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.

Here's how. A new study, released this week has found that death rates are increased for people with obesity who are also socially isolated and lonely.

A new study finds a type of psychedelic called ibogaine may help people with traumatic brain injury. In the study 30 male Special Operations Forces….

New research suggests that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise like swimming, cycling, jogging, and dancing may be more effective for reducing…. Finding a therapist that makes you feel comfortable is crucial. But that's not the only consideration.

Here's what else to look for when starting a…. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. 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. Learn a new skill. Teach a new skill to someone else. Listen to or play music. Take a new route.

Learn a new language. Take up tai chi. Focus on another person. The bottom line. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

So memorize some lyrics and give this simple activity a try to boost yours. Dopamine resetting has been getting a lot of discussion recently. But so far, there are no shortcuts. Certainly none so impactful as sitting just to sit, or quietly following your own breath.

As one study found , even the elderly can start meditating with no prior experience and get results. To master meditation, all you have to do is show up and practice, ideally at least four times per week. In the context of mental acuity, I recommend focusing on concentration meditations above all.

A lot of people ask me about brain games for adults and apps like Cogmed. Myself, I try to keep the time I spend on apps very limited.

And when I play games, I tend to make them social experiences so I get the brain benefits of being with others. That will give you the opposite of the active recall you want in order to keep your brain sharp. Some people shy away from philosophy books. But learning to ask philosophical questions helps you weed out bad thinking.

Even just coming to understand how philosophy is properly defined will improve your mental acuity. From there, you can get into activities like reflective thinking through the use of philosophical questioning.

As I discussed in my TEDx Talk, learning to question everything in a philosophical matter improved my life in many ways.

Stress can harm your brain, so anything you can do to reduce it in your life will be a win for your mental sharpness. Sleep is also critical , alongside choosing memory friendly foods , herbs and teas.

For example, over a decade ago I decided to only live in places with excellent transit. This removed all the hassles involved in owning a car completely from my life. Did you know that many people use ancient memory techniques to keep their minds sharp even in the 21st century?

Take James Gerwing, for example. Remember, learning a language is one of the best things you can do to stop losing mental sharpness. Then, in , James become the Canadian memory champion shortly after retiring as a school administrator. In a slightly different, but equally hopeful vein, Nic Castle retired from the police force with some unfortunately damage.

Fortunately, using memory techniques helped him reduce the PTSD symptoms created by the job. Experiment as widely as you can, and ideally keep a journal of your activities. This physical record will help create observations that you can use to sharpen your mind even further.

This can lead to reducing your alcohol intake, which is another great way to preserve your brain health over the long term. For example, I often leave little puzzles for my future self to solve in my notebooks. This makes for a lot of intrigue that stimulates the brain over the years.

Here are 5 Memory Palace examples that will improve your memory training practice quickly, even…. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Learning new skills challenges the brain and promotes mental acuity. Whether learning a new language, playing a musical instrument, or learning a new hobby, learning something new can stimulate the brain and improve cognitive function.

Mindfulness involves being present in the moment and focusing on the task at hand. It has been shown to reduce stress, improve memory, and increase cognitive function. Mindfulness can be practiced through meditation, deep breathing, or other relaxation techniques.

Sleep is crucial for mental acuity as it allows the brain to rest and recharge. Lack of sleep can lead to impaired cognitive function, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating. Aim to get hours of sleep per night to promote optimal brain function.

A healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can provide the nutrients the brain needs to function at its best. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, and seeds, have been shown to improve cognitive function.

Social interaction and engagement can improve mental acuity. Regularly engaging with friends, family, and community can help maintain cognitive function, reduce the risk of depression, and improve overall well-being. Joining social clubs, taking classes, and volunteering can provide opportunities for social interaction and mental stimulation.

Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, is a non-invasive therapy that uses red and near-infrared light to stimulate cellular function and improve overall health. While research on red light therapy and cognitive function are still ongoing, there is evidence to suggest that it may have benefits for improving mental acuity in several ways:.

