VITALITY:
If you are experiencing symptoms in any form whether mental or physical, try changing your diet. Now I am not saying to go vegan or anything, but processed foods are key to disease and disorder. Eating whole foods, like buying literal ingredients (vegetables, fruits, legumes, seafood, organic meats, etc.) instead of prepackaged foods (filled with chemicals for appearance, taste, and preservation), will change your life regardless of your current state; I know it changed mine! There is a gut-brain connection! You actually are what you eat.
COGNITION:
Ever thought about raising your IQ? Learn a new instrument or language. Learning these concepts have been scientifically proven to excite neuroplasticity in that new neurons and synapses are created upon the gradual comprehension of new languages and instrumental knowledge. “Hidden” areas of the brain (and especially the frontal lobe – critical thinking/logic/deductive reasoning/decision-making/etc.) have also been speculated to be especially activated when learning these concepts. The reason learning these subjects are so beneficial is because you can not learn them (and you are not supposed to). Instead, it will take time, and as your mind gradually grasps a new way of speaking or the techniques in instrumental play, you are undergoing many changes that are required to occur in order for you to solidify comprehension of these concepts. If you’re interested, I recommend starting to play the ukulele (easier than the guitar) or starting to learn Spanish. When regarding games, chess rules! Chess requires patience, strategy, tactic, method, and attention. I find this game superior to other games when thinking of the amount of cognition needed just to keep up! It forces you to be present, and to win, you must think ahead.
CREATIVITY:
Remember Albert Einstein’s old sayings? “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” Or this saying… “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” Well did you know that the simple task of drawing has been proven to change your brain like no other? This was surprising to me. You think of all the other practices that may seem more impactful, but drawing has been reported to change people’s lives. It strengthens memory and hones creativity while providing as an effective coping mechanism (or outlet). People project their emotions in the form of drawing and essentially release endorphins and dopamine which mitigates stress, anxiety, and depression. It draws on the latent creativity from within you as you! Which in turn, makes you become a more divergent thinker! Also, projecting your inner emotions in the form of drawing has been proven to be an effective coping mechanism (outlet).
STRESS:
Are you stressed? Is college life wearing down on you in that the workload may be extensive, you miss your family, or that maybe finances are getting slim? I urge you to meditate on these feelings. You have probably heard of meditation at some point in your life, tried it, and said no. Believe me, when you find a way to anchor yourself, you see the significance of meditating and hold it highly. It is not only a practice, but a tool; our brains are made to run rampant, but when you learn to wind down (and some are better at this than others), nothing will get you down. Mindful meditation is popular, but to me that’s only a start. Also, try to weave in visualization, mantras, or affirmations. Staring at a lit candle has sparked significant moments of insight for me.
Your tips here are very helpful! All of them are relevant to things going on in our lives and your tips/tricks could really help us. I picked up using something very similar to mediation to help me fall asleep at night. I learned from my running coach that I hold a lot of tension in my body so as I’m trying to fall asleep, I picture kind of like a wave going down my body that loosens up my muscles and releases tension and it really helps me to fall asleep faster!
This is a really great post. I really appreciate how you put together a comprehensive list of tips that help lead a better life. I have to say, with this post and the previous posts, you have convinced me to be more cognizant of what I eat and to give meditation another try! It is also great to hear that playing instruments and learning languages can be helpful. I have been trying to read a book in Spanish, and now when I get frustrated about my slow progress I can say that it is all just part of the process of expanding my brain! It is also good to know that whenever I procrastinate by playing the piano or guitar that I actually am being a little productive in some way.
I found the chart of the rising IQ’s to be very interesting. I was not aware that the food you eat could have an actual impact on your intelligence level. I also relate to the section written about stress as well. As college classes ramp up their intensity without much of a break until Thanksgiving, it is important to find a healthy way to combat the stress and I will try to meditate more in the future.
One of the reasons I like chess so much is because it is one of, if not the only, game I have played that has no component of luck. It is entirely up to your ability to outsmart and predict your opponent’s moves. I see how playing a lot of chess could lead to increasing your mental health. Before reading this, I always suspected what you ate affected your mental health, but it was nice to read it officially.