eye that promote visual processing speed , an important component in visual learning. Phosphatidylserine PS is a fat-soluble amino acid found in high concentrations in the brain.

PS normalizes levels of important neurotransmitters and stress hormones and can increase both processing speed and accuracy. Phosphatidylserine works synergistically with ginkgo , so this is a good combination to take together.

Rhodiola rosea is a traditional herb used to increase physical stamina, mental vitality, and longevity. Research shows that it improves processing accuracy, attention, and reaction time.

Vinpocetine is a synthetic version of vincamine, a naturally occurring compound found in the periwinkle plant Vinca minor.

It increases both processing speed and accuracy. Vinpocetine works by increasing blood flow , protecting against oxidative damage, reducing brain inflammation , and balancing neurotransmitter levels.

Low levels of vitamin D , the sunshine vitamin, have been linked to slower thinking and poorer cognitive function, particularly in seniors.

This patented nutrient blend is a key ingredient in a few select brain supplements. The herbal remedy lemon balm Melissa officinalis , which is often taken for stress, anxiety, or insomnia, acts as a natural sedative and leads to a decrease in processing speed.

Sugar, in excessive amounts, slows down communication between brain cells. And finally, it should come as no surprise that alcohol slows your reaction time and your thinking.

If you are concerned that your slow thinking is due to a health concern or your medications, talk to your doctor. Recommended: Upgrading brain health is key to making your brain work better.

Mind Lab Pro is the brain supplement I recommend because, by boosting your brain health, it can help you: Improve your mental clarity and focus. Boost your memory and your ability to learn.

Increase your capacity to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions. See our MIND LAB PRO review. Like what you've read on this page? Get more like this -- Sign up for our emails.

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Does it take you longer than your colleagues to get your work done? Do you feel it takes you longer than it should to learn new information or read a book? Are you the last one in your class to finish an exam? Benefits of Fast Thinking Most people associate fast thinking with higher intelligence.

A very low Processing Speed Index usually means slowness in visual scanning, decision-making, and motor output.

Processing speed is not necessarily a fixed cognitive ability. An individual with no limiting conditions can improve their processing speed by developing metacognitive strategies methods to help individuals discover the ways in which they learn best.

This is best done in childhood and adolescence as this is when the brain is making its most solid connections, allowing the signals to travel at higher speeds. Below I am going to look at some of the many ways that we can help our students and ourselves improve cognitive processing speed.

Doing short bursts of exercise before learning something difficult helps to wake the brain up. It does this by providing much needed oxygenated blood to the axons which is essentially the wiring that sends information signals in our brains. If it seems that a student is having a tough time learning from a worksheet, book, etc.

Some learners have a tough time taking in written information and can learn much faster through auditory or kinaesthetic hands on learning. Learning can be an arduous task for some pupils. Some might have trouble concentrating, others just might find the subject matter boring!

Whatever the case, learners have been shown to absorb more information in the first 10 minutes of a lesson than they can in a whole hour. So, by keeping learning fresh, snappy and short students are far more likely to take in that much needed subject matter.

I have written a blog post that has 10 different exercises that can be used to speed up mental processing. Click here to read quick and easy activities that can be used during one on one time with students or even in a small group. You can read about more tips here.

A quick activity that you can use to warm up daily is to use a symbol speed activity. Student must go through a group of symbols and search for the target symbol. Symbol Search involves processing speed and improves visual scanning. There is also an activity in the packet that has students marking symbols as quickly as possible which also helps tie processing speed to fine motor output.

Visual discrimination and processing speed are important for littles before they even start being taught how to read and write. Here is an activity that I think is useful for young learners.

They will cut out the symbols and find their match and glue it down as quickly as possible. After being proficient with the symbols they move on to letters.

With the advancement of technology, there are lots of classrooms with interactive whiteboards, iPads, etc and these can both help students have more fun with learning and the teacher can make learning suit the needs of individuals.

These can be simple things such as tiredness during sessions at the end of the day or sluggishness after eating lunch. Whatever the case try to pinpoint these factors and avoid introducing difficult new information during these times.

Health competition can involve any type of game in which you compete with yourself, someone, or even a computer to complete a task as quickly as possible. The point is to try to do it faster!