While further research is needed to fully understand the effects of red light therapy on cognitive function, early studies suggest that it may be a promising therapy for improving mental acuity.

No matter your age, focusing on your brain health is one of the best things you can do to increase your concentration, focus, memory, and mental agility. You can stretch your mind, improve your cognitive abilities, and learn something new and enriching by implementing brain workouts into your daily life.

The following foods have been related to increased mental performance. Leafy greens like kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli are full of minerals like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene that are good for the brain. Others are nuts, berries, tea, coffee, fatty fish, and so on.

Search Go. Some of them include the following: maintaining an active lifestyle having healthy social interactions getting enough sleep not smoking Maintaining a healthy diet keeping alcohol consumption to no more than one drink each day The good news is that you can learn how to get your mind active, owing to decades of research.

This article outlines a few you could take a shot at. Keep reading to find out! What Is Mental Acuity? Why Is It Important To Keep Your Brain Sharp? Here are three justifications for why maintaining mental acuity is crucial: Enhanced Memory Power Your brain works harder when you challenge it to learn new things to keep it sharp.

Delay in Mental Decline Associated with Aging Although the cognitive decline is typically unavoidable as people age, there are ways to delay the symptoms and reduce your risk of dementia and other types of memory loss.

Certain foods , such as coffee, turmeric, blueberries, broccoli, nuts, green tea, pumpkin seeds, oranges and chocolate, can help keep your mind sharp. Many health experts recommend the Mediterranean diet to improve mental sharpness. A Mediterranean diet is high in plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables, lean protein, fish, and healthy fats, such as olive oil, and lower in red meat and salt.

The research shows that people who eat a Western diet, which typically contains an excess of saturated fats, red meat, and refined sugar, had a greater amount of beta-amyloid deposits in their brains than do those who consume a Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is important to brain health because of the omega fatty acids it contains.

These fatty acids help cells function correctly, increase mental focus, slow cognitive decline in older adults, and as an added bonus, helps decrease the risk of coronary artery disease.

Omega fatty acids also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties , so they support healthier brain cells and reduce deterioration of the brain. Eating seafood can help you get the omega fatty acids you need for mental sharpness.

A 5-year study found that older adults who enjoyed at least one seafood meal a week performed on thinking skills than did those who ate less than one seafood meal weekly. Mindfulness is a state of mind in which you live fully in the moment, and calmly accept your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.

Mindfulness is a set of practices that help clear the mind; practices include focusing on breathing, meditating, or simply laying quietly. Research shows engaging in just 10 minutes of mindfulness practice five times a week keeps the brain sharp, and that mindfulness can counteract age-related cognitive decline.

Do crossword puzzles, word games, jigsaw puzzles, or play cards—anything that challenges your brain. It is not necessary to do any paid brain-training programs, as long as you keep the mental exercises challenging and fresh.

Humans need to interact with one another, and the absence of human contact can lead to the decline of cognitive function. Social interaction can fend off depression and anxiety , both of which can cause loss of memory and mental sharpness. Interacting with others can also help you stay mentally active, particularly if you play games or have interesting conversations with others.

Red light therapy uses the power of therapeutic wavelengths of light. Red light therapy , also known as photobiomodulation PBMT , penetrates deep into cells. Once there, the light stimulates the function of mitochondria , which are the part of cells that convert food into energy.

Research shows that red light therapy improves cognitive performance in participants with brain injuries. Another study tested mindfulness in people with healthy brains; it shows mindfulness could help decrease the rate of memory loss and poor concentration in aging subjects.

Improving your mental sharpness may be easier than you think—simply improve your diet a little bit, relax with some peaceful mindfulness training, play a few games, enjoy the company of others, and make a quick trip to your red light therapy provider. The sooner you start, the sharper your brain can become.

