20 Clever Ways to Help You Be a Quick Thinker ...

Do you wish you didn't prevaricate so much? Are you able to make decisions in a flash or does that not feel natural? Brain boosting activities improve your mental acuity, enhancing memory, concentration, focus, and understanding - all the ingredients for sound and fast decision making. Feeling inspired to improve your brain? Then it's time to get to work on this list, produced with thanks to parade.com.

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1. Get Moving

clothing, beauty, girl, muscle, beach, Starting moderate aerobic exercise, at any age, will absolutely help protect brain health,” says Peter J. Snyder, professor of neurology at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. “Recent research has convincingly shown us that a regular program (such as fast-paced walking for 30 minutes, three times per week), for just six months, leads to the growth of brain cells and their connections in parts of the brain that are critically important for learning and memory.”

2. Don’t Skimp on D

clothing, girl, beauty, blond, supermodel, The vitamin protects against the neuron loss that can cause cognitive decline, according to a new Duke University–NUS Medical School study. Adults need between 600 and 800 IU (international units) of vitamin D per day.

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3. Trust Your Instincts

face, hair, clothing, nose, cap, The longer you mull over a decision, the more likely you are to choose the wrong option, according to Columbia University researchers. Write down a simple summary of the choices you have to pick from, then list a few pros and cons for each. You should quickly see the right decision; act on it and you’ll feel satisfied.

4. Speed-read the Right Way

clothing, human positions, sitting, leg, furniture, Mobile apps aimed at teaching speed-reading techniques are everywhere, but researchers believe most of them don’t really help your brain retain written info faster or better. Instead, focus on reading comprehension, which does increase your brain’s reading speed over time. To improve your comprehension, choose reading material on a wide variety of topics that interest you.

5. Say These Words: “I Can do Better!”

clothing, footwear, beauty, fashion, leg, It may sound silly, but research shows that silently repeating this phrase to yourself is very effective when it comes to shoring up your brain’s reaction time. World-class athletes use this trick for mental motivation.

6. Go for a Drive

car, vehicle, automotive design, automotive exterior, automobile make, Researchers in the UK recently found that the concentration required while motoring down the highway, and specifically while changing lanes, clears your head so effectively you’ll think better overall. Try this when you’re stuck on a problem.

7. Get Physical Four Hours after Learning Something New

hair, photograph, clothing, image, photography, If you need to memorize that presentation for work, go over the material, then jump on the treadmill a while later. Research from the Netherlands found that a time-delayed exercise session consolidates memories in the hippocampus, the part of our brain that helps us learn quickly and effectively.

8. Never Stifle a Yawn

hair, eyebrow, face, black hair, nose, The physical mechanism of a good yawn actually cools down your brain, leading to better mental efficiency.

9. Pretend You’re in Hamilton

photograph, clothing, dress, flower, Research from the Dana Foundation, which studies the brain, found that performing musical improvisation exercises or rapping—which require you to think on your feet moment to moment—improves your thinking speed overall the more you learn and practice this performance skill.

10. Crack Open a Classic

flower, art, food, coffee cup, Researchers have found that good literary fiction improves connectivity and function in our brains and helps strengthen imagination too.

11. Think on Your Feet

hair, clothing, black hair, gravure idol, hairstyle, A number of studies from Texas A&M University have shown that working at a standing desk improves our brains’ time management, fact retention and comprehension skills. The change from sitting to standing while at work or home may break up boredom and refocus our attention in a fresh way.

12. Chew Gum

hair, image, blue, black hair, mouth, Research shows that chewing increases cerebral blood flow enough to help you remember words much faster—handy when you’re blanking as you say hello to your new neighbor.

13. Stay Curious

face, eyebrow, hair, black hair, cheek, Push yourself in fresh directions. For example, learn a new language. “It is never too early or too late to focus on your brain health,” says Sandra Bond Chapman, Ph.D., founder and director of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas, Dallas. “The key takeaway for those who haven’t been training mentally or physically is to challenge their thinking, and get moving at any age.

14. Hop on a Bike

road bicycle, cycling, vehicle, bicycle, racing bicycle, New research from UC Davis finds that just 8 to 20 minutes of vigorous cycling a day boosts neurotransmitters, allowing your brain to function at a faster and clearer rate.

15. Give Pokémon Go a Whirl

human action, hair, person, human positions, sitting, Recent research found that playing a video game with many targets and lots of action requires your brain to make quicker, more accurate decisions.

16. Jog Your Brain

human action, person, sports, jogging, running, Researchers have found that running activates a cardiovascular process that increases cerebral blood flow to your brain, actually causing it to grow bigger—and work better. Get your doctor’s OK if you’re new to jogging, then lace up those Nikes at least three times a week.

17. Aim for Eight Fruits or Veggies

leisure, human positions, sitting, vacation, leg, A recent study found that’s the number of servings per day that boosts feelings of calm and happiness (which can help you think more clearly). Opt for those packed with antioxidants: artichokes, okra, kale, bell peppers, berries, pears, apples with their peels, grapes and citrus fruits.

18. Get at Least Seven Hours of Zzzs a Night

white, black, photograph, clothing, person, We know that chronic stress and poor sleep are lifestyle risk factors for cognitive impairments associated with aging,” says Snyder.

19. Laugh with Larry David

eyewear, sunglasses, clothing, glasses, beauty, That Curb Your Enthusiasm rerun may be just the ticket to faster recall. Loma Linda University researchers have reported that watching a 20-minute comedy program improves short-term memory function by reducing stress hormones in your brain.

20. Don’t Practice Too Hard

clothing, woman, girl, sea, beauty, Taking up a new skill or sport? A recent joint study from UC Santa Barbara, University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins found that beyond a certain amount of time, the cognitive “tools” of your brain that help you effectively learn can get overworked. For best results, make learning a new skill fun, and don’t work at it too intensely.

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