Remember the point with these activities is to beat the time! Students need to be taught to be aware of their thinking and also be given the tools to help them improve it.

I hope this blog post helped you to understand the importance of mental processing speed and how to improve it with your students. subscribe to our newsletter. Toggle Navigation Home Book Study Blog Freebies TpT Shop Online Community About.

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Previous Next. A review notes that some types of video games — such as action, puzzle, and strategy games — may lead to improvements in the following:. Enjoying company of friends may be a mentally engaging leisure activity and may help preserve cognitive function.

A study found that people with more frequent social contact were less likely to experience cognitive decline and dementia. A study of older adults found that learning a new and cognitively demanding skill, such as quilting or photography, enhanced memory function.

A simple way to increase vocabulary is to read a book or watch a TV program and note down any words that are unfamiliar. A person can then use a dictionary to look up the meaning of the word and think up ways to use the word in a sentence.

A review notes that bilingualism increases and strengthens connectivity between different areas of the brain. A study published in Brain Sciences found that listening to music a person enjoys engages and connects different parts of the brain.

The researchers propose that this may lead to improvements in cognitive function and overall well-being. According to a study , playing an instrument may benefit cognitive development in a young brain and help protect against cognitive impairment in an aging brain.

Such hobbies may include:. Regular physical exercise is beneficial for both the brain and the body. Authors of a review note that exercise improves the following aspects of brain health:. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , exercise has beneficial effects on the following aspects of cognitive health:.

Dance is a form of exercise that may also engage areas of the brain involved in rhythm and balance. Certain sports are both physically and mentally demanding.

Some require a range of cognitive skills, such as:. A review notes that elite athletes who participate in high demand sports tend to have improved attention and faster information processing speeds.

Tai chi is a form of physical exercise that involves gentle body movements, rhythmic breathing, and meditation. A study compared brain function and connectivity among tai chi practitioners and those who did not practice it.

The researchers found that the tai chi practitioners had enhanced connectivity between different regions of their brain. They proposed that this may improve cognition and decrease the rate of memory loss. While not necessarily an active exercise, sleep is crucial for both the brain and the body.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke , most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night, although many people get less sleep than they need. A review notes that sleep has been proven to:.

As such, making sure to get enough sleep each night is an important step toward maintaining a healthy brain. Brain exercises can be as simple as actively engaging the brain in everyday tasks. Others are targeted workouts for the brain, specifically designed to enhance memory, cognition, or creativity.

Exercising the brain may help improve brain function and boost connectivity between the different areas. This may help protect the brain from age-related degeneration. People are likely to differ in terms of the brain exercises they find most enjoyable. It may be a good idea to try a range of brain-training activities at first and to stick with those that provide the most enjoyment or reward.

The diet can have a significant impact on the brain's function. A brain-healthy diet, rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, can boost memory…. Are you looking for ways to improve your mind and boost brain power in ? Look no further; we have compiled the best brain enhancing methods to try.

Brain atrophy can refer to a loss of brain cells or a loss in the number of connections between these cells. In this article, learn about the symptoms…. Researchers found that applying controlled electric shocks to some areas of the brain may improve long-term and working memory in older adults.

Learn about the symptoms and causes of Becker muscular dystrophy. This article also looks at treatment options, how doctors diagnose the condition…. My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health? Why Parkinson's research is zooming in on the gut Tools General Health Drugs A-Z Health Hubs Health Tools Find a Doctor BMI Calculators and Charts Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide Sleep Calculator Quizzes RA Myths vs Facts Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction Connect About Medical News Today Who We Are Our Editorial Process Content Integrity Conscious Language Newsletters Sign Up Follow Us.

Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By Jon Johnson — Updated on April 4, Meditation Visualizing more Playing games Card games Crosswords Puzzles Sudoku Chess Checkers Video games Socializing Learning new skills Increasing vocabulary Learning a language Listening to music Musical instruments Engaging hobbies Regular exercise Dancing Sports Tai chi Sleeping Summary Brain exercises may help boost and maintain brain function.

Visualizing more. Playing games. Playing memory card games. Practicing crossword puzzles. Completing jigsaw puzzles. Playing sudoku. Playing chess. Playing checkers.