In today’s high-performing society, we are all looking for ways to improve our mental health and reach peak performance. This post will show you the best way to improve brain function with better habits, foods, and supplements.

Your brain is everything – the most important and most complex organ in your body. It makes necessary connections, enables you to think, solve problems, find new ideas, and keeps your whole body functioning.

What is the brain, and how does it work?

According to hopkinsmedicine.org, “The brain is a complex organ that controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger and every process that regulates our body. Together, the brain and spinal cord that extends from it make up the central nervous system, or CNS.” The brain itself is not a muscle. It’s made of fat, water, protein, carbohydrate, and salts.

The brain sends and receives chemical and electrical signals throughout the body. Different signals control different processes, and your brain ensures that everything works. Some signals will make you tired and angry, while others will make you happy and satisfied. So we need to send the right signals.

We must do everything we can to protect it and keep it in good health to ensure a longer and fuller life. Here are our tips to keep your brain healthy and well-performing.

Get enough exercise

You know what they say – healthy body, healthy mind. Get some exercise. Then keep exercising. There are many benefits to keeping your body in shape, including improving brain function. Treat your body like a temple, and your mind will follow. The better your body shape, the lower the risk of experiencing a mental decline. Training and sports also help with losing weight. ‘How to improve brain function?’ you ask me. This is how. Make sure to get at least 30 minutes of exercise. It’s not only the gym that counts – ride a bike, swim, or play some tennis.

Get proper sleep

We all know not getting enough sleep will mess with your concentration and memory. Scientists agree that good sleep will boost your overall memory and improve brain function. Adults need seven to nine hours of sleep every night to help clear proteins in their brains, consolidate memories, and perform at their peak. It’s recommended to go to bed and get up at the same time for your body to catch a routine and get consecutive hours of sleep. Foods like blueberries can drastically improve the quality of your sleep when consumed beforehand.

Watch your diet

Many foods improve brain function, and you probably like many of them. If you need a healthy and consistent diet, make some changes. A nutritional, Mediterranean-type diet involving a lot of fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, and olive oil is recommended. The thing is, our bodies are the same as everything else in life. To make the car run, you need to put gas into it. If you want to reach 100% battery by the morning, you must eat healthily and sleep well the day before.

Stimulate your mind

Read a book and learn something new. Try mental gymnastics like puzzles, sudoku, or memory-card games, and play around. Even writing can benefit your brain and help you relax, so why not start a journaling habit, or a blog?

One of the fun ways for me to stay mentally active is to play at least a couple of rounds of chess every day. I started a year ago and still haven’t let it go. I love the game, and it keeps me on my toes. I’ve heard a good saying about chess that can be applied anywhere in life:

‘WHEN YOU SEE A GOOD MOVE, LOOK FOR A BETTER ONE.’

Emanuel Lasker

Apply it to your life. Stimulating your brain will help you make better choices. Chess can improve critical thinking, memory and focus. That, in turn, will lead to better financial results, relationships, or whatever segment of your life you apply it to. If you decide to play chess, I recommend Lichess. It’s free, with unreal amounts of puzzles, studies, and other informational content. There are no ads – they make their money off donations.

Start a new hobby

Picking up a new hobby is a great way to relieve stress and get your head back in the game. Getting up the following day will be easier when you remove yourself from your chaotic lifestyle. It’s also easier to get through the day when there’s something you love waiting for you. Sorry wife, this time, not you. It’s normal to need and want some ‘me-time’ where you only focus on what you want. Check out our list of best hobbies for men or best hobbies for couples and find something you have yet to try. It will improve your brain function in no time.

Supplements to improve brain function

There are many supplements to improve brain function. This is, of course, nothing like NZT-48 from the hit movie Limitless where Bradley Cooper takes a nootropic pill and suddenly becomes the most brilliant man to ever live. These supplements won’t make you something you’re not but they will enhance your productivity, energy levels and performance.

Nootropics and other smart drugs are natural or synthetic substances that you can take, if you’re healthy, to improve mental performance and brain functioning. They gained popularity in today’s highly competitive world and are most often used for boosting focus, memory, and creativity and building motivation. Of course, the most popular nootropic we are all familiar with is caffeine.

Find a better way to cope with mental health issues

Whenever I feel sad, anxious, uninterested, worthless, or similar emotions, my brain stops working or limits its capacity. It makes it difficult to focus, make decisions, or think clearly. Stress, anxiety, and depression are all associated with short-term memory loss, Healthline reports. But there is also good news. It doesn’t affect long-term and procedural memory, which is essential for controlling our motor skills. Look to connect with friends and family, especially if you live alone. Social interactions help you ward off stress, bad feelings, and unhealthy thoughts. Consider visiting a mental health doctor if you need more support or if the issues persist.

Avoid alcohol, drugs, and tobacco

All the mentioned can cause mental health problems if consumed long-term. They can cause brain changes and addiction, leading to other problems and difficulties. Don’t interfere with the brain’s ability to produce new cells and mess up your learning and memory functions. You’re here because you want to improve brain function, so if you’re abusing any of these, stop it now. End the vicious circle once and for all, and keep your brain healthy and highly functioning.