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NEWS CONTACT. Theralight Logo. PRODUCTS TheraLight TheraLight FIT. Your mental clarity can drastically affect your sleep schedule. Despite all the challenges of low mental clarity, there are many ways to promote mindful engagement. You can improve it for yourself. These eight tips for how to improve mental clarity are all easy to incorporate into your daily life.

They can help you lay down the foundation of a sharp, active, and clear mind. And, if you are leading or working with someone who seems to be lacking mental clarity, encourage them to practice self-care and point them toward resources that can support these tips.

How much sleep you get is directly proportional to how much energy you will have throughout the day. This applies to both mental and physical energy.

If you cultivate a consistent and healthy sleep schedule, you can avoid developing a backlog of fatigue and make sure your mental performance stays on top all day long.

Using a sleep tracker is one way to manage your sleep schedule to ensure you get enough quality sleep. Knowing how to effectively reduce stress levels will make a tremendous difference to your state of mental clarity.

Managing stress includes figuring out personal methods of tension release and relaxation. There are also stress tracker devices that allow you to track your stress levels throughout the day.

Being aware of your stress levels will enable you to stay mentally sharp and help you reach your full potential. Mindfulness is the fine art of living presently.

By slowing down and being conscious of your body, environment, and actions, you can manage your energy more effectively. Having a good work-life balance means having time for both work and play.

If you spend too much time at the office, you could deplete your energy levels and trigger an onset of burnout. Similarly, if you only focus on relaxing and having fun, very few tasks would get done. Finding a healthy balance between work and life is the key to knowing how to improve mental clarity.

Self-care practices are an extremely important aspect of life. Finding the tools, activities, spaces, and people that make you feel safe and supported will allow you to control stress levels and stay productive.

Taking some time out of your week to do something purely because it brings you pleasure is really good for your mental health. Plus, it will keep your mindset flexible and strong. Regularly moving your body is a fundamentally important aspect of good health — both mentally and physically.

You can keep your mind active by sweating out toxins and stimulating the circulatory system. Even simple movements like walking, swimming, or virtual yoga can support you in achieving mental clarity.

Nutrition and mental health are closely linked, which is why a healthy diet is so important for overall health. There are plenty of foods for mental clarity out there that can give you all the nutrients you need for cultivating mental strength.

Some of the best brain foods include fatty fish, berries, dark leafy greens, and pumpkin seeds. Drinking plenty of water will also help your brain function at its peak. But asking for help is one of the most empowering things anyone can do for themselves. The stress of experiencing mental fogginess is not uncommon.

Don't be afraid to ask for help from friends, family, or a healthcare professional. They will help you to feel recognized and understood. If someone on your team or in your family seems to be struggling with mental clarity, there are ways to help create a more conducive environment.

Mental clarity is a vital element of productivity and fulfillment both in and outside the office. We need a clear mind to problem solve and stay on top of whatever challenges are thrown our way. So, what is mental clarity going to result in when it comes to your personal and professional goals?

A clouded mind means clouded judgment. Your judgment needs to be sound if you are to make smart choices in life.

It is natural to feel overwhelmed when you are running low on energy and concentration. You can overcome stress and anxiety more easily when your mindset is at its peak.

Poor mental health is something we all battle with from time to time. But with a strong mind, managing stress levels becomes a whole lot easier. An organized mind is able to approach tasks with more efficiency and can execute them in order of priority. When your mind is functioning like a well-oiled machine, it can enable you to extract more purpose and enjoyment out of life.

This includes quality time with loved ones and the pursuit of personal growth. Mental clarity sits at the epicenter of wellness , performance, and productivity. No matter where you find yourself in life. And your mental clarity helps to create the conditions for clarity for the people around you, at work or in life.

Taking care of your brain health is an integral part of leading a happy and fulfilling lifestyle. Request a demo with BetterUp today. Together, we can help you learn to improve mental clarity and unlock the human potential around you. Just announced! Explore the agenda for Uplift April 10—11 in SF.

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