Your brain is your most prized possession since it is the seat of learning and memory. It is important for all task, great or small – even the seemingly simple act of recognising words -, and more importantly so during examinations when you need it to bring back to your mind important details.
In keeping with its importance, we have compiled 4 short and easy tips to help you keep your brain sharp and alert during this exam period and beyond.
1. Eat Right
Scientists recommend eating foods that are high in antioxidants, such as apples, bananas, dark green vegetables, garlic and carrots. Antioxidants are molecules that easily bond with and neutralize electrons called “free radicals” that float around in the blood stream.
Secondly, the brain is built mostly of healthy fats, including the most important of them, Omega-3 fatty acids. In order for the brain to repair itself and keep its neurons firing properly, you must provide it with the right raw materials. Omega-3s are found in many types of fish and nuts.
2. Play Brain Games
To keep your brain in shape, make it sweat. Thinking hard really does sharpen your memory and ability to learn. And of course, there are always classic brainteasers such as Sudoku and Crossword puzzles that challenge your powers of logic and knowledge recall. So why not spend a few minutes each day doing this on your phone, or tackling the brain teasers on passnownow?
3. Sleep
When your lights switch off, your brain doesn’t. As you sleep, your brain replays the memories of the day, and cements them for long-term storage. That is the reason it is advised that one goes to bed immediately after studying, since this helps with retention.
But if you skip a night’s sleep, this will cause your new memory files to get mixed up or lost, and they will be near impossible to retrieve later.
4. Exercise
Physical exercise doesn’t just help you grow muscles, it helps your brain too. Scientists believe these brain benefits may arise because exercise induces mild stress that triggers the production of growth factors in the brain. They may also result from greater blood flow to the brain, and thus greater delivery of nutrients and oxygen.
So why not run up the stairs? Jog or brisk-walk when on an errand? Even pedaling your bike up and down the street gets your heart pumping, and your brains nourished with increased supply of oxygen.