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Are you having a hard time processing some information? Learn how to be a quicker thinker with these easy to follow tips.
What Does It Mean to Be a Quick Thinker?
Have you ever been in a situation where you wished you could think faster?
Quick thinking involves the skill of making sensible decisions and performing problem-solving tasks. It is also defined as the ability to process information and make assessments in a limited amount of time, especially in difficult situations.
The ability to think on your feet is often a necessity in accomplishing day to day tasks. This includes academic responsibilities, business-related tasks, and personal relationships, among others.
In some cases, fast-thinking could be an advantage, especially in social situations. A study has indicated that quicker thinkers are perceived as more charismatic and engaging in social and business situations. Whether we are aware of it or not, fast thinkers may exhibit charisma that adds to their attractiveness and ability to influence other people.
Factors That Affect Brain Performance
Our brain is an essential tool for thinking. As we perceive information from the outside world, the nerve cells in our brain detect and transmit information to other nerve cells. This can be influenced by several factors, including:
Age
As we age, our brain reduces in size and memory decline. Other factors like genetics, neurotransmitters, hormones, and experience may impact brain aging.
Hormones
Research has found that hormonal fluctuations are among the factors that lead to a decline in cognitive function. Sex hormones such as testosterone, androgen, progesterone, and estrogen, and the stress hormone cortisol are commonly associated with brain function. Hormonal levels may be affected by certain factors like aging and pregnancy.
Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is known to benefit the brain. Mental well-being, exercise, stimulating activities, social connectedness, sleep, and nutrition may positively impact brain health. On the other hand, excessive alcohol and smoking impair your ability to absorb new information.
Tips on How to Be a Quicker Thinker
Now that we know some of the critical factors that affect our brains, we can focus on improving our brain health and quick thinking skills.
Engage in a New Activity
A way to train your brain to think faster is by doing new activities. By engaging yourself in new activities, your brain gets stimulated and wires new pathways that help you do this unfamiliar thing better and faster.
Choose an activity that is challenging and complex enough for you. You may choose to learn a new language, play an instrument, paint, or make crafts. Performing these new activities with constant practice and repetition may improve aspects such as recalling instructions and processing speed.
Practice Meditation
Meditation may help slow some aspects of cognitive aging.
If you are a beginner, you may practice meditation for 5-10 minutes. Start by finding a spot, especially for meditation. You don’t need a meditation room; just a nice comfortable spot would suffice. Take deep breaths and focus on your breathing.
Be mindful of your thoughts as you go. Meditation practice allows you to recognize your thoughts and become more aware of your mind’s activity so you can focus more on the important things in hand.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is just as crucial as other methods to train your brain and become a quicker thinker. Sleep deprivation causes lower alertness and trouble in concentration. Several studies also indicate that sleepiness makes your reaction time slower. Difficulty in focusing and paying attention leads to confusion, which is precisely what we’re trying to avoid.
For most adults, the recommended amount of sleep is from seven to nine hours. Aside from sleep duration, sleep quality is also vital for your brain health. To ensure your sleep quality, stick to a sleep schedule, and avoid naps in the afternoon as well as alcohol intake and heavy meals in the evening.
Acquire New Information
Acquiring new information on diverse topics helps you become more familiar with concepts and ideas. You may start with anything that sparks your interest or the following:
- Read up on unfamiliar topics
- Watch documentaries
- Visit a local museum
- Attend lessons and workshops
- Stay updated with current events
You might even find connections between the bodies of knowledge that you can easily pull out when you need it.
Keep Your Body Moving
A 30-minute workout a day may be enough to help you become a fast thinker.
Exercising regularly is a way to improve cognitive functions such as memory recall, problem-solving, concentration, and attention to detail.
An active lifestyle, together with a healthy diet, could improve cell survival, vascular function, synaptic plasticity, and cellular pathways essential for neurogenesis.
Load Up on Brain Foods
Eating healthily may help enhance cognitive abilities and protect the brain from damage, promote repair, and curb the effects of aging. Here are some foods linked to brainpower:
Green veggies
Consumption of leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, collards, and lettuce, which are rich in nutrients like lutein, nitrate, and phylloquinone, is positively associated with a slower cognitive decline.
Fatty fish
Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel are excellent sources of omega3 fatty acids that enhance brain function and development.
Berries
Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and mulberries have antioxidants that may reverse aging symptoms such as memory loss.
Coffee
Aside from caffeine, coffee has antioxidants that help in increased alertness and improved mood.\
Dark Chocolate
You can enjoy this treat with additional value! Cocoa in dark chocolate contains a type of antioxidant known as a flavonoid, which helps in cell signaling pathways.
Nuts and Seeds
Almonds, wall-nuts, sunflower seeds, cashews also contain antioxidants and omega-three fatty acids and vitamin e.
The ability to think fast is a necessary skill to perform everyday tasks and be socially adept. The brain is primarily responsible for processing information and dramatically affects how we think. Several factors, including age, hormones, and lifestyle, significantly affect how the brain works. By doing brain-stimulating activities, performing physical exercise, and consuming nutrient-dense foods, optimum brain health and conservation can be achieved.
Are you looking for treatments to optimize your brain functions? Book your consultation today! We have offices in Orlando, Ocala, Daytona, and Fruitland Park and we service the greater Central Florida area. We also offer telehealth services for peptide therapy. Get optimized today